Kraken vs HTX: How these crypto exchanges compare

This Kraken vs. HTX article breaks down how the two platforms differ in important areas like, fees, products, support and security.

Founded in 2011, Kraken is one of the world’s largest and most trusted names in crypto. Headquartered in Wyoming, it serves millions of global clients across over 190 countries.

Covering products such as staking, margin, futures, and OTC trading, Kraken offers different ways to gain exposure to hundreds of the world’s largest digital assets. All backed by its globally recognized security standards, Kraken was the first to pioneer Proof of Reserves and continues to uphold a new standard for transparency and accountability.

Kraken’s reviews show that it appeals to early investors and advanced traders who appreciate legal compliance, responsive customer support and effective security features backing their trading journey. As one of the oldest, most trusted and best known crypto exchanges, Kraken has the tools and features you need to execute your crypto strategy on your own terms.

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 as Huobi in 2013 by Leon Li, HTX is one of the oldest cryptocurrency exchanges. It was initially based in China, but moved overseas following the country’s crackdown on crypto trading. In recent years, it has undergone significant restructuring and rebranding following its acquisition by Justin Sun.

HTX delivers spot, derivatives and margin trading, staking, crypto loans and various yield programs across a wide range of tokens (including smaller, emerging assets). Historically, the platform has enjoyed a strong presence in Asian markets.

HTX is known for its broad asset listings and deep altcoin liquidity — making it a popular choice among traders seeking access to newer tokens. Today, it continues to maintain sizable trading volume in certain regions.

However, the exchange has faced regulatory uncertainty, a change in leadership and concerns around transparency. HTX has exited multiple markets (including mainland China) and reduced operations in others. Additionally, questions have been raised about its corporate governance, reserve disclosures and stability following layoffs and its ownership change. While it publishes Proof of Reserves, confidence among institutional and Western users has declined in recent years.

Today, HTX is regarded as a legacy exchange that still serves active traders in certain regions, but it is generally perceived as higher-risk compared to more regulated and transparent competitors.

Investors frequently choose Kraken because of their proven track record in regards to account security, product quality, and strong compliance standards. These priorities have helped it build long-term trust with millions of users across the globe.

While HTX offers breadth and flexibility, Kraken emphasizes stability, regulatory clarity, and client protection. For users seeking a regulated exchange with a focus on reliability and a deep product suite, Kraken remains a consistent first choice.

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.

HTX offers an expansive product suite beyond simple spot trading. Users can access spot markets of hundreds of cryptocurrencies, margin and perpetual futures contracts with leverage of up to 200×, copy-trading features, token earning programmes like Launchpool, as well as staking and yield products, allowing users to earn passive income from their dormant digital assets.

The platform also supports advanced technical tools such as leveraged ETPs and multi-asset collateral systems to appeal to both high-frequency traders and ecosystem-focused users.

Additionally, HTX provides sophisticated API support for automated and algorithmic trading. The platform supports external trading bots and custom integrations via its WebSocket and REST APIs. This allows advanced traders and developers to integrate their own tools and strategies for automated trading.

And recently, HTX started offering access to tokenized stocks. For example, HTX has launched a perpetual contract for TSLAX, a tokenized stock that tracks Tesla's stock price. By partnering with Backed Finance (a regulated real-asset tokenization firm), which issues a compliant xStock, HTX is then able to list it for trading.

While HTX offers an expansive range of trading features, including high-leverage futures up to 200×, copy-trading bots, and hundreds of altcoin listings, Kraken stands out by offering a more structured, compliance-oriented product ecosystem.

HTX’s focus is strongly on derivatives and fast-moving token opportunities. In contrast, Kraken provides not only spot and futures trading, but also staking across dozens of assets such as ETH, DOT, ADA, and institutional-grade access to tokenised stocks and ETFs in supported regions.

For traders seeking global access and product depth under a regulated architecture, Kraken delivers a broad, well-integrated platform. HTX may appeal to users focused purely on derivatives and high-frequency token plays, but for those who value product variety and regulatory clarity, Kraken offers a more balanced and institution-ready solution.

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.

HTX supports a broad asset universe, listing over 700 cryptocurrencies and more than 1,000 trading pairs as of 2026.

The exchange emphasises new and niche listings, including first-to-market tokens across sectors such as DeFi, AI and memecoins, making it a platform for users seeking exposure to emerging markets.

HTX also supports over 25 fiat currencies and 14 stablecoins, providing decent versatility for users in a number of different regions.

HTX lists over 700 cryptocurrencies, catering to traders seeking exposure to new or niche projects. Kraken, however, takes a more measured approach, offering more than 500 carefully vetted digital assets alongside 11,000+ traditional instruments through Kraken Securities.

This blend of depth and due diligence gives Kraken an advantage for investors prioritizing asset integrity, liquidity, and regulatory compliance over sheer volume of listings — key differentiators in today’s evolving crypto market.

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.

HTX operates a tiered maker-taker fee model where both spot makers and takers start at 0.20% each. Users can reduce their fees through higher trading volume, subscription-based VIP tiers, or by holding the platform’s native token (HT/HTX) for discounts.

Futures trading at HTX reflects much lower base rates (around 0.02% maker and 0.06% taker), with further reductions possible under VIP conditions.

While cryptocurrency deposits are free, withdrawal fees vary by asset and network, and fiat-card purchases may carry higher costs.

HTX’s straightforward fee model appeals to users who value predictable costs, but Kraken offers even greater flexibility across global markets with lower entry fees for active traders.

Kraken’s maker-taker rates start as low as 0.16% for makers and 0.26% for takers, undercutting HTX’s standard 0.40% flat rate.

Kraken also boasts a much wider range of products, including futures and staking, under the same transparent pricing framework, giving users more ways to earn or trade without facing hidden charges or token-based incentives.

For traders focused on minimizing costs within a regulated, multi-asset environment, Kraken’s global fee structure and clear disclosures make it the stronger long-term option over HTX.

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.

HTX emphasizes security via institutional-grade custody and transparency measures. The exchange has integrated with Fireblocks Off-Exchange to allow institutional trading while keeping assets in external custody and reducing counterparty risk.

HTX also provides Proof of Reserves verification to prove asset backing. Other core security protections include:

• Two-factor authentication
• Withdrawal whitelisting
• Multisig cold storage
• And automated fraud detection and wallet monitoring.

However, HTX has also faced regulatory scrutiny, including UK enforcement actions related to advertising compliance, a reminder that users should balance technical safeguards with awareness of regional risk.

User-review data also shows some concerns around HTX’s customer support, mainly pertaining to responsiveness and account restrictions. This threatens their security reputation further, especially from a user perspective.

With a record of no breaches resulting in the loss of client funds since 2011, Kraken maintains one of the industry’s most trusted security frameworks, built on independent Proof of Reserves audits, extensive cold-storage protocols, and institutional-grade controls.

These measures continue to make Kraken a preferred choice for investors who desire trust, transparency and trading volume.

Meanwhile, HTX provides comprehensive verification vs. Kraken’s long-standing commitment to security.

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.

HTX provides customer service through live-chat on its website and email support. The platform also features a comprehensive help centre including FAQs and tutorials for a diverse range of user-issues.

However, user feedback paints a mixed picture. While some users report fast responses via live chat, many others cite significant delays in email support, withdrawals, account access or case-resolution, and as a result HTX holds a Trustpilot rating of around 1.4/5.

HTX offers standard support channels common to large exchanges, but the actual customer service experience appears inconsistent, particularly when complex issues like KYC, fund recovery or large withdrawals are involved.

HTX lists over 700 cryptocurrencies, catering to traders seeking exposure to new or niche projects. Kraken, however, takes a more measured approach, offering more than 500 carefully vetted digital assets alongside 11,000+ traditional instruments through Kraken Securities.

This blend of depth and due diligence gives Kraken an advantage for investors prioritizing asset integrity, liquidity, and regulatory compliance over sheer volume of listings — key differentiators in today’s evolving crypto market.

Kraken and HTX serve distinct segments of the crypto market. HTX appeals to traders seeking expansive token access, low fees, and a wide range of advanced products, from futures and copy trading to NFT markets and token launches.

Kraken, by contrast, focuses on regulatory clarity, robust security, and transparent operations, delivering a trusted and extensive trading environment for both retail and institutional users.

For traders weighing scale against scrutiny, HTX offers variety and flexibility, while Kraken provides reliability, compliance, and a proven record of safety.