Kraken review: availability, registrations, custody, and fees
Kraken is one of the oldest United States based crypto exchanges and operates in more than one hundred and ninety countries. It holds a MiCA licence in the European Economic Area through the Central Bank of Ireland, FinCEN registration in the United States, and registrations in Canada and elsewhere. Availability of individual products still varies by country and state.
Information, not advice. This is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice, and it is not a recommendation to use any platform. Verify the current rules with a qualified local professional and the official regulator before acting.
Kraken is a large, custodial, United States based crypto exchange founded in 2011, and one of the longest running platforms in the sector. As of February 2026 it operates in more than one hundred and ninety countries and holds named registrations including a Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) licence from the Central Bank of Ireland covering the European Economic Area, FinCEN registration in the United States, and registrations in Canada. Kraken Pro fees are competitive while the instant buy option costs more. Whether you can use it legally still depends on your own country.
What Kraken is
Kraken was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in the United States, making it one of the oldest continuously operating crypto exchanges. It offers spot trading, margin, futures in markets where it is authorised, staking where permitted, and a regulated institutional custody business. The platform is custodial, meaning Kraken holds the assets in your account on your behalf rather than handing you the private keys.
Kraken has built a reputation for security and longevity, and it has leaned into regulated structures, including a Wyoming chartered depository institution in the United States and a MiCA regulated entity in Europe. Like its peers it has navigated regulatory scrutiny over specific products, for example staking services offered to United States users in the past, so a reader should treat product availability as something that can change by country and over time.
Where Kraken is available
As of February 2026 Kraken operates in more than one hundred and ninety countries. It serves United States customers in most states, with a few state level restrictions on certain products. Across the European Economic Area it serves clients directly through its MiCA regulated Irish entity, which it secured ahead of the 1 July 2026 transitional deadline, giving it a settled European position. It is also available in Canada as a registered restricted dealer, and in many markets across Asia, Latin America, and beyond.
As with any platform, the available products and supported assets differ by country, and a small set of jurisdictions is restricted, typically those under sanctions. The country pages on this site track the position market by market, so confirm what is offered in your location before you sign up.
Registrations and licences
- European Economic Area. A Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) crypto asset service provider licence held through a Kraken entity authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland, used to serve all thirty European Economic Area countries (as of February 2026).
- United States. Registration with FinCEN as a Money Services Business, plus a subsidiary holding a Wyoming chartered special purpose depository institution charter for digital asset custody (as of February 2026).
- Canada. Operates as a registered restricted dealer with the Ontario Securities Commission and holds a Money Services Business registration with FINTRAC (as of February 2026).
- Other markets. Kraken holds further registrations in additional jurisdictions and publishes the full list on its own licences page, which is the most current reference (as of February 2026).
Each registration is stated as of 21 June 2026. Licences and registrations change. Confirm the current position on the regulator register and the licences page of the platform before acting.
Custody, fees, strengths, and limitations
Kraken is custodial by default, holding your assets in its own wallets, and it offers a regulated institutional custody service for larger clients, including a MiCA authorised custody offering in the European Economic Area. Users who want to hold their own private keys move funds to a separate self custody wallet. Kraken has a long track record on operational security, which is part of its reputation, although no platform can be described as risk free.
On fees, the Kraken Pro interface uses a competitive tiered maker and taker schedule that suits active traders, while the simple instant buy option carries higher costs. Exact pricing changes over time and varies by product, so confirm the current schedule on the platform before trading.
In plain terms, the strengths are longevity, a strong security reputation, broad availability including most of the United States, a settled European licence, and competitive Pro fees. The limitations are the higher cost of the simple buy option, product availability that varies by country, and the custodial default. None of this is a recommendation to use or avoid the platform, only the factual picture to weigh against your own country and needs.
Kraken is one of several platforms available in many countries. Availability still depends on where you live, so compare the exchanges that are genuinely available in your country before you choose.
Regulator and sources
The relevant regulators differ by market: the Central Bank of Ireland for the MiCA licence used across the European Economic Area, FinCEN and the Wyoming Division of Banking in the United States, and the Ontario Securities Commission and FINTRAC in Canada.
- Kraken, official support page on where it is licensed or regulated, and its 2026 announcements on the MiCA licence from the Central Bank of Ireland.
- Central Bank of Ireland and FinCEN public registers.
- Ontario Securities Commission and FINTRAC, Canadian registration records.
Frequently asked questions
Is Kraken legal to use?
In most countries where it operates Kraken is a registered or licensed provider rather than a banned service. As of February 2026 it holds a MiCA licence in the European Economic Area through the Central Bank of Ireland, FinCEN registration in the United States, and registrations in Canada and elsewhere. Legality of using it still depends on your own country, so check your local rules.
Does Kraken hold a MiCA licence?
Yes. Kraken holds a Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) crypto asset service provider licence from the Central Bank of Ireland and serves clients across all thirty European Economic Area countries through its MiCA regulated entity (as of February 2026).
Can United States residents use Kraken?
Yes, in most states. Kraken is registered with FinCEN as a Money Services Business and serves United States customers, and a subsidiary holds a Wyoming chartered special purpose depository institution charter for digital asset custody. Some products and a few states are restricted, so check availability for your state (as of February 2026).
Does Kraken hold my crypto for me?
Yes by default. Kraken is a custodial platform that holds the assets in your account on your behalf, and it also offers regulated institutional custody. If you prefer to control your own keys you would use a separate self custody wallet. This is information, not advice.
What are Kraken fees like?
Kraken Pro uses a competitive tiered maker and taker schedule, while the simple instant buy option carries higher costs. Exact pricing changes over time and varies by product, so check the current fee schedule on the platform before trading (as of February 2026).
Rules change frequently. Exchange availability, registrations, and the rules that govern them can change at short notice and vary by region. The position on this page is dated 21 June 2026. Confirm the current status with the named regulator and the platform before you act.
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