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Updated October 17, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team

kraken vs Wirex Card

kraken scores 9.2 and Wirex Card 9.1 out of 10. Compare their differences and shared features below.
kraken

kraken

Higher score in this comparison

9.2/10
Visit
Wirex Card

Wirex Card

9.1/10
Visit

What sets them apart

kraken vs Wirex Card
ComparekrakenkrakenReviewVisitVisitWirex CardWirex CardReviewVisitVisit
Monthly fee€0$0
Cashback rate2%0.5% to 8%Higher
Card networkMastercardVisa
Currencies600from 150
CustodyCustodialSelf custody
Free ATM withdrawalsNot confirmed$0

Same on both: Currency conversion fee (0%), Card type (Debit).

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 9.1.
  • Founded is lower at kraken: 2011 vs 2014.
  • kraken is licensed in 6 more countries.
  • Cashback rate is higher at Wirex Card: 0.5% to 8% vs 2%.
  • Support channels: only kraken offers Phone.
  • Features: only kraken offers Custodial, Staking.
  • Features: only Wirex Card offers Multi currency, Crypto, Virtual card.

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.

Read the full kraken review

Wirex Card

Wirex Card suits business users who want to spend stablecoins and crypto from a self-custody account. The monthly fee is $0 and the currency conversion fee is 0%, which keeps everyday card costs low for anyone paying suppliers abroad in many currencies.

Read the full Wirex Card review

Score breakdown

kraken vs Wirex Card
AreakrakenWirex Card
Cost8.3Fees are high: a taker fee of 0.8% and a maker fee of 0.4% sit well above the site median of 0.2%.9.4HigherMonthly fee of $0 and a conversion fee of 0% keep card running costs at the floor of the brands compared.
Offer9.8HigherProof of reserves and derivatives are both offered, coins listed reach 728, and support runs on email, chat and phone.9.2
Trust9.7Higher8.7

Licences and countries

kraken vs Wirex Card
CountrykrakenWirex Card
United Kingdom
FCA 757895
ArgentinaNot confirmed
Australia
AUSTRAC ACN 163 237 634
Not confirmed
Austria
Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) MiCA CASP 5299005V5GBSN2A4C303
Not confirmed
BermudaNot confirmed
Canada
FINTRAC M19343731
Not confirmed
Cyprus
CySEC 342/17
Not confirmed
El SalvadorNot confirmed

Positions in our rankings

kraken vs Wirex Card
RankingkrakenWirex Card
Crypto debit cards10 of 14515 of 145

Also worth a look

whitebit has cashback rate at 10%, against 2% for kraken and 0.5% to 8% for Wirex Card.

whitebit review

Every fact side by side

kraken vs Wirex Card
FactkrakenWirex Card
FeaturesCustodial, Self custody, StakingMulti currency, Crypto, Virtual card, Self custody, Travel
AudienceNot confirmedBusiness
Legal entityPayward Europe Solutions LimitedWirex Limited
HeadquartersIrelandUnited Kingdom
Founded2011Lower2014
Support channelsEmail, Chat, Phone, Help centre, CommunityCovers moreEmail, Chat, Help centre, Community

Crypto earn

kraken vs Wirex Card
FactkrakenWirex Card
Yield0.1% to 21%Not confirmed
Supported assetsATOM, 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, DCRNot confirmed
Lock-up termsNone for flexible (unstake any time); bonded has a lock-in period (e.g. 21D for ATOM)Not confirmed
RegulatorsCentral 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)Not confirmed
Proof of reservesYesNot confirmed

Crypto wallets

kraken vs Wirex Card
FactkrakenWirex Card
Wallet typeMobileNot confirmed
Price$0Not confirmed
Backup optionsSeedNot confirmed

Where each stands against the rest

kraken vs Wirex Card
FactkrakenWirex CardMedian
Currency conversion fee0%below the median0%below the median0.25%
Free ATM withdrawalsNot confirmed$0at the median$0
Cashback rate2%at the median0.5% to 8%highest quarter2%
Currencies600highest quarterfrom 150above the median30

Median across 58 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.

Wirex Card

Pros

  • A monthly fee of $0 and a currency conversion fee of 0% keep running costs at the floor
  • Custody is self custody, so the keys sit with the account holder rather than with the platform
  • A debit card on the visa network, with a virtual card among the listed features

Cons

  • The free ATM withdrawal allowance is $0, so cash withdrawals cost extra
  • Support runs on email, chat and help centre only, so there is no phone line listed
  • The listed audience is business, so the card is not aimed at personal account holders

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.

Wirex Card

Who it suits

  • Business users paying suppliers in stablecoins or crypto
  • Anyone who wants to hold the keys themselves, with custody listed as self custody
  • Multi-currency spenders and travellers, with from 150 listed currencies

Who should look elsewhere

  • Monzo Flex, whose monthly fee is £0, suits readers who want everyday banking without touching crypto
  • Wise, whose monthly fee is £0, is the fit for multi-currency spending with no digital assets on the account
  • Bitpanda, at a monthly fee of €0, is the alternative for a card centred on digital assets rather than business banking

Current offers

Wirex Card

Current offer

  • Discount code

    50% subscription rebates on Wirex One card: 50% back in USD on eligible subscriptions (Uber One, ChatGPT Plus, Claude Pro, Perplexity Pro, Whoop, Bloomberg, Financial Times)

    Pay for eligible subscriptions using the Wirex One card; rebate capped at the standard plan price for each service; tiers unlock more subscriptions

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

  • Bonus

    Up to 8% cashback on every purchase: 0.5% to 8% back in USD depending on membership tier

    Every eligible purchase earns between 0.5% and 8% back in USD depending on tier; credited to Rewards Balance on transaction clearance

    Source, checked September 26, 2026

  • Bonus

    Wirex Exclusive Rewards Portal: Up to 16% cashback shopping online with 100+ partner retailers

    Via the cashback portal at cashback.wirexapp.com

    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.

Wirex Card

How much does the Wirex Card cost to hold and to use?+

There is no standing charge: the monthly fee is $0 and spending abroad converts at a currency conversion fee of 0%. Cashback on purchases runs at 0.5% to 8%, so the card earns a small return as well.

Is the card aimed at business users?+

The listed audience is business, and the card is built for that group. The monthly fee is $0, so keeping the card costs nothing, and the listed features include multi-currency, crypto, virtual-card, self-custody and travel functions.

Other options to compare

kraken

Visit

Wirex Card

Visit