Your cookie choices

We use necessary cookies to make this site work. With your permission, analytics cookies help us understand usage and marketing cookies support advertising.

You can reject non-essential cookies and still use the site. Change your choices anytime in Cookie settings.

Cookie settingsCookie policy

Updated September 29, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team

ActivTrades vs Kraken

ActivTrades scores 9.7 and Kraken 9.4 out of 10. Compare their differences and shared features below.
ActivTrades

ActivTrades

Higher score in this comparison

9.7/10
Visit
Kraken

Kraken

9.4/10
Visit

Where ActivTrades and Kraken differ

ActivTrades vs Kraken
CompareActivTradesActivTradesReviewVisitVisitKrakenKrakenReviewVisitVisit
Taker fee0%Lower0.05% to 0.8%
Coins listed9728Higher
Fiat deposit methodsCard, BankCard, Bank, SEPA, ACH, Apple payCovers more
Maker fee0%0% to 0.4%
RegulatorsNot confirmedCentral Bank of Ireland, Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Central Bank of Ireland (CBI)
Proof of reservesNot confirmedYes

Same on both: Derivatives (Yes), Exchange type (Cex).

We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.

Key differences

  • ActivTrades scores higher overall: 9.7 vs 9.4.
  • Taker fee is lower at ActivTrades: 0% vs 0.05% to 0.8%.
  • Coins listed is higher at Kraken: 728 vs 9.
  • Fiat deposit methods: only Kraken offers SEPA, ACH, Apple pay.
  • Features: only ActivTrades offers Custodial.
  • Features: only Kraken offers Multi currency, Crypto, Virtual card.

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%.

Read the full ActivTrades review

Kraken

Kraken suits frequent crypto users who keep trading balances on exchange and want those balances spendable through a card without added card upkeep. It pairs a debit card on Mastercard with a monthly fee of €0 and conversion fees of 0%, which keeps routine spend predictable for cardholders.

Read the full Kraken review

Score breakdown

ActivTrades vs Kraken
AreaActivTradesKraken
Cost9.8HigherTaker fee 0% and maker fee 0% match the site minimum 0%, well under the site median 0.2%.9.3Monthly charge of €0 with conversion fees of 0% keeps routine card costs contained.
Offer9.09.0Card access to 728 with staking on ATOM, SCRT and KSM widens use beyond payments.
Trust10.0Higher9.7Supervision linked to Central Bank of Ireland, Financial Conduct Authority and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network supports confidence in handling.

Which one suits you

Pick ActivTrades if cost, trust, and taker fee matter most.

Pick Kraken if coins listed and fiat deposit methods matter most.

Positions in our rankings

ActivTrades vs Kraken
RankingActivTradesKraken
Crypto futures exchanges1 of 786 of 78

Cost in a real example

Buy 1,000 of crypto and sell it again

ActivTrades

0

0% of 2,000

Kraken

1 to 16

0.05% to 0.8% of 2,000

ActivTrades comes out 1 lower in this example.

Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 28, 2026.

Where each is licensed and available

ActivTrades vs Kraken
CountryActivTradesKraken
IrelandNot confirmed
Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) MiCA CASP 9845003D98SCC2851458
IE_CBI PSD_EMI IE_CBI!C453020

Every fact side by side

ActivTrades vs Kraken
FactActivTradesKraken
FeaturesCustodialMulti currency, Crypto, Virtual card, Travel
Founded2001Not confirmed

Crypto wallets

ActivTrades vs Kraken
FactActivTradesKraken
Wallet typeNot confirmedMobile
PriceNot confirmed$0
CustodyNot confirmedSelf custody
Coins supportedNot confirmed728
Backup optionsNot confirmedSeed

Where each stands against the rest

ActivTrades vs Kraken
FactActivTradesKrakenMedian
Taker fee0%lowest quarter0.05% to 0.8%below the median0.15%
Coins listed9lowest quarter728highest quarter76
Maker fee0%below the median0% to 0.4%below the median0.1%

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

  • Monthly fee of €0 keeps ongoing card costs low for regular spenders
  • Conversion fees of 0% favour cross border card use versus Bit2Me at 0.95%
  • Cashback of 0.5% to 2% adds value on eligible card spending

Cons

  • Free ATM allowance of €0 restricts cash withdrawals for frequent ATM users
  • Support runs on chat and help centre only, which limits choice for people who prefer phone help
  • Cashback of 0.5% to 2% varies by activity, so returns depend on card use

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

  • Exchange holders who want trading balances spendable by card rather than moved off venue
  • Card payers who value low upkeep and who accept eToro instead where ATM needs dominate

Who should look elsewhere

  • Cash heavy users who may prefer eToro for its free ATM range of €2,500 to €12,000 over €0
  • Phone support seekers who may prefer bunq if assisted channels matter more than chat and help centre

Country by country

ActivTrades vs Kraken
CountryActivTradesKraken
ArgentinaYesNo
BelgiumYesNo
United KingdomYesNo

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 the Kraken card cost to keep and use?+

The card carries a monthly fee of €0 and conversion fees of 0%. Cashback of 0.5% to 2% applies to eligible spend. Exchange trading uses maker fees of 0% to 0.4% and taker fees of 0.05% to 0.8%, so card costs stay distinct from trading costs.

Who regulates Kraken for this product?+

Kraken lists oversight connected to Central Bank of Ireland, Financial Conduct Authority and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and holds registrations including MiCA CASP 9845003D98SCC2851458. The legal entity named is Payward Europe Solutions Limited. These permissions relate to crypto and payment services and vary by product and domicile.

Other options to compare

ActivTrades

Visit

Kraken

Visit