Updated September 29, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team
ActivTrades vs kraken
ActivTrades
Higher score in this comparison
kraken
ActivTrades vs kraken: the differences
| Compare | ActivTradesReviewVisitVisit | krakenReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Taker fee | 0%Lower | 0.8% |
| Coins listed | 9 | 728Higher |
| Fiat deposit methods | Card, Bank | Card, Bank, SEPA, ACH, Apple payCovers more |
| Maker fee | 0%Lower | 0.4% |
| Regulators | Not confirmed | Central Bank of Ireland, CySEC, FCA, FINTRAC, FinCEN, SEC and FINRA, CFTC and NFA, AUSTRAC, Bermuda Monetary Authority, Comision Nacional de Valores (CNV), Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA), Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) |
| Proof of reserves | Not confirmed | Yes |
| Withdrawal fee | Not confirmed | Variable per asset and method; static or dynamic funding fees |
Same on both: Derivatives (Yes), Exchange type (Cex).
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Key differences
- ActivTrades scores higher overall: 9.7 vs 9.2.
- Founded is lower at ActivTrades: 2001 vs 2011.
- Taker fee is lower at ActivTrades: 0% vs 0.8%.
- Maker fee is lower at ActivTrades: 0% vs 0.4%.
- Coins listed is higher at kraken: 728 vs 9.
- Fiat deposit methods: only kraken offers SEPA, ACH, Apple pay.
- Features: only kraken offers Self custody, Staking.
Our verdict on each
ActivTrades
ActivTrades is a low cost exchange for traders who care more about the trading fee than the coin list. Taker and maker fees both sit at 0%, which puts it at rank 1 of 118 brands on taker fee against a site median of 0.2%.
kraken
Kraken suits buyers who put safety of the money and a wide coin list ahead of trading cost. It publishes proof of reserves, offers derivatives, and lists 728 coins, but the taker fee of 0.8% sits well above the site median of 0.2%, so regular traders pay more per trade.
Score breakdown
| Area | ActivTrades | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.8HigherTaker fee 0% and maker fee 0% match the site minimum 0%, well under the site median 0.2%. | 8.3Fees are high: a taker fee of 0.8% and a maker fee of 0.4% sit well above the site median of 0.2%. |
| Offer | 9.0 | 9.8HigherProof of reserves and derivatives are both offered, coins listed reach 728, and support runs on email, chat and phone. |
| Trust | 10.0Higher | 9.7 |
Availability and regulation
| Country | ActivTrades | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Not confirmed | |
| Australia | Not confirmed | AUSTRAC ACN 163 237 634 |
| Austria | Not confirmed | Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) MiCA CASP 5299005V5GBSN2A4C303 |
| Bermuda | Not confirmed | Bermuda Monetary Authority 202403268 |
| Canada | Not confirmed | FINTRAC M19343731 |
| Cyprus | Not confirmed | CySEC 342/17 |
| Ireland | Not confirmed | Central Bank of Ireland C453020 Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) MiCA CASP 9845003D98SCC2851458 |
| United Kingdom | Not confirmed | FCA 757895 |
Side by side, item by item
| Fiat deposit methods | ActivTrades | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Card | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | Yes |
| SEPA | No | Yes |
| ACH | No | Yes |
| Apple pay | No | Yes |
How they place
| Ranking | ActivTrades | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Crypto futures exchanges | 1 of 78 | 10 of 78 |
Choosing between them
Pick ActivTrades if cost, trust, taker fee, and maker fee matter most.
Pick kraken if offer, coins listed, and fiat deposit methods matter most.
Every fact side by side
| Fact | ActivTrades | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Custodial | Custodial, Self custody, StakingCovers more |
| Legal entity | Not confirmed | Payward Europe Solutions Limited |
| Headquarters | Not confirmed | Ireland |
| Founded | 2001Lower | 2011 |
| Support channels | Not confirmed | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre, Community |
Debit cards
| Fact | ActivTrades | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | Not confirmed | €0 |
| Currency conversion fee | Not confirmed | 0% |
| Card type | Not confirmed | Debit |
| Cashback rate | Not confirmed | 2% |
| Card network | Not confirmed | Mastercard |
| Currencies | Not confirmed | 600 |
| Custody | Not confirmed | Custodial |
Crypto earn
| Fact | ActivTrades | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Yield | Not confirmed | 0.1% to 21% |
| Supported assets | Not confirmed | 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 |
| Lock-up terms | Not confirmed | None for flexible (unstake any time); bonded has a lock-in period (e.g. 21D for ATOM) |
Crypto wallets
| Fact | ActivTrades | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Wallet type | Not confirmed | Mobile |
| Price | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Backup options | Not confirmed | Seed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | ActivTrades | kraken | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taker fee | 0%lowest quarter | 0.8%highest quarter | 0.15% |
| Coins listed | 9lowest quarter | 728highest quarter | 76 |
| Maker fee | 0%below the median | 0.4%highest quarter | 0.1% |
Median across 219 listed providers.
Pros and cons
ActivTrades
Pros
- Taker fee of 0% and maker fee of 0% mean no commission on either side of the book.
- Taker fee of 0% ranks 1 of 118 brands, well under the 0.2% exchange median.
- Founded in 2001, so the brand has been in the market far longer than most of the 848 brands tracked here.
Cons
- Only 9 coins are listed, against an exchange median of 74.5 and from 650 at Bitpanda.
- Funding is limited to card and bank, a shorter set of routes than most exchanges in this ranking accept.
- Custodial custody means your coins sit with the exchange, which is the minority model at 13.1% of exchanges.
kraken
Pros
- Proof of reserves is published and derivatives are offered on the same platform.
- Coins listed reach 728, above the site median of 62.
- Fiat deposits run through card, bank and sepa, covering card, bank transfer, SEPA and ACH.
Cons
- Fees are heavy for frequent trading: 0.8% to take and 0.4% to make, against a site median of 0.2%.
- Withdrawal fees vary by asset and method, with static or dynamic funding fees on top of the trade cost.
- Staked balances sit in custodial custody, and bonded staking carries a lock-in period.
Who each suits
ActivTrades
Who it suits
- Active traders who place many orders and want the trading fee kept at 0%.
- Long standing clients who value a brand founded in 2001 over a long coin list.
- Derivatives users, since the exchange does offer derivatives.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone chasing breadth, because 9 coins is a short list next to Bitpanda at from 650.
- Users who prefer holding their own keys, since custody here is custodial.
- People who want a simple buy and sell only service with no derivatives, such as Bitpanda.
kraken
Who it suits
- Readers who want a regulated exchange with proof of reserves and derivatives in the same account.
- Anyone funding an account by card, bank transfer, SEPA or ACH.
- Card users, since the card carries a €0 monthly fee and cashback of 2%.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not ActivTrades if trading cost is the only thing that matters, since its taker fee is 0%.
- Not bunq, whose taker fee runs 0.25% to 1.99% against the fee here.
- Not Bitpanda for a longer coin list, as Bitpanda lists from 650 coins.
Country by country
| Country | ActivTrades | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Yes | No |
| Belgium | Yes | No |
| United Kingdom | Yes | No |
Questions about each
ActivTrades
What does ActivTrades charge to trade?+
The taker fee is 0% and the maker fee is 0%, so the same number applies on both sides of a trade. That puts ActivTrades at rank 1 of 118 brands on taker fee, against a site median of 0.2%.
How many coins can I buy on ActivTrades?+
The exchange lists 9 coins, a short list compared with the 74.5 median across exchanges. Bitpanda lists from 650, so ActivTrades suits traders focused on major assets rather than long tail tokens.
kraken
What does Kraken charge to trade?+
Trading costs 0.8% for taker orders and 0.4% for maker orders. The taker fee sits above the site median of 0.2%, so cost-minded traders may prefer a cheaper venue. Withdrawal fees are separate and vary by asset and method, charged as static or dynamic funding fees.
Which regulators and licences cover Kraken?+
Kraken is listed with Central Bank of Ireland, CySEC and FCA. The European entity behind it is Payward Europe Solutions Limited, based in Ireland, with its own Central Bank of Ireland registration. Proof of reserves is also published, so stated holdings can be compared with the proof.