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Updated September 29, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team

Bitfinex vs Kraken

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

Kraken

9.4/10
Visit
Bitfinex

Bitfinex

Higher score in this comparison

9.4/10
See alternatives

Bitfinex vs Kraken: the differences

Bitfinex vs Kraken
CompareBitfinexBitfinexReviewSee alternativesSee alternativesKrakenKrakenReviewVisitVisit
Taker fee0%Lower0.05% to 0.8%
Coins listed63728Higher
RegulatorsDigital Assets Service Provider El SalvadorCentral Bank of Ireland, Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Central Bank of Ireland (CBI)
Fiat deposit methodsCard, BankCard, Bank, SEPA, ACH, Apple payCovers more
Maker fee0%0% to 0.4%
Withdrawal feeBank wire 0.1% (min 100 USD/Euro)Not confirmed

Same on both: Proof of reserves (Yes), 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

  • Regulators: only Bitfinex offers Digital Assets Service Provider El Salvador.
  • Regulators: only Kraken offers Central Bank of Ireland, Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
  • Taker fee is lower at Bitfinex: 0% vs 0.05% to 0.8%.
  • Coins listed is higher at Kraken: 728 vs 63.
  • Fiat deposit methods: only Kraken offers SEPA, ACH, Apple pay.
  • Features: only Bitfinex offers Custodial, Staking.
  • Features: only Kraken offers Multi currency, Crypto, Virtual card.

Our verdict on each

Bitfinex

Bitfinex is a custodial exchange built for active traders and long-term holders who want a low cost on every fill rather than a very long coin list. It scores 7.3 overall on HodlCue, trading 63 coins, publishing proof of reserves and adding staking on the same account.

Read the full Bitfinex 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

Bitfinex vs Kraken
AreaBitfinexKraken
Cost9.8HigherSpot taker fee of 0% and maker fee of 0%, so trading costs sit at the floor.9.3Monthly charge of €0 with conversion fees of 0% keeps routine card costs contained.
Offer9.2HigherDerivatives and staking with a yield of 3% to 6%, but a coin list of only 63.9.0Card access to 728 with staking on ATOM, SCRT and KSM widens use beyond payments.
Trust9.29.7HigherSupervision linked to Central Bank of Ireland, Financial Conduct Authority and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network supports confidence in handling.

What it costs in practice

Buy 1,000 of crypto and sell it again

Bitfinex

0

0% of 2,000

Kraken

1 to 16

0.05% to 0.8% of 2,000

Bitfinex 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.

What each covers

Bitfinex vs Kraken
Fiat deposit methodsBitfinexKraken
CardYesYes
BankYesYes
SEPANoYes
ACHNoYes
Apple payNoYes

How they place

Bitfinex vs Kraken
RankingBitfinexKraken
Crypto exchanges37 of 2979 of 297
Crypto futures exchanges21 of 786 of 78
Where to buy crypto26 of 1775 of 177

Every fact side by side

Bitfinex vs Kraken
FactBitfinexKraken
FeaturesCustodial, StakingMulti currency, Crypto, Virtual card, Travel
Legal entityiFinex Inc.Not confirmed
HeadquartersVirgin Islands, BritishNot confirmed
Founded2012Not confirmed
Support channelsChat, Help centre, CommunityNot confirmed

Crypto earn

Bitfinex vs Kraken
FactBitfinexKraken
Yield3% to 6%Not confirmed
Supported assetsTRX, SOL, ADA, DOT, ETHNot confirmed
Lock-up termsSoft staking, no lock except ETH2 which needs unstaking (weeks to months)Not confirmed
CustodyCustodialSelf custody

Crypto wallets

Bitfinex vs Kraken
FactBitfinexKraken
Wallet typeNot confirmedMobile
PriceNot confirmed$0
Coins supportedNot confirmed728
Backup optionsNot confirmedSeed

Where each stands against the rest

Bitfinex vs Kraken
FactBitfinexKrakenMedian
Taker fee0%lowest quarter0.05% to 0.8%below the median0.15%
Coins listed63below the median728highest quarter76
Maker fee0%below the median0% to 0.4%below the median0.1%

Median across 219 listed providers.

Pros and cons

Bitfinex

Pros

  • Proof of reserves is published, which gives you something concrete to check before you deposit.
  • Card and bank fiat deposits are both supported, and help runs on chat, help centre and community when something goes wrong.
  • Staking is soft, so coins are not locked, except the ether position, which has to be unstaked first over weeks to months.

Cons

  • A list of 63 coins puts it at 89 of the 172 brands we track, below the 344.5 the widest lists reach.
  • Custody is custodial, so the exchange holds your coins rather than a wallet you control.
  • Support runs on chat, help centre and community only, with no email or phone line for urgent cases.

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

Bitfinex

Who it suits

  • Traders who trade often enough for the taker fee to matter more than the coin list.
  • Holders who want a staking yield without locking up access to most of their coins.
  • Traders who want spot and derivatives handled from a single account and one fee schedule.

Who should look elsewhere

  • Bitpanda, if the coin list matters most to you: it lists from 650 coins against 63 on Bitfinex.
  • bunq, if you would rather see a stated taker fee of 0.25% to 1.99% than trade at 0%.
  • ActivTrades, if a short list of 9 coins covers everything you want to trade.

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

Questions about each

Bitfinex

What are the trading fees on Bitfinex?+

Spot trading is charged at 0% for takers and 0% for makers, so both sides of the book sit at the same figure. That places Bitfinex at 1 on taker fee among the 118 brands we compare, while the site median sits at 0.2%.

How much does it cost to withdraw?+

A bank wire withdrawal costs Bank wire 0.1% (min 100 USD/Euro), and that is the figure published in the exchange's fee table. Because the charge includes a stated minimum, a small transfer can cost more to move than the rate alone suggests, so fewer larger withdrawals usually make more sense than a run of small ones.

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

Kraken

Visit

Bitfinex

See alternatives