What Kraken is
Founded in 2011 in San Francisco by Jesse Powell, Kraken is one of the oldest cryptocurrency exchanges in the world and among the largest by volume and liquidity, particularly on euro pairs. It offers spot trading in hundreds of cryptocurrencies, derivatives, staking and institutional services; the simple interface sits alongside Kraken Pro for advanced trading. It is the typical choice for those who prioritise regulatory solidity and a clean security record: in fifteen years of operation it has never suffered a breach of client funds. Long-standing investors include Blockchain Capital and Digital Currency Group. In November 2025 the company confidentially filed paperwork for a stock market listing in the United States (Verified: September 2026; timing not announced).
Regulation and licences
(Verified: September 2026)
- MiCA: YES — dual CASP authorisation from the Central Bank of Ireland on 25 June 2025: Payward Europe Solutions Ltd (reg. C468360, custody/trading/order execution) and Payward Global Solutions Ltd (reg. C559106, operation of the trading platform). Both appear in the ESMA register and are valid via passporting in the 30 countries of the European Economic Area.
- For users in the EU: Kraken can operate legally even after the end of the transitional regime (01/07/2026), when the MiCA licence became THE requirement for serving EU clients.
- Derivatives in the EU are offered through an entity with a MiFID licence in Cyprus (CySEC).
Fees
(Indicative figures: Kraken's fees change with volume tiers and over time — the official fee schedule is the reference point.)
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Simple interface | around 1% per transaction |
| Kraken Pro spot | maker/taker on volume tiers (base ~0.25%/0.40%) |
| SEPA deposits | free or nearly free |
Security
A record with no breaches of client funds since 2011 — unique among the large exchanges of its generation. Most assets in cold storage, periodic proof of reserves, two-factor authentication and withdrawal whitelisting. The company regularly publishes details of its security programme (Kraken Security Labs).
Alternatives
- Bybit — MiCA via Austria (May 2025), strong on derivatives
- OKX — MiCA via Malta (January 2025), European hub in Malta
- Bitstamp — another long-established exchange active in Europe
FAQ
Is Kraken legal in the EU? Yes: it operates under a MiCA licence granted by the Central Bank of Ireland (June 2025), valid across the European Economic Area, including after the 1 July 2026 tightening (Verified: September 2026).
Who runs Kraken today? Two co-CEOs: Dave Ripley (CEO since April 2023, after Jesse Powell stepped down from the role) and Arjun Sethi (co-CEO since October 2024). Powell remains co-founder and chairman of the board (Verified: September 2026).
What is the difference between Kraken and Kraken Pro? Same platform, two interfaces: the simple one costs more per transaction, Pro has tiered trader-grade fees.
Verified sources
- https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250625529871/en/Kraken-Secures-MiCA-License-from-
- https://blog.kraken.com/news/mica-license-central-bank-of-ireland
- https://casptracker.eu/exchange/kraken/
- https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241030235650/en/Kraken-Appoints-Arjun-Sethi-as-Co
TEAM MEMBERS
LEADERSHIP
HQ OF KRAKEN
US-101, San Francisco, CA 94103, United States
CONTACTS OF KRAKEN
All images, branding and wording are copyright Kraken. All content on this page is used for informational purposes only. Spaziocrypto has no affiliation or relationship with the company mentioned on this page.
