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Personal Finance · head to head

Kraken vs MEXC

Kraken logo

Kraken

Personal Finance

Secure cryptocurrency exchange for serious traders

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
MEXC logo

MEXC

Crypto

Your easiest way to crypto

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Kraken restricted in 16 jurisdictions due to compliance requirements; MEXC the App Store listing (seller Onechain Technology Ltd) states 0% maker fees and 0.01% to 0.04% taker fees that vary by region, meaning the effective trading fee a user pays is not a single published figure but depends on undisclosed regional tiers
  • They diverge on capability: Kraken covers Margin Trading, MEXC covers ETF Trading.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Kraken and MEXC actually diverge.

Attributes where Kraken and MEXC differ
AttributeKrakenMEXC
CategoryPersonal FinanceCrypto
Founded20112018

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (freemium), free tier (Yes), platforms (Web, Ios, Android), 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 Kraken

  • Margin Trading
  • OTC Desk
  • Bank transfers
  • SWIFT
  • Plaid

Only in MEXC

  • ETF Trading
  • Launchpad
  • MX Token

Both cover

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

What people use each for

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

Kraken

  • Exchanges
  • Trading
  • Stakingnot MEXC

MEXC

  • Exchanges
  • Trading
  • Altcoinsnot Kraken

Both are used for exchanges, trading, on those jobs the choice comes down to price and fit rather than capability.

Where each one falls short

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

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

MEXC

  • The App Store listing (seller Onechain Technology Ltd) states 0% maker fees and 0.01% to 0.04% taker fees that vary by region, meaning the effective trading fee a user pays is not a single published figure but depends on undisclosed regional tiers

Pricing, plan by plan

Kraken

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

MEXC

Free
  • StandardFree
    • Spot trading
    • Futures
    • Launchpad

Which should you pick?

Choose Kraken if

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

Choose MEXC if

  • You need etf trading.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Ios, Android.
  • You also want launchpad.
MEXC review

Questions people ask

Is Kraken or MEXC better?
Neither clearly leads. Kraken starts at Free and MEXC at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Kraken or MEXC?
Kraken starts at Free and MEXC at Free.
Does Kraken or MEXC run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, Ios, Android, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use Kraken for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Kraken best used for?
Kraken is most often used for exchanges, trading, staking. Of those, staking is not what MEXC is typically brought in for.
What can Kraken do that MEXC cannot?
Kraken covers Margin Trading, OTC Desk, Bank transfers, SWIFT. MEXC covers ETF Trading, Launchpad, MX Token. Both handle Spot Trading, Futures Trading, Staking, Web 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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