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Crypto · head to head

Huobi vs Kraken

Huobi logo

Huobi

Crypto

Global digital asset trading platform

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: Huobi cryptocurrency market volatility; Kraken restricted in 16 jurisdictions due to compliance requirements
  • They diverge on capability: Huobi covers Primelist, Kraken covers OTC Desk.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Huobi and Kraken actually diverge.

Attributes where Huobi and Kraken differ
AttributeHuobiKraken
Pricing modeltransactionfreemium
PlatformsWeb, MobileWeb, Ios, Android
CategoryCryptoPersonal Finance
Founded20132011

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 Huobi

  • Primelist
  • HT Token
  • Huobi ECO Chain

Only in Kraken

  • OTC Desk
  • Bank transfers
  • SWIFT
  • Plaid

Both cover

  • Spot Trading
  • Futures Trading
  • Margin Trading
  • Staking
  • Web support
  • Ios support
  • Android support

What people use each for

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

Huobi

  • Spot trading of cryptocurrencies and altcoinsnot Kraken
  • Futures trading with leveragenot Kraken
  • Copy trading from experienced tradersnot Kraken
  • Automated trading via botsnot Kraken

Kraken

  • Exchangesnot Huobi
  • Tradingnot Huobi
  • Stakingnot Huobi

Where each one falls short

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

Huobi

  • Cryptocurrency market volatility
  • Regulatory restrictions in some jurisdictions

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

Huobi

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Huobi review.

Kraken

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

Which should you pick?

Choose Huobi if

  • You need primelist.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Mobile.
  • You also want ht token.
Huobi review

Choose Kraken if

  • You need otc desk.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want bank transfers.
Kraken review

Questions people ask

Is Huobi or Kraken better?
Neither clearly leads. Huobi 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, Huobi or Kraken?
Huobi starts at Free and Kraken at Free.
Does Huobi or Kraken run on more platforms?
Huobi runs on Web, Mobile. Kraken runs on Web, Ios, Android.
Can I use Huobi for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Huobi best used for?
Huobi is most often used for spot trading of cryptocurrencies and altcoins, futures trading with leverage, copy trading from experienced traders, automated trading via bots. Of those, spot trading of cryptocurrencies and altcoins and futures trading with leverage are not what Kraken is typically brought in for.
What can Huobi do that Kraken cannot?
Huobi covers Primelist, HT Token, Huobi ECO Chain. Kraken covers OTC Desk, Bank transfers, SWIFT, Plaid. Both handle Spot Trading, Futures Trading, Margin Trading, Staking.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Huobi: What assets can I trade on HTX?

HTX offers spot trading for over 700 assets at competitive prices, plus futures trading with leverage and automated trading bots.

Source
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
Huobi: What fee discounts are available on HTX?

HTX offers fee rebates up to 30 percent for margin trading and exclusive futures fee rates for partners. The platform also offers a sign-up promotion of up to 1,500 dollars for new users.

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
Huobi: Is there a minimum deposit to start trading on HTX?

HTX does not specify a minimum deposit amount on its public pages. You would need to check during account setup or contact their support for this information.

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
Huobi: Can I withdraw my funds 100 percent from HTX?

Yes, HTX guarantees 100 percent withdrawal capability. The platform uses cold, hot, warm, and multi-party offline wallet storage for asset custody.

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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