Updated September 29, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team
kraken vs Robinhood
kraken
Robinhood
Higher score in this comparison
kraken vs Robinhood: the differences
| Compare | krakenReviewVisitVisit | RobinhoodReviewVisitVisit |
|---|---|---|
| Coins listed | 728Higher | 90 |
| Regulators | 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) | Bank of Lithuania, Bank of Lithuania (LSC), LT BL, SIPC |
| Fiat deposit methods | Card, Bank, SEPA, ACH, Apple payCovers more | SEPA, Bank |
| Withdrawal fee | Variable per asset and method; static or dynamic funding fees | No Robinhood fee; network fees apply |
| Taker fee | 0.8% | Not confirmed |
| Maker fee | 0.4% | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Proof of reserves (Yes), Derivatives (Yes), Exchange type (Cex).
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Key differences
- Robinhood scores higher overall: 9.4 vs 9.2.
- Regulators: only kraken offers Central Bank of Ireland, CySEC, FCA.
- Regulators: only Robinhood offers Bank of Lithuania, Bank of Lithuania (LSC), LT BL.
- kraken is licensed in 7 more countries.
- Coins listed is higher at kraken: 728 vs 90.
- Fiat deposit methods: only kraken offers Card, ACH, Apple pay.
- Support channels: only kraken offers Chat, Phone, Community.
- Features: only kraken offers Self custody.
Our verdict on each
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.
Robinhood
Robinhood is a custodial exchange with a narrower coin list than most rivals, at 90, but it pairs MiCA and Bank of Lithuania licences with SIPC membership and published proof of reserves. It suits first-time buyers who want buying, staking and derivatives in the same account.
Score breakdown
| Area | kraken | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 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%. | Not confirmed |
| Offer | 9.8HigherProof of reserves and derivatives are both offered, coins listed reach 728, and support runs on email, chat and phone. | 9.1Staking and derivatives sit alongside a 90 coin list, with custody and sepa and bank funding in the same account. |
| Trust | 9.7Higher | 9.5 |
Licences and countries
| Country | kraken | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| United States | FinCEN 31000270997766 CFTC and NFA NFA ID #0309379 | SIPC SIPC member 69916 |
| Argentina | Not confirmed | |
| Australia | AUSTRAC ACN 163 237 634 | Not confirmed |
| Austria | Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) MiCA CASP 5299005V5GBSN2A4C303 | Not confirmed |
| Bermuda | Bermuda Monetary Authority 202403268 | Not confirmed |
| Canada | FINTRAC M19343731 | Not confirmed |
| Cyprus | CySEC 342/17 | Not confirmed |
| Ireland | Central Bank of Ireland C453020 Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) MiCA CASP 9845003D98SCC2851458 | Not confirmed |
Also worth a look
Bitget (Trading Bots) has coins listed at 847, against 728 for kraken and 90 for Robinhood.
Bitget (Trading Bots) reviewWhat we checked
kraken
- kraken.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- coingecko.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- support.kraken.com: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
Robinhood
- robinhood.com: 8 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- esma.europa.eu: 2 facts, checked September 26, 2026
- defillama.com: 1 fact, checked September 26, 2026
How they place
| Ranking | kraken | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Crypto exchanges | 14 of 297 | 10 of 297 |
| Crypto futures exchanges | 10 of 78 | 7 of 78 |
| Where to buy crypto | 8 of 177 | 6 of 177 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | kraken | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Custodial, Self custody, StakingCovers more | Custodial, Staking |
| Legal entity | Payward Europe Solutions Limited | Robinhood Europe UAB |
| Headquarters | Ireland | Lithuania |
| Founded | 2011 | Not confirmed |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers more | Email, Help centre |
Debit cards
| Fact | kraken | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly fee | €0 | Not confirmed |
| Currency conversion fee | 0% | Not confirmed |
| Card type | Debit | Not confirmed |
| Cashback rate | 2% | Not confirmed |
| Card network | Mastercard | Not confirmed |
| Currencies | 600 | Not confirmed |
| Custody | Custodial | Not confirmed |
Crypto earn
| Fact | kraken | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Yield | 0.1% to 21% | Not confirmed |
| Supported assets | 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 | Not confirmed |
| Lock-up terms | None for flexible (unstake any time); bonded has a lock-in period (e.g. 21D for ATOM) | Not confirmed |
Crypto wallets
| Fact | kraken | Robinhood |
|---|---|---|
| Wallet type | Mobile | Not confirmed |
| Price | $0 | Not confirmed |
| Backup options | Seed | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | kraken | Robinhood | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taker fee | 0.8%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.15% |
| Coins listed | 728highest quarter | 90above the median | 76 |
| Maker fee | 0.4%highest quarter | Not confirmed | 0.1% |
Median across 219 listed providers.
Pros and cons
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.
Robinhood
Pros
- Custodial account with staking built in, listed under custodial and staking
- Fiat deposits run through sepa and bank, so funding stays in euros
- Regulated by Bank of Lithuania, Bank of Lithuania (LSC) and LT BL across Lithuania and the US
Cons
- The coin list of 90 is thin beside from 650 and from 350
- Support runs on email and help centre only, with no phone line
- Custody is not offered, so coins cannot be moved to your own wallet
Who each suits
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.
Robinhood
Who it suits
- EU first-time buyers who want custody and staking in a single account
- Investors who want derivatives on the same platform as spot trading
- Anyone who puts weight on published proof of reserves
Who should look elsewhere
- Bitpanda, for buyers who want a much longer coin list
- bunq, for anyone who wants a bank app with self-custody
- ActivTrades, for traders who only care about derivatives
Current offers
Robinhood
Current offer
Bonus
Sign-up reward: EUR 10 or more in crypto: EUR 10 or more in crypto
Sign up, get approved and meet minimum deposit; hold cash value 180 days; limited jurisdictions
Source, checked September 26, 2026
Questions about each
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.
Robinhood
How many coins can I trade on Robinhood?+
The list covers 90 assets, which is modest for a crypto exchange. Buyers who want deeper altcoin coverage will find more elsewhere, so the size of the list is the first thing to check against your own plans.
Is Robinhood regulated in Europe?+
Yes. The operating entity is Robinhood Europe UAB, and Bank of Lithuania, Bank of Lithuania (LSC) and LT BL names its supervisors. The crypto side runs under a MiCA licence, MiCA CASP 254900GTP4UXQO1UMI36, and the payments side under PSD_PI 306377915.