Kraken vs Gemini: How these crypto exchanges compare

Crypto platforms differ across a number of important areas such as regulation, product breadth (spot, margin, futures, staking, tokenized assets), fee design, asset coverage, security practices (cold storage, audits, certifications), and customer support. It’s important to take all these variables into consideration before deciding where to trade.

Both Kraken and Gemini are well established platforms with institutional-grade security and a range of advanced trading products, however their histories and track records differ. This Kraken vs. Gemini article explores both exchanges in depth to help you decide which venue is most suitable for you.

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 2014 by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, Gemini is a US-based cryptocurrency exchange headquartered in New York and known for its strong emphasis on regulatory compliance and security.

From its inception, Gemini has positioned itself as a “regulated-first” platform, operating under New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) oversight and targeting institutional and risk-averse retail users.

Gemini offers spot trading for a curated selection of cryptocurrencies, along with staking, custody, and institutional services. Its retail platform is designed for simplicity, while ActiveTrader provides more advanced order types and lower fees for experienced traders. Gemini also operates a qualified custody business and provides services to funds, corporates, and ETFs.

Gemini’s is well-regarded for its regulatory credibility and institutional trust, particularly in the US market. The exchange has historically taken a conservative approach to asset listings and product expansion, which appeals to compliance-focused users and institutions.

With this conservative approach, however, Gemini’s offering is very limited (both in scope and in available regions) as compared to its offshore competitors. While it remains a trusted platform for regulated crypto access, it is generally overlooked by active traders seeking more features, more assets or derivatives.

Kraken has been operating since 2011, making it one of the earliest global exchanges. Its long history across multiple market cycles reassures clients looking for a proven track record.

Kraken is consistently ranked among the most trusted exchanges by independent research firms and mainstream finance outlets.

Kraken has never reported a breach of client funds in over a decade of operations

Kraken holds regulatory licenses across the U.S., UK, EU, and other key markets. Gemini, by contrast, has been placed on the UK FCA warning list for operating without authorization.

Kraken’s certifications (ISO/IEC 27001, SOC 2 Type II) and recurring third-party Proof-of-Reserves audits offer peace of mind

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.

Trading flexibility: Users can trade on Gemini’s streamlined mobile app or use the Gemini ActiveTrader interface for advanced charting, multiple order types, auctions, and fast execution speeds.

User-friendly investing: Gemini provides recurring buys and price alerts, making it easy to automate investments and track performance without constant monitoring.

Spot, margin, and derivatives: Spot trading is available to all clients, while select users outside the U.S. can access Gemini Foundation, offering perpetual futures with leverage. Margin trading is supported in certain regions up to 5x.

Institutional services: Gemini Custody offers SOC-certified, insured cold storage, while Gemini Prime provides block trading, clearing, and settlement for institutions.

Consumer finance products: The Gemini Credit Card allows users to earn crypto rewards on everyday purchases, while Gemini Pay enables retail crypto spending with partners in the U.S.

Staking and yield: Gemini supports ETH staking and offers Gemini Earn (availability varies by jurisdiction), allowing users to generate yield on select assets.

Global payments: With integrations for ACH, wire, SEPA, debit/credit cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay, Gemini offers diverse fiat on- and off-ramps for users worldwide.

Stablecoin innovation: Gemini issues the Gemini Dollar (GUSD), a fully regulated USD-backed stablecoin, widely used across DeFi and trading platforms.

Education: Gemini Cryptopedia provides an extensive knowledge base covering crypto basics, DeFi concepts, and advanced trading strategies.

NFT marketplace: With Nifty Gateway (a Gemini subsidiary), users can buy, sell, and manage NFTs, positioning Gemini within the digital collectibles ecosystem.

Kraken offers a broader, more innovative product suite than Gemini. Beyond core spot and margin trading, it provides futures for U.S. users, stock and ETF investing, advanced staking, no-fee payments, and emerging services like AI-driven automation, DeFi integration, ICO access and access to proprietary funding.

Kraken offers clients more tools, markets, and opportunities in a single platform. This breadth and pace of innovation are why many choose Kraken over Gemini.

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.

Gemini offers trading in more than 100 cryptocurrencies and 200+ markets across a broad mix of categories.

For equity exposure, Gemini provides tokenized U.S. stocks through its dShares™ program. These tokens are backed 1:1 by the underlying equities and include leading companies such as Apple, Amazon, Nvidia, Microsoft, and Tesla, as well as ETFs like the S&P 500 (SPY). Access is currently limited to eligible non-U.S. markets.

Gemini has paid particular attention to stablecoins, issuing its own regulated Gemini Dollar (GUSD) while also supporting others including USDC, USDT, and DAI.

Fiat support includes direct U.S. dollar funding as well as global on-ramps through ACH, wire transfers, SEPA, debit/credit cards, PayPal, and Apple Pay, enabling broad access for customers worldwide.

With operations in over 60 countries, Gemini supports a curated but diversified range of digital assets.

Kraken appeals to clients who value breadth, regulation, and reliability in asset support. While Gemini maintains a respectable list of crypto assets and tokenized stocks, Kraken delivers a far wider selection; over 500 cryptocurrencies, 1,200 market pairs, and deep support for derivatives including fully compliant U.S. perpetual futures. This makes Kraken a stronger choice for active traders who want both variety and access to legacy market products like stocks and ETFs.

Kraken also distinguishes itself through its highly regulated fiat infrastructure. With direct support for ten major fiat currencies, robust banking rails, and deep liquidity in fiat-crypto markets, it makes it easier for people all over the world to get exposure to digital assets.

Ultimately, clients choose Kraken over Gemini because it combines a larger, regulated asset ecosystem with stronger fiat connectivity, making it a more versatile and institution-ready platform for those who want everything in one place.

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.

Gemini’s fee structure is tiered and depends on the product you use. On the ActiveTrader platform, maker fees start at 0.20% and can fall to 0.00% for high-volume traders, while taker fees start at 0.40% and decrease to as low as 0.03%. For derivatives trading through Gemini Foundation, fees begin at 0.02% (maker) and 0.07% (taker), with discounts for larger volumes.

Deposits are generally free for both crypto and U.S. bank transfers (ACH), while fiat via wire transfer may carry standard bank charges and card or third-party processors may add fees. Withdrawals are charged per asset: crypto withdrawals reflect network fees and are shown at the time of confirmation, while U.S. wire withdrawals carry a fixed $25 fee.

Overall, Gemini’s pricing is transparent, with fees clearly displayed before order or transfer confirmation, making it straightforward for both casual investors and professional traders to understand their costs.

Kraken generally offers lower and more competitive trading fees than Gemini. On Kraken Pro, maker and taker fees start at 0.25% and 0.40% and fall sharply for higher volumes, with futures priced as low as 0.02%-0.05%. Gemini’s ActiveTrader begins at similar levels but reduces more slowly, and its derivatives carry higher entry-level taker fees.

Kraken also provides stronger fiat integration, with multiple currencies supported and flexible banking rails, while Gemini often relies on stablecoin pairs and fixed costs like $25 per U.S. wire withdrawal.

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.

Gemini operates as a full-reserve exchange and custodian, meaning customer funds are segregated and held 1:1 under New York trust licensing and fiduciary obligations. It holds SOC 1 Type 2 and SOC 2 Type 2 certifications, and maintains ISO/IEC 27001 (information security) accreditation.

Clients benefit from a suite of layered protections:

• Mandatory 2FA (including support for hardware security keys such as YubiKey)
• Withdrawal address allowlisting to restrict withdrawals to preapproved addresses
• Withdrawal protection, which enforces a 7-day waiting period for funds sent to newly added addresses
• Email confirmation for sensitive account changes
• Device whitelisting, session limits, and risk monitoring for suspicious activity
• Cryptographic controls and encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Segregated custody of fiat and crypto assets in accounts separate from Gemini’s operating funds

Gemini publicly states it has never lost client funds due to custodial breach, and its Trust Center provides ongoing transparency into its reserve metrics. For its stablecoin product, GUSD, Gemini publishes monthly third-party audit reports confirming 1:1 backing in cash and high-liquidity assets.

Kraken is often preferred by clients who value security assurance and transparency. Unlike Gemini, which relies on external attestations and a trust-chartered structure, Kraken pioneered exchange-wide proof-of-reserves audits back in 2014 and continues to perform them regularly, allowing clients to verify that assets are backed 1:1 in real time.

In addition, Kraken’s security labs team, ISO/IEC 27001 and SOC 2 certifications, and layered account controls (like PGP email encryption and granular API permissions) reinforce its reputation as one of the most hardened platforms in the industry.

While both exchanges have strong custody practices, Kraken’s long record without client-fund losses, its proactive auditing, and its reputation for security innovation make it the platform of choice for users who demand maximum transparency and institutional-grade safeguards.

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.

Gemini focuses on structured, ticket-based assistance designed around compliance and transparency. The exchange provides support primarily through its Help Center and email ticketing system, which routes requests to dedicated teams depending on the issue type. While Gemini does not offer general phone or live chat support, customers with the Gemini Credit Card have access to a dedicated 24/7 phone line for card-related matters.

The Help Center includes detailed guides for account setup, security, trading, and compliance, making it straightforward for users to self-serve common issues. Support is available in multiple languages, and Gemini maintains a public status page to keep users informed of platform incidents or outages in real time.

For security-sensitive requests, Gemini enforces strict verification steps to protect accounts, including mandatory 2FA and withdrawal allowlisting. Institutions benefit from direct relationships with Gemini’s account managers and custody specialists, while retail clients receive consistent responses via email with clear next steps.

Kraken appeals to clients who value breadth, regulation, and reliability in asset support. While Gemini maintains a respectable list of crypto assets and tokenized stocks, Kraken delivers a far wider selection; over 500 cryptocurrencies, 1,200 market pairs, and deep support for derivatives including fully compliant U.S. perpetual futures. This makes Kraken a stronger choice for active traders who want both variety and access to legacy market products like stocks and ETFs.

Kraken also distinguishes itself through its highly regulated fiat infrastructure. With direct support for ten major fiat currencies, robust banking rails, and deep liquidity in fiat-crypto markets, it makes it easier for people all over the world to get exposure to digital assets.

Ultimately, clients choose Kraken over Gemini because it combines a larger, regulated asset ecosystem with stronger fiat connectivity, making it a more versatile and institution-ready platform for those who want everything in one place.

Clients tend to choose Kraken over Gemini for its much wider range of assets, deeper markets (including regulated futures and margin trading), and stronger fiat support across multiple currencies. Kraken also provides real-time proof-of-reserves audits, an unmatched security record, and award-winning 24/7 multilingual support; advantages that make it the more compelling choice for traders and institutions seeking breadth, transparency, and reliability.