Updated September 29, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team
Kraken Staking vs KuCoin Earn
Kraken Staking
Higher score in this comparison
KuCoin Earn
What sets them apart
| Compare | Kraken StakingReviewVisitVisit | KuCoin EarnReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Yield | 0.1% to 21% | 0.57% to 100%Higher |
| 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 | USDT, USDC, BTC, ETH, SOL, KCS, USDG, TRX, ADA |
| Lock-up terms | None for flexible (unstake any time); bonded has a lock-in period (e.g. 21D for ATOM) | Flexible / Fixed |
Same on both: Custody (Custodial).
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Key differences
- Kraken Staking scores higher overall: 9.7 vs 9.2.
- Founded is lower at Kraken Staking: 2011 vs 2017.
- Yield is higher at KuCoin Earn: 0.57% to 100% vs 0.1% to 21%.
- Supported assets: only Kraken Staking offers ATOM, SCRT, KSM.
- Supported assets: only KuCoin Earn offers USDT, USDC, KCS.
- Support channels: only Kraken Staking offers Phone, Community.
- Support channels: only KuCoin Earn offers Email.
Our verdict on each
Kraken Staking
Kraken Staking suits holders who want to earn on proof-of-stake coins without handling their own keys, with rates running 0.1% to 21%. Flexible staking has no lock-in, liquid staking is listed, and Payward Europe Solutions Limited is licensed by the Central Bank of Ireland MiCA CASP 9845003D98SCC2851458.
KuCoin Earn
KuCoin Earn is a custodial earning product on an exchange founded in 2017, giving crypto holders a wide spread of advertised yields of 0.57% to 100% to pick from. It suits platform users who want flexible or fixed terms and liquid staking, not people who want to hold their own keys.
Score breakdown
| Area | Kraken Staking | KuCoin Earn |
|---|---|---|
| Offer | 9.2Higher | 9.1 |
| Trust | 10.0Higher | 9.3 |
How they place
| Ranking | Kraken Staking | KuCoin Earn |
|---|---|---|
| Crypto staking and earn | 6 of 179 | 38 of 179 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Kraken Staking | KuCoin Earn |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Liquid staking | Liquid staking |
| Legal entity | Payward Europe Solutions Limited | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | Ireland | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2011Lower | 2017 |
| Support channels | Help centre, Phone, Community | Help centre, Email |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Kraken Staking | KuCoin Earn | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yield | 0.1% to 21%highest quarter | 0.57% to 100%highest quarter | 8 |
Median across 69 listed providers.
Pros and cons
Kraken Staking
Pros
- Flexible staking has no lock-in, while bonded staking adds one, so you choose how quickly you can exit.
- A long supported list, ATOM, SCRT and KSM, puts major assets and newer layer-one coins in one account.
- Support runs through help centre, phone and community, so a phone line sits alongside the help centre and the community.
Cons
- Custody is custodial, custodial: the exchange holds the staked coins, so every staked position depends on one operator.
- Lock-up terms differ by plan: flexible staking has none, while bonded staking carries a lock-in period, so a quick exit depends on the plan.
- Rates run 0.1% to 21%, a wide spread, so a headline figure says little about what a given coin pays.
KuCoin Earn
Pros
- Advertised yields run across 0.57% to 100%, giving a wide choice of rates inside a single account.
- The earn list covers stablecoins and major coins, USDT, USDC and BTC, on the same platform.
- Both flexible and fixed earning structures are available, Flexible / Fixed, side by side.
Cons
- Custody is custodial, custodial, so balances depend on the platform holding them.
- Support runs on help centre and email, so questions are handled in writing.
Who each suits
Kraken Staking
Who it suits
- Holders of coins in ATOM, SCRT and KSM who want a steady return without moving keys off the exchange they already use.
- Long-term holders comfortable leaving staked coins in custodial form, custodial, and letting the exchange run the validator side.
- EU customers who want a staking product from an operator licensed by the Central Bank of Ireland, MiCA CASP 9845003D98SCC2851458, and in Austria.
Who should look elsewhere
- Not for people who want to hold their own keys, since custody is custodial, custodial. VaultLeap is a different route, built around USDC outside an exchange.
- Not for anyone chasing the highest end of the rate range who would rather have a tighter band, where Bit2Me, 0.5% to 19.2%, may suit better.
- bunq Crypto Spain fits those who want a euro bank account alongside a stated return of 8.25% rather than a long staking list.
KuCoin Earn
Who it suits
- Existing KuCoin account holders who are comfortable with a custodial setup.
- People who want a stablecoin and a coin earning option in a single place, USDT, USDC and BTC.
- Holders happy to leave assets on the exchange while they earn, since custody is custodial, custodial.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants to hold their own keys, because custody here is custodial, custodial.
- Readers who want a single stablecoin earn product can weigh VaultLeap, which lists USDC.
- Anyone comparing a euro option such as bunq Crypto Spain, which lists 8.25% against KuCoin's 0.57% to 100%.
Questions about each
Kraken Staking
What yield does Kraken Staking pay?+
The listed rates run 0.1% to 21% across the supported coins, with the higher figures attached to a smaller group of assets. Because the range is wide, it is worth checking the number for the coin you actually hold rather than reading the top as typical.
Which coins can I stake?+
The supported list is long: ATOM, SCRT and KSM. Major assets sit alongside liquid-staking and layer-one tokens, so a portfolio can be spread across chains rather than concentrated in one. Availability depends on the coin, and each carries its own rate, which is why the 0.1% to 21% range is so wide.
KuCoin Earn
What yield does KuCoin Earn pay?+
Advertised rates span 0.57% to 100% across the listed assets and products. The figure is a published range rather than a promise on a single coin, so the rate that applies depends on the asset chosen and on whether the flexible or fixed structure in Flexible / Fixed is used.
Which coins can I earn on?+
The asset list covers stablecoins and major coins: USDT, USDC and BTC. Stablecoin options sit alongside coin positions in the same account, so a holder can keep part of a balance in a stable and part in a coin without moving to another product.
Other options to compare
Kraken Staking
KuCoin Earn