Kraken vs Bitstamp in comparison

Two Trusted Veterans Compared

Kraken and Bitstamp were both founded in 2011 and serve customers across most US states. We rate them equally on security and trust. In our view, Kraken is the better pick for most traders: it offers about five times the number of coins, provides futures and margin trading to eligible US clients, and we rate it higher for fees, range of functions and operation. However, Bitstamp might suit you better if you reside in New York, where Kraken does not serve residents, or if you tend to place small orders on the order book. In this case, Bitstamp's fees start at 0.30% for makers and 0.40% for takers, compared to 0.40% and 0.80% on Kraken Pro.

Trading fees

On the order book, Bitstamp offers more competitive rates for small accounts. For accounts with less than $10K of 30-day volume, Bitstamp charges a 0.30% maker fee and a 0.40% taker fee, while Kraken Pro starts with 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker fees. Kraken reduces its fees starting at $2.5K of monthly volume or holdings of sufficient assets on the platform. From $10K, Kraken charges 0.22% maker and 0.38% taker fees, compared to 0.20% and 0.30% at Bitstamp for volumes above $10K. Bitstamp uses a unified fee schedule across its companies, including for US customers.

Away from the order book, the comparison turns. Kraken charges a 1% fee on instant and recurring buys, and the price you see also includes a spread. Its Kraken+ subscription, at $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year, removes that fee on up to $10,000 of app trades a month, though not on Kraken Pro. Bitstamp's Basic Trading adds a fixed spread of 1.8% to the market price for most coins, and an instant card purchase costs 4%. In our view, Kraken+ gives frequent app buyers a way to cut costs that Bitstamp lacks, and we rate Kraken higher for fees and costs.

Deposits and withdrawals

Both platforms accept ACH transfers from US bank accounts without a fee. Kraken also accepts PayPal and debit card deposits from US clients, excluding credit cards, at $0.25 plus 3.75% per card deposit. For international wire deposits, Bitstamp charges 0.05%, with a minimum of $7.5 and a maximum of $300, and 0.1% with a minimum of $25 for wire withdrawals. PayPal purchases at Bitstamp are available to US and EU residents, except those in Croatia, Hungary, and Iceland.

Coins and products

Kraken lists about five times as many coins as Bitstamp, so it is the better place to look for smaller tokens. For active traders, Kraken Pro adds margin and futures. American clients trade futures with Kraken Derivatives US, which is registered with the CFTC as a futures commission merchant, and margin is open to eligible retail clients there. Clients elsewhere who qualify can trade bitcoin and ether at up to 100x. Kraken also offers US stocks and ETFs to clients in some states, and xStocks, tokenized stocks that are not offered in the US, the UK, Canada or Australia.

Bitstamp now offers 20 USD-settled perpetual contracts on crypto, currencies, stock indices and commodities, at up to 10x depending on the contract, through its Slovenian investment firm Bitstamp Financial Services. Bitstamp Earn offers staking, and lending through its partner Tesseract, but neither is open to US customers. Kraken offers staking to US clients in the states it lists and keeps a 20% commission on flexible staking rewards. Both let you set up recurring buys. We rate Kraken slightly higher for range of functions.

Where you can use them

Both serve most of the US, but not the same states. Kraken does not offer its services to residents of New York and Maine. In the US, Bitstamp operates through Bitstamp USA, Inc., licensed by the NYDFS for virtual currency business, so it accepts New York residents; it does not serve Hawaii or Nevada, and it gives US customers no staking or lending.

Outside the US, both platforms hold key licenses. In the EU, Kraken's entities, Payward Europe Solutions and Payward Global Solutions, are authorized by the Central Bank of Ireland under MiCA, while Bitstamp Europe S.A. is authorized by the CSSF in Luxembourg. In the UK, both companies are registered with the FCA as cryptoasset firms. Kraken also operates in Canada as a restricted dealer, whereas Bitstamp has ceased opening accounts for Canadian residents since March 2023.

Security and track record

We rate the two the same for security and trust. Kraken holds ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification and has completed a SOC 2 Type 1 examination. Its latest proof of reserves, attested by The Network Firm, put its bitcoin reserves at 102.9% of client balances. Kraken says it secures funds with cold storage and hot wallets, and its disclosures say digital assets and Kraken accounts are not insured against losses.

Bitstamp has a SOC 2 Type 2 report and ISO/IEC 27001 certification, and it states that one of the Big Four accounting firms has audited it each year since 2016. It keeps most crypto offline and only a small part in a multi-signature hot wallet. Client assets are held apart from company funds and its custodians insure assets in cold wallets, but there is no FDIC, SIPC or FSCS protection. Since June 2025, Bitstamp has been part of Robinhood Markets, Inc.

Both have a regulatory record. Kraken paid $30 million in 2023 to settle SEC charges over its US staking program, the SEC dismissed its later civil case with prejudice in March 2025, and in 2022 Kraken paid $362,158.70 to OFAC to settle apparent violations of Iran sanctions. In 2020, Texas and Vermont fined Bitstamp $120,708 and $15,500 for serving customers in those states without a license.

Ease of use and support

We rate Kraken slightly higher for operation, and the two the same for beginners and support. Both split a simple screen for buying from an advanced one for order-book trading: the Kraken app with more than 300 assets next to Kraken Pro, and Bitstamp's Basic Trading next to its Tradeview. Kraken says verification takes a few minutes in most cases. At Bitstamp, a US account at the first verification level can trade but cannot withdraw crypto until you complete the second level.

Our verdict by criterion

In our view, Kraken is the better exchange overall. Kraken offers more coins, futures and margin for US clients and the Kraken+ plan, while Bitstamp is cheaper on its order book at the entry level and is open to New York residents.

• Fees and costs: we rate Kraken higher
• Range of functions: we rate Kraken slightly higher
• Operation: we rate Kraken slightly higher
• Beginner friendliness: we rate them the same
• Security and trust: we rate them the same
• Support: we rate them the same

Which one fits you

• Residents of New York or Maine: choose Bitstamp, since Kraken does not serve those states.
• Residents of Hawaii or Nevada: opt for Kraken, as Bitstamp does not serve them.
• US traders interested in staking: pick Kraken, as Bitstamp offers none in the US.
• Small traders focused on market orders on the order book: go with Bitstamp, at 0.40% taker fee compared to 0.80% on Kraken Pro.
• Readers in Canada: choose Kraken, since Bitstamp no longer opens accounts there.

Our Kraken review and Bitstamp review go into detail on each exchange. For another option, see Coinbase vs Kraken and Coinbase vs Bitstamp, and our list of crypto exchanges for US customers offers additional choices.

Questions about Kraken and Bitstamp

Is Kraken or Bitstamp better for trading?

In our view, Kraken is preferable for most active traders, given its broader range of coins and futures and margin trading in the US. However, Bitstamp offers lower entry fees on the order book, with 0.30% maker and 0.40% taker fees compared to 0.40% and 0.80% on Kraken Pro.

Can you use Kraken and Bitstamp in New York?

You can use Bitstamp in New York via Bitstamp USA, Inc. and its NYDFS license. Kraken does not extend services to residents of New York or Maine.

Which is safer, Kraken or Bitstamp?

We rate both platforms equally in terms of security and trust. Each holds ISO/IEC 27001 certification and has completed SOC 2 reports. Both companies have existed since 2011, and neither provides government-backed deposit protection for crypto assets.