Kraken vs BitMart: How these crypto exchanges compare

In today’s crowded crypto market, choosing the right exchange means matching your trading goals with the right mix of features, risk profile and product set.

BitMart and Kraken both provide global access to digital assets, but they address different segments of the market. Kraken emphasises stability, compliance and a robust ecosystem for all-round trading. BitMart focuses on variety, speed and a large altcoin library.

The trading platform you use for your crypto journey is a big decision. This article breaks down how BitMart and Kraken compare across key areas so you can decide which exchange best suits your trading style and strategy.

Founded in 2011 in the United States, Kraken is among the earliest and most established names in the cryptocurrency industry. Launched less than two years after Bitcoin’s debut, the exchange has earned global recognition for its strong focus on security, operational transparency, and a high-quality user experience.

Today, Kraken serves more than 15 million clients in over 190 countries. Its offerings range from the flagship Kraken platform for individual investors, to powerful all-in-one trading platforms for advanced and institutional traders via the Kraken Pro platform and Kraken Desktop app.

Kraken’s institutional suite that covers spot, margin, futures markets, staking, and OTC trading for qualified clients. Kraken also invests heavily in education through Kraken Learn, supporting both new and experienced traders.

Headquartered in Wyoming, Kraken underscores is committed to accountability with routine Proof of Reserves, a practice it introduced to the industry back in 2014. It was also the first crypto exchange to be listed on the Bloomberg Terminal, helping bridge the gap between traditional finance and digital assets.

With regulatory licenses across key markets including the US, Canada, UK, EU and a history of assisting with cases such as Mt. Gox creditor claims, Kraken has built a reputation for stable, compliant operations that make it a trusted destination for those seeking a secure and enduring crypto exchange.

Founded in 2017 by Sheldon Xia, BitMart operates in over 180 countries and has positioned itself as a highly accessible global exchange with extensive token variety. Its platform supports spot, margin and futures trading, an in-house token (BMX), copy-trading features and an NFT marketplace.

While BitMart offers broad market access and diverse products, its regulatory framework is less comprehensive than that of older, compliance-focused venues, and previous security incidents have led some users to view it as higher-risk.

While BitMart attracts users aiming for large altcoin selections and leverage-heavy trading, Kraken appeals to those who prioritize proven reliability, regulatory alignment and transparent operations.

Kraken’s global licensing, institutional-grade infrastructure and publicly verifiable custody practices offer a clearer framework of trust for both beginners and seasoned traders. If you value compliance and long-term stability alongside deep features, Kraken’s track record gives it an edge over BitMart’s more speculative, high-variety model.

Kraken’s product ecosystem is designed to support a wide range of trading styles and experience levels. Users can trade on the go with its streamlined mobile app or tap into more advanced tools through Kraken Pro, which offers detailed charting, custom order types and real-time market data.

The platform supports spot trading for all users, with margin trading (up to 5x leverage) and futures contracts (up to 50x leverage) available in eligible regions. Institutional and high-net-worth clients can access additional services through Kraken’s OTC desk and Kraken Prime offering.

Beyond trading, Kraken provides crypto staking on over 21 assets, with rewards up to 17% APY depending on the coin and network conditions. Users can earn passively by staking assets like Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL) and Cardano (ADA) directly through the platform.

Kraken also supports global digital payments through Krak, a feature enabling users to send crypto or cash without transaction fees.

In 2024, Kraken released its Ink Layer-2 network built on Optimism’s SuperChain, providing a seamless bridge between centralized exchanges and popular DeFi protocols.

For those seeking to deepen their financial knowledge, Kraken Learn offers educational resources covering everything from blockchain basics to advanced trading strategies.

BitMart emphasises feature breadth and rapid access. Its platform supports over 1,700 cryptocurrencies, spot and margin trading with leverage up to 100× in some markets, futures and perpetual contracts, staking and savings products, a native token (BMX), a P2P marketplace, and an NFT ecosystem.

BitMart also offers API access for programmatic trading. The API provides services for market queries, automatic trading, and other operations across spot, margin, and futures markets. BitMart's Fast API also includes support for OAuth 2.0, high-speed data, secure authentication, and both RESTful API and WebSocket connections.

BitMart only provides a custodial wallet, meaning BitMart holds and secures the private keys on your behalf.

These tools make BitMart appealing for users who want exposure to emerging tokens and fast-moving opportunities rather than a more conservative portfolio approach.

While BitMart boasts a wide array of cryptocurrencies and trading features, Kraken delivers a more controlled and integrated product environment. Kraken’s offering may be smaller in token count, but it compensates with strong regulatory alignment, institutional-calibre custody, and clear product definitions across trading, staking and securities.

For users who want advanced tools within a verified, stable infrastructure, rather than just maximum variety, Kraken’s product suite offers greater confidence and coherence than BitMart’s high-feature, higher-risk structure.

Clients can access over 600 cryptocurrencies on Kraken, including majors such as Bitcoin (BTC) and XRP (XRP) as well as a variety of altcoins, from memecoins to liquid staking tokens.

There are also more than 11,000 commission-free ETFs and stocks available to trade directly in the Kraken app. And for clients in eligible locations, they can invest in xStocks, which are tokenized versions of these equities.
Kraken supports withdrawals and deposits in ten major fiat currencies, making it quick and convenient for global clients to fund their accounts.

Supported fiat currencies include:

• USD (US Dollar)

• CAD (Canadian Dollar)

• GBP (Pound Sterling)

• EUR (Euro)

• JPY (Japanese Yen)

• AUD (Australian Dollar)

• CHF (Swiss Franc)

• ARS (Argentine Peso)

• MXN (Mexican Peso)

• BRL (Brazilian Real)

There are also 15 stablecoins supported, including Tether (USDT), USDC and USDG.

BitMart offers broad access to digital assets, listing over 1,700 cryptocurrencies across more than 700 trading pairs. The platform supports major coins such as BTC and ETH along with leading altcoins including SOL, ADA and AVAX.

In addition to crypto markets, BitMart recently announced its participation in the xStocks Alliance, enabling trading of tokenised stocks and ETFs, expanding asset reach beyond pure crypto. This diverse range makes BitMart appealing to traders seeking exposure to both major and niche digital assets within a single platform.

Although BitMart’s listings are more extensive, Kraken supports over 500 vetted digital assets and offers access to 11,000+ U.S. stocks and ETFs, positioning itself as a hybrid platform bridging crypto and traditional finance.

For investors who value regulated crypto exposure alongside digital-asset liquidity, Kraken provides greater assurance than platforms that focus primarily on volume and token quantity.

Kraken differentiates itself through a more curated asset list that prioritizes liquidity, regulatory compliance and integration with traditional securities.

Kraken’s volume-based fee model is tiered and transparent to support both professional traders and casual investors.

With maker fees starting at 0.25% and taker fees at 0.40% there are also discounts available for high-volume individuals and institutions. With to a Kraken+ subscription, these fees can be eliminated entirely for eligible clients up to certain monthly volumes.

Most crypto and fiat deposits are free, with some exceptions depending on the transaction method and specific asset. Kraken also highlights transparency by displaying all fees before a transaction is confirmed, ensuring clients are well aware any fees upfront and avoid costly surprises.

Bitmart operates a tiered maker-taker fee model where base spot trading fees start at 0.25% for both makers and takers, with the potential to drop significantly for users with high volume or holding the native BMX token.

under certain VIP levels, maker and taker fees fall to as low as 0.10%. Bitmart also allows a 25% discount on spot and futures fees when BMX is used to pay for trading costs.

Deposit fees for cryptocurrencies are generally free, but withdrawal charges vary by asset and blockchain network. Some users have reported complex or non-transparent fee structures especially for low-cap tokens, which makes planning trades more difficult.

While BitMart’s discounted fee structure and BMX-token incentives may appeal to high-volume traders, Kraken offers a pricing model that emphasises transparency and consistency without the need for native token holdings – making the user experience simpler, especially for new traders.

Kraken’s clearly published maker/taker rates are easier to predict and don’t rely heavily on loyalty tiers or large token balances. For users who prioritize long-term clarity in trading costs over the lowest possible fee, Kraken’s structure provides a more stable foundation.

Kraken is widely regarded as one of the most secure crypto platforms in the industry. Since inception, Kraken has never experienced a breach resulting in loss of client funds, a claim that few other exhcanges can make. Clients benefit from multi-layered account protection, including 2FA with passkeys, PGP email encryption, granular API key permissions with range boundaries, configurable account timeout, real-time monitoring for suspicious activity, withdrawal whitelisting and master key settings.

Kraken pioneered Proof of Reserves in 2014 and continues to lead the industry with regular, independently verifiable audits. This cryptographic procedure allows clients to personally review how their account balances are backed by real assets, at any time. Kraken also holds ISO/IEC 27001:2013 certification, SOC 2 Type 2 audit compliance and operates a robust public bug bounty program.

BitMart offers standard protections such as two-factor authentication (2FA), withdrawal whitelisting and real-time risk-monitoring, and claims to store most assets in cold wallets.

However, the exchange has been the target of major security incidents — including a December 2021 hack in which ~$196 million in assets were stolen — and lacks regular, public third-party audits or full transparency about custody practices.

While the platform continues to iterate on safeguards, prospective users should weigh BitMart’s current controls alongside its past security challenges.

When it comes to safeguarding customer funds and data, Kraken stands out. From publicly publishing Proof of Reserves audits and industry-leading cold-storage, to its ISO/IEC 27001 and SOC 2 certifications, Kraken has a long-standing reputation for the most robust and transparent security practices in the industry.

In contrast, BitMart’s history of large losses, intermittent transparency and critical reports from users regarding withdrawals and support, reduce its standing for clients who prioritize custody, oversight and proven reliability.

Kraken is known for its responsive and professional customer service, offering multiple support channels to meet different user needs. Clients can access 24/7 live chat with real human agents, submit requests via email, or (in select cases) speak directly with a support specialist by phone.

Kraken’s multilingual support team can assist users in over a dozen languages. This helps the company service its global customer base more effectively.

The exchange has also earned high marks in customer satisfaction and was recognized as the Winner of Best Use of AI in CX (Europe) at the Customer Centricity World Series. Its focus on clarity, empathy, and speed in resolving issues continues to distinguish Kraken’s client experience in a competitive space.

BitMart supplies 24/7 customer service via live chat, email tickets and an extensive help centre.

That said, user feedback is mixed with many complaints highlighting slow resolution on account freezes, token-conversion issues and withdrawal problems, alongside average ratings around 3/5 from multiple review portals.

Although support infrastructure does exist, consistency and user satisfaction appear to lag behind other leading exchanges like Kraken.

Although BitMart’s listings are more extensive, Kraken supports over 500 vetted digital assets and offers access to 11,000+ U.S. stocks and ETFs, positioning itself as a hybrid platform bridging crypto and traditional finance.

For investors who value regulated crypto exposure alongside digital-asset liquidity, Kraken provides greater assurance than platforms that focus primarily on volume and token quantity.

Kraken differentiates itself through a more curated asset list that prioritizes liquidity, regulatory compliance and integration with traditional securities.

Both Kraken and BitMart serve global traders seeking extensive digital asset access, but they have very different priorities. BitMart offers broad token-selection, high-volume features and promotional incentives, making it attractive to speculative users willing to trade around elevated risk.

Kraken, by comparison, delivers a platform built on regulatory clarity, custody strength and user-centred support — making it a preferred choice for those seeking long-term reliability, transparency and peace of mind in the crypto markets.