Updated September 29, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team
Aave vs Kraken Staking
Kraken Staking
Higher score in this comparison
Aave
Where Aave and Kraken Staking differ
| Compare | AaveReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | Kraken StakingReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Supported assets | AUSDC, AUSDT, AWETH, GHO | ATOM, SCRT, KSM, DYM, FLOW, MON, KAVA, XTZ, INJ, GRT, AVAX, TIA, NEAR, SOL, SEI, TRX, POL, DOT, ETH, HYPE, SUI, BNB, BTC, ADA, MINA, TAO, FLOWH, AKT, ALGO, APT, CELO, CSPR, CTC, CTSI, DASH, DCR |
| Custody | Non custodial | Custodial |
| Yield | Not confirmed | 0.1% to 21% |
| Lock-up terms | Not confirmed | None for flexible (unstake any time); bonded has a lock-in period (e.g. 21D for ATOM) |
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Key differences
- Kraken Staking scores higher overall: 9.7 vs 8.5.
- Founded is lower at Kraken Staking: 2011 vs 2020.
- Supported assets: only Aave offers AUSDC, AUSDT, AWETH.
- Supported assets: only Kraken Staking offers ATOM, SCRT, KSM.
- Support channels: only Kraken Staking offers Phone, Community.
Our verdict on each
Aave
Aave suits holders who want a non-custodial earn account and are willing to manage their own wallet key. Custody is non custodial and the asset list is limited to aUSDC, aUSDT and aWETH, so it trades breadth for control and sits apart from the custodial platforms most savers use.
Kraken Staking
Kraken Staking suits holders who want to earn on proof-of-stake coins without handling their own keys, with rates running 0.1% to 21%. Flexible staking has no lock-in, liquid staking is listed, and Payward Europe Solutions Limited is licensed by the Central Bank of Ireland MiCA CASP 9845003D98SCC2851458.
Score breakdown
| Area | Aave | Kraken Staking |
|---|---|---|
| Offer | 8.8 | 9.2Higher |
| Trust | 8.4 | 10.0Higher |
How they place
| Ranking | Aave | Kraken Staking |
|---|---|---|
| Crypto staking and earn | 93 of 179 | 6 of 179 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Aave | Kraken Staking |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Not confirmed | Liquid staking |
| Legal entity | Aave Labs | Payward Europe Solutions Limited |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Ireland |
| Founded | 2020 | 2011Lower |
| Support channels | Help centre | Help centre, Phone, CommunityCovers more |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Aave | Kraken Staking | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | Not confirmed | 0.1% to 21%highest quarter | 8 |
Median across 69 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Aave
Pros
- Custody is non custodial, so the deposit never leaves the holder's control.
- A short, deliberate asset list of aUSDC, aUSDT and aWETH keeps the choice easy to weigh.
- A named operator sits behind the product: Aave Labs, working since 2020.
Cons
- Support runs on a help centre only, so help is written and asynchronous.
- The asset list stops at aUSDC, aUSDT and aWETH, so coins outside that set are out of reach.
- Custody is non custodial, which puts key handling and network choice on the holder rather than on a support team.
Kraken Staking
Pros
- Flexible staking has no lock-in, while bonded staking adds one, so you choose how quickly you can exit.
- A long supported list, ATOM, SCRT and KSM, puts major assets and newer layer-one coins in one account.
- Support runs through help centre, phone and community, so a phone line sits alongside the help centre and the community.
Cons
- Custody is custodial, custodial: the exchange holds the staked coins, so every staked position depends on one operator.
- Lock-up terms differ by plan: flexible staking has none, while bonded staking carries a lock-in period, so a quick exit depends on the plan.
- Rates run 0.1% to 21%, a wide spread, so a headline figure says little about what a given coin pays.
Who each suits
Aave
Who it suits
- Key holders who want to earn on aUSDC, aUSDT and aWETH while the deposit stays outside a custodian.
- Users comfortable with protocol mechanics rather than brokerage-style account handling.
- Savers who want a clear counterparty, since the operator is Aave Labs and the project dates from 2020.
Who should look elsewhere
- VaultLeap, for anyone who wants a simpler stablecoin-only earn account, since its assets are USDC.
- bunq Crypto Spain, for holders who want many stakeable networks at once, given its list of TAO, ADA and TIA.
- Bit2Me, for holders of BNB, GRT or KAVA who want their own tokens in an earn product, since its assets are BTC, ETH and B2M.
Kraken Staking
Who it suits
- Holders of coins in ATOM, SCRT and KSM who want a steady return without moving keys off the exchange they already use.
- Long-term holders comfortable leaving staked coins in custodial form, custodial, and letting the exchange run the validator side.
- EU customers who want a staking product from an operator licensed by the Central Bank of Ireland, MiCA CASP 9845003D98SCC2851458, and in Austria.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for people who want to hold their own keys, since custody is custodial, custodial. VaultLeap is a different route, built around USDC outside an exchange.
- Not for anyone chasing the highest end of the rate range who would rather have a tighter band, where Bit2Me, 0.5% to 19.2%, may suit better.
- bunq Crypto Spain fits those who want a euro bank account alongside a stated return of 8.25% rather than a long staking list.
Questions about each
Aave
Does Aave hold the deposit, or do I keep the keys?+
Custody is non custodial: the deposit is made from and returned to your own wallet, and no intermediary takes it into its own name. The trade-off is that recovery sits with you, so a lost key or a deposit sent on the wrong network is something the help centre cannot reverse.
Which assets can I earn on?+
The listed assets are aUSDC, aUSDT and aWETH. That is a short set built around stablecoin balances, a wrapped ether position and another stablecoin, so choosing Aave means picking a few familiar assets over a long tail of coins.
Kraken Staking
What yield does Kraken Staking pay?+
The listed rates run 0.1% to 21% across the supported coins, with the higher figures attached to a smaller group of assets. Because the range is wide, it is worth checking the number for the coin you actually hold rather than reading the top as typical.
Which coins can I stake?+
The supported list is long: ATOM, SCRT and KSM. Major assets sit alongside liquid-staking and layer-one tokens, so a portfolio can be spread across chains rather than concentrated in one. Availability depends on the coin, and each carries its own rate, which is why the 0.1% to 21% range is so wide.
Other options to compare
Kraken Staking
Aave