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Cryptocurrency & Blockchain · head to head

Argent vs Kraken

Argent logo

Argent

Cryptocurrency & Blockchain

The smart wallet for DeFi and NFTs

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Kraken logo

Kraken

Personal Finance

Secure cryptocurrency exchange for serious traders

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Argent renamed Ready, and argent.xyz now redirects to ready.co, so the Argent name is retired; Kraken restricted in 16 jurisdictions due to compliance requirements
  • They diverge on capability: Argent covers Smart Contract Wallet, Kraken covers Spot Trading.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Argent and Kraken actually diverge.

Attributes where Argent and Kraken differ
AttributeArgentKraken
Pricing modelfreefreemium
PlatformsIos, AndroidWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryCryptocurrency & BlockchainPersonal Finance
Founded20182011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Argent

  • Smart Contract Wallet
  • Social Recovery
  • No Seed Phrase
  • Built-in DeFi
  • NFT Support
  • Ethereum
  • zkSync
  • Starknet

Only in Kraken

  • Spot Trading
  • Futures Trading
  • Margin Trading
  • Staking
  • OTC Desk
  • Bank transfers
  • SWIFT
  • Plaid

Both cover

  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Argent

  • Self-custodial wallet on mobilenot Kraken
  • Holding digital dollars under your own controlnot Kraken
  • Spending through a virtual card with Apple Pay or Google Paynot Kraken
  • Connecting to dapps through WalletConnectnot Kraken

Kraken

  • Exchangesnot Argent
  • Tradingnot Argent
  • Stakingnot Argent

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Argent

  • Renamed Ready, and argent.xyz now redirects to ready.co, so the Argent name is retired
  • The product has shifted toward community cards and digital dollars rather than being presented purely as a crypto wallet
  • Supported chains are no longer listed on the main site

Kraken

  • Restricted in 16 jurisdictions due to compliance requirements
  • Withdrawal processing delays due to KYC verification, blockchain confirmations, and compliance checks
  • Account restrictions triggered by scam prevention can only be lifted after 90 days
  • Margin trading limited to 5x leverage on most assets; 10x available only to eligible users

Pricing, plan by plan

Argent

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Smart wallet
    • Social recovery
    • DeFi

Kraken

Free
  • StarterFree
    • Basic trading
    • Staking
    • Instant buy
  • ProFree
    • Advanced trading
    • Margin trading
    • Futures

Which should you pick?

Choose Argent if

  • You need smart contract wallet.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Ios, Android.
  • You also want social recovery.
Argent review

Choose Kraken if

  • You need spot trading.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want futures trading.
Kraken review

Questions people ask

Is Argent or Kraken better?
Neither clearly leads. Argent starts at Free and Kraken at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Argent or Kraken?
Argent starts at Free and Kraken at Free.
Does Argent or Kraken run on more platforms?
Argent runs on Ios, Android. Kraken runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Argent for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Argent best used for?
Argent is most often used for self-custodial wallet on mobile, holding digital dollars under your own control, spending through a virtual card with apple pay or google pay, connecting to dapps through walletconnect. Of those, self-custodial wallet on mobile and holding digital dollars under your own control are not what Kraken is typically brought in for.
What can Argent do that Kraken cannot?
Argent covers Smart Contract Wallet, Social Recovery, No Seed Phrase, Built-in DeFi. Kraken covers Spot Trading, Futures Trading, Margin Trading, Staking. Both handle Ios support, Android support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Kraken: How much does Kraken charge in fees?

Kraken Pro spot trading fees start at 0.25 percent maker and 0.40 percent taker for entry-level volume, decreasing to 0.00 percent maker and 0.08-0.10 percent taker at USD 10M+ monthly volume. The Kraken standard platform charges 1 percent on instant trades and 1.5 percent on custom orders. Kraken+ membership costs 4.99 USD/month or 49.99 USD/year for up to USD 10k/month in fee-free volume.

Source
Kraken: In how many countries can I use Kraken?

Kraken supports 190+ countries and 9 major fiat currencies (USD, EUR, GBP). However, services are restricted in 16 jurisdictions including Russia, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Afghanistan due to regulatory compliance requirements.

Source
Kraken: Is Kraken custody secure?

Kraken holds ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification and passed SOC 2 Type 1 examination. The exchange uses cold storage with crypto infrastructure in secure cages under 24/7 armed surveillance. Kraken Custody uses multiparty computation (MPC) and hardware security module (HSM) technology. As a Wyoming SPDI-chartered institution, Kraken Financial operates on full-reserve basis, holding 100 percent of client deposits in unencumbered liquid assets.

Source
Kraken: What cryptocurrencies can I trade?

Kraken supports 500+ cryptocurrencies across 600+ crypto trading pairs. The platform also offers tokenized equities (xStocks) for direct trading of stock exposure, and supports staking rewards on eligible digital assets.

Source
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