Kraken vs Bitfinex

vs
Kraken vs Bitfinex Comparison Table 2024
Kraken Bitfinex
3.9

Kraken is #16 in our crypto broker rankings.

3.9
United States Flag Traders from US accepted
United States Flag Traders from US not accepted

Kraken is a leading cryptocurrency exchange with a proprietary trading terminal and a list of 220+ tradeable crypto tokens. Up to 1:5 leverage is available with stable rollover fees on spot crypto trading and up to 1:50 on futures. The exchange also supports crypto staking and has an interactive NFT marketplace.

Established in 2012, Hong Kong-based Bitfinex is a formidable player in the crypto industry. It boasts a powerful proprietary platform, 180 cryptocurrencies and more than 430 market pairs available for spot or perpetual swaps derivatives trading. With new payment methods, lower entry barriers and fresh products like crypto futures, Bitfinex is attracting a wider range of active crypto traders.

Bonus Offer
Lower fees when trading volume exceeds $50,000 in 30 days Referral Codes
Comment by Reviewer
"Kraken will suit traders looking for a diverse list of cryptos including Bitcoin and a good security track record." "With its growing token selection, advanced charting tools and volume-based fee structure, Bitfinex is a compelling choice for frequent crypto traders. However, testing reveals a daunting platform for newer day traders, hit-and-miss education and regulatory fines that raise safety concerns."
Pros
  • Very good security track record with no hacks in a decade since launch
  • Excellent range of 220+ more established cryptocurrencies
  • NFT marketplace and crypto staking available
  • Great trading platform and mobile app
  • Low exchange fees on Kraken Pro
  • 50x leverage on futures trading
  • Low minimum deposit of $10
  • 3D secure required
  • Mobile investing
  • Crypto staking
  • Despite a steep learning curve, the Bitfinex trading platform delivers for experienced traders, featuring a comprehensive charting package with 12 timeframes, plus margin trading and various order types.
  • Bitfinex boasts excellent liquidity across its crypto trading pairs, reducing the likelihood of slippage and ensuring efficient order execution, particularly for large volume trades, making it reliable for frequent traders.
  • After bolstering its roster, Bitfinex now offers access to over 180 cryptocurrencies, from Bitcoin and Ethereum to emerging altcoins with high levels of volatility that may appeal to day traders.
  • Bitfinex is well-suited to algo traders, facilitating automated trading through its Honey terminal and API integration, enabling traders to program trading strategies efficiently.
Cons
  • Slow verification process on Pro account
  • Does not support many newer altcoins
  • Low leverage on spot trading
  • Does not accept fiat deposits
  • Slow verification times
  • Despite enhancing its security measures with two-factor authentication, Bitfinex still hasn’t escaped its dogged history of major security breaches and regulatory fines.
  • Like many crypto exchanges, Bitfinex operates in a regulatory grey area, which may pose risks for traders, especially compared to trusted crypto trading platforms like eToro.
  • Although Bitfinex has removed its $10,000 minimum deposit, making it more accessible to newer traders, the fee system remains complicated, with various factors such as trading volume and token holdings influencing fees, potentially leading to confusion.
  • Testing reveals inadequate support, especially for active traders, with response times of 12 hours via email and a frustrating user experience with no live chat integrated into the trading platform.
  • For occasional crypto traders and investors prioritizing simplicity, platforms like eToro, Gemini, or Kraken are superior options.
Instruments
Cryptos Cryptocurrencies
Demo Account
Yes Yes
Minimum Deposit
$10 $0
Trading Platforms
  • AlgoTrader
  • Web Platform
Payment Methods
Minimum Trade
Variable $10
Regulator
FCA, FinCEN, FINTRAC, AUSTRAC, FSA
Margin Trading
Yes Yes
STP Account
No No
ECN Account
No No
DMA Account
No No
MAM Account
No No
PAMM Account
No No
LAMM Account
No No
Demat Account
No No
AI / Machine Learning
No No
Robo Advisor
No No
Negative Balance Protection
No No
Market Maker
No No
P2P Trading
No Yes
Spot Trading
Yes Yes
Mobile Apps
Yes iOS & Android
App Review

Bitfinex provides a mobile application that mirrors the full functionality of its web platform, facilitating seamless crypto trading on the move. The app also includes a Lite Mode for a simplified trading experience, presenting a more user-friendly interface for trading, staking, and lending cryptos, requiring just a few taps. The app is downloadable from both Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store, though app store ratings demonstrate a superior user experience on iOS devices.

Android App Rating
3.5
iOS App Rating
4
Auto Trading
Kraken Futures is integrated in other platforms which have bots: Bookmap, Caspian, FMZ Quant, Gunbot, HaasOnline, Hyndor, Margin Yes
Copy Trading
No No
Social Trading
No No
VPS Hosting
No No
Tournaments
No No
Demo Competitions
No No
Ethical Investing
No No
Custodial Account
No No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No No
Inactivity Fee
$5
Islamic Account
No No
Account Currencies
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • CAD
  • AUD
  • JPY
  • CHF
  • USD
  • EUR
  • GBP
  • JPY
  • TRY
Cryptocurrency
Kraken is a specialized crypto exchange and supports more than 220 cryptocurrencies. These include all of the established tokens like Bitcoin as well as some altcoins. Traders can make trades on spot crypto markets with up to 1:5 leverage or on futures with up to 1:50. Fees are low and the platform is super easy to pick up. Bitfinex provides access to an exceptional variety of crypto assets, encompassing over 180 tokens. In addition to spot trading, the platform supports perpetual swaps trading, enabling traders to engage in margin trading on crypto assets with leverage up to 1:10. With digital tokens frequently listed and delisted, Bitfinex provides diverse opportunities to participate in the dynamic cryptocurrency market.
Spread
0-0.26% average Taker (0.2% to 0.055%) and maker (0.1% to 0.0%)
Coins
  • AAVE
  • ALGO
  • ANT
  • REP
  • REPV2
  • BAT
  • BAL
  • XBT
  • BCH
  • ADA
  • LINK
  • COMP
  • ATOM
  • CRV
  • DAI
  • DASH
  • MANA
  • XDG
  • EWT
  • EOS
  • ETH
  • ETC
  • FIL
  • FLOW
  • GNO
  • ICX
  • KAVA
  • KEEP
  • KSM
  • KNC
  • LSK
  • LTC
  • MLN
  • XMR
  • NANO
  • OCEAN
  • OMG
  • OXT
  • PAXG
  • DOT
  • QTUM
  • XRP
  • SC
  • XLM
  • STORJ
  • SNX
  • TBTC
  • USDT
  • XTZ
  • GRT
  • TRX
  • UNI
  • USDC
  • WAVES
  • YFI
  • ZEC
  • BNB
  • BTC
  • ETH
  • USDT
  • LTC
  • XRP
  • DOGE
  • ETC
  • EOS
  • LINK
  • BCHN
  • DOT
  • DASH
  • IOTA
  • SUSHI
  • NEO
  • ZEC
  • UNI
  • ADA
  • OMG
  • MDOGE
  • BSV
  • TRX
  • XTZ
  • SOL
  • XLM
  • YFI
  • USDC
  • ZRX
  • FIL
  • VET
  • XMR
  • COMP
  • BTG
  • DAI
  • LUNA
  • CEL
  • ALGO
  • ATOM
  • EGLD
  • FTT
  • AVAX
  • MKR
  • LEO
  • BTT
  • CHZ
  • BAT
  • BAND
  • QTUN
  • CLO
  • AAVE
  • XDC
  • HEZ
  • KNC
  • ZIL
  • MANA
  • BAL
  • UOS
Crypto Lending
No Yes
Crypto Mining
No No
Crypto Staking
Yes Yes
Auto Market Maker
No No