Updated September 29, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team
Independent Reserve vs kraken
Independent Reserve
Higher score in this comparison
kraken
What sets them apart
| Compare | Independent ReserveReviewVisitVisit | krakenReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Taker fee | 0.02% to 0.5%Lower | 0.8% |
| Coins listed | 25 | 728Higher |
| Regulators | AUSTRAC | 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)Covers more |
| Fiat deposit methods | Card, Bank | Card, Bank, SEPA, ACH, Apple payCovers more |
| Withdrawal fee | AUD EFT free; AUD 1.50 PayID/NPP instant; USD 25 SWIFT; NZD 29; BTC 0.0001 | Variable per asset and method; static or dynamic funding fees |
| Maker fee | Not confirmed | 0.4% |
Same on both: Proof of reserves (Yes), Derivatives (Yes), Exchange type (Cex).
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Key differences
- Independent Reserve scores higher overall: 9.3 vs 9.2.
- Regulators: only kraken offers Central Bank of Ireland, CySEC, FCA.
- Founded is lower at kraken: 2011 vs 2013.
- kraken is licensed in 8 more countries.
- Taker fee is lower at Independent Reserve: 0.02% to 0.5% vs 0.8%.
- Coins listed is higher at kraken: 728 vs 25.
- Fiat deposit methods: only kraken offers SEPA, ACH, Apple pay.
- Support channels: only kraken offers Chat, Phone.
- Features: only kraken offers Self custody, Staking.
Our verdict on each
Independent Reserve
Independent Reserve suits Australian and New Zealand buyers who want a regulated custodial exchange with plain card and bank deposits. Fees of 0.02% to 0.5% are competitive with the site median of 0.2%, though the coin list is modest for traders who want broader markets.
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 | Independent Reserve | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.7Higher | 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 | 9.1Fees of 0.02% to 0.5% sit around the site median of 0.2%, but the list of 25 coins is small. | 9.8HigherProof of reserves and derivatives are both offered, coins listed reach 728, and support runs on email, chat and phone. |
| Trust | 9.1 | 9.7Higher |
Where each is licensed and available
| Country | Independent Reserve | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | AUSTRAC DCE-100461150-001 | AUSTRAC ACN 163 237 634 |
| Argentina | Not confirmed | |
| 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 |
The bill, worked out
Buy 1,000 of crypto and sell it again
Independent Reserve
0.4 to 10
0.02% to 0.5% of 2,000
kraken
16
0.8% of 2,000
Independent Reserve comes out 15.6 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 | Independent Reserve | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Crypto exchanges | 12 of 297 | 14 of 297 |
| Crypto futures exchanges | 9 of 78 | 10 of 78 |
| Where to buy crypto | 7 of 177 | 8 of 177 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Independent Reserve | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Custodial | Custodial, Self custody, StakingCovers more |
| Legal entity | Independent Reserve Pty. Ltd. (ABN 46 164 257 069) | Payward Europe Solutions Limited |
| Headquarters | Australia | Ireland |
| Founded | 2013 | 2011Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Help centre, Community | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more |
Debit cards
| Fact | Independent Reserve | 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 | Independent Reserve | 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 | Independent Reserve | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Wallet type | Not confirmed | Mobile |
| Price | Not confirmed | $0 |
| Backup options | Not confirmed | Seed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Independent Reserve | kraken | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taker fee | 0.02% to 0.5%lowest quarter | 0.8%highest quarter | 0.15 |
| Coins listed | 25lowest quarter | 728highest quarter | 76 |
| Maker fee | Not confirmed | 0.4%highest quarter | 0.1% |
Median across 219 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Independent Reserve
Pros
- Registered with AUSTRAC in Australia, so the exchange answers to a recognised anti-money laundering regulator.
- Publishes proof of reserves, which 79.4% of compared exchanges do.
- Card and bank transfers are both accepted through card and bank.
Cons
- The list of 25 coins is small next to the site median of 62.
- Support runs on email, help centre and community only, with no phone or live chat listed.
- Balances are custodial, so coins sit with the exchange rather than in a wallet the holder controls.
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
Independent Reserve
Who it suits
- Australian and New Zealand residents paying in by card or bank transfer
- Buyers of mainstream coins who want proof of reserves and a named regulator
- Traders who also want access to derivatives
Who should look elsewhere
- Traders chasing a long tail of altcoins, where the exchange is a broker for Australia and New Zealand rather than a global venue
- bitpanda, which lists from 650 coins for a much wider choice
- bunq, whose taker fees of 0.25% to 1.99% suit European bank customers
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 | Independent Reserve | kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | Yes | No |
| New Zealand | Yes | No |
| Singapore | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Independent Reserve
What does Independent Reserve charge in fees?+
Taker fees run 0.02% to 0.5%, which brackets the site median of 0.2% and sits inside the upper quartile of 0.55%. Withdrawals are also charged: AUD transfers are free, while instant AUD and crypto withdrawals carry a fee.
Is Independent Reserve regulated?+
It is registered with AUSTRAC in Australia under DCE-100461150-001, the country's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulator. It also publishes proof of reserves, a step 79.4% of the compared exchanges report.
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.
Other options to compare
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- Independent Reserve vs Kraken
- Independent Reserve vs Wirex
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- Independent Reserve vs Bitget (Trading Bots)
- Independent Reserve vs CoinJar
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