Updated September 29, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team
eToro vs kraken
eToro
kraken
Higher score in this comparison
eToro vs kraken: the differences
| Compare | eToroReviewVisitVisit | krakenReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Taker fee | 1% | 0.8%Lower |
| Coins listed | from 150 | 728 |
| Regulators | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), SIPC | 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) |
| Fiat deposit methods | Card, Bank | Card, Bank, SEPA, ACH, Apple payCovers more |
| Withdrawal fee | $5 flat fee | Variable per asset and method; static or dynamic funding fees |
| Maker fee | Not confirmed | 0.4% |
| Proof of reserves | Not confirmed | Yes |
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
- kraken scores higher overall: 9.2 vs 9.0.
- Regulators: only eToro offers SIPC.
- Regulators: only kraken offers Central Bank of Ireland, FCA, FINTRAC.
- Founded is lower at eToro: 2007 vs 2011.
- kraken is licensed in 7 more countries.
- Taker fee is lower at kraken: 0.8% vs 1%.
- Fiat deposit methods: only kraken offers SEPA, ACH, Apple pay.
- Support channels: only kraken offers Email, Chat, Phone.
- Features: only kraken offers Self custody.
Our verdict on each
eToro
eToro suits readers who want a long-established custodial exchange with a CySEC licence and a broad coin list. Trading costs tell the other story: a taker fee of 1% is well above the 0.2% site median, and withdrawals add $5 flat fee.
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 | eToro | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 8.2Taker fees of 1% sit well above the 0.2% site median, and withdrawals cost $5 flat fee on top. | 8.3HigherFees 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 | 9.6 | 9.7Higher |
Availability and regulation
| Country | eToro | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Cyprus | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) MiCA CASP 213800GIFQMSV7HROS23 | CySEC 342/17 |
| United States | SIPC SIPC member 70212 | FinCEN 31000270997766 CFTC and NFA NFA ID #0309379 |
| 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 |
| Ireland | Not confirmed | Central Bank of Ireland C453020 Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) MiCA CASP 9845003D98SCC2851458 |
What each covers
| Fiat deposit methods | eToro | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Card | Yes | Yes |
| Bank | Yes | Yes |
| SEPA | No | Yes |
| ACH | No | Yes |
| Apple pay | No | Yes |
Cost in a real example
Buy 1,000 of crypto and sell it again
eToro
20
1% of 2,000
kraken
16
0.8% of 2,000
kraken comes out 4 lower in this example.
Worked out from the stated prices and rates; your own total depends on how you use it. Facts checked September 26, 2026.
How they place
| Ranking | eToro | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Where to buy crypto | 2 of 177 | 8 of 177 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | eToro | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Custodial, Staking | Custodial, Self custody, StakingCovers more |
| Legal entity | eToro (Europe) Ltd | Payward Europe Solutions Limited |
| Headquarters | Cyprus | Ireland |
| Founded | 2007Lower | 2011 |
| Support channels | Help centre | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Debit cards
| Fact | eToro | 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 | eToro | 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 | eToro | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Wallet type | Not confirmed | Mobile |
| Price | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Backup options | Not confirmed | Seed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | eToro | kraken | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taker fee | 1%highest quarter | 0.8%highest quarter | 0.15% |
| Coins listed | from 150above the median | 728highest quarter | 76 |
| Maker fee | Not confirmed | 0.4%highest quarter | 0.1% |
Median across 219 listed providers.
Pros and cons
eToro
Pros
- Regulated in Cyprus by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) under MiCA CASP 213800GIFQMSV7HROS23 and a member of SIPC under SIPC member 70212
- A coin list of from 150 sits well above the 62 site median
- Fiat deposits run through card and bank, so funding works without a crypto transfer first
Cons
- A taker fee of 1% is far above the 0.2% site median and above 0% at ActivTrades
- Withdrawals cost $5 flat fee, which adds to every round trip
- Support runs on help centre only, with no live channel listed
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
eToro
Who it suits
- Readers who want a supervised custodian and a licence to point to
- Buyers who fund with a card or a bank transfer rather than a crypto transfer
- Long-term holders who want staking alongside a broad coin list
Who should look elsewhere
- Active traders, since 0% at ActivTrades costs nothing to take liquidity
- Readers hunting the lowest taker fee, where bunq charges fees of 0.25% to 1.99%
- Anyone holding coins themselves, because custody here is custodial per custodial and staking
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.
Questions about each
eToro
What does eToro charge to trade?+
Trading fees are 1%, which is a full percentage on each trade. That reads high next to the 0.2% site median and next to bunq, which charges fees of 0.25% to 1.99%. Frequent traders pay that rate repeatedly, so it is the number to check first.
What does it cost to withdraw crypto?+
Withdrawals carry a fee of $5 flat fee. That sits on top of the 1% trading fee, so the full cost of a buy and a sell includes both. Anyone moving coins in and out regularly should add that withdrawal cost to the trading rate before choosing.
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.