Is Kraken Legit and Safe?

Is Kraken legit and safe? Based on HasTrust's assessment, Kraken earns a Trusted score of 85/100, reflecting a 14-year track record with no customer funds lost to hacks, strong regulatory compliance, and quarterly Proof of Reserves audits. It does receive mixed Trustpilot feedback, mainly over verification delays and support responsiveness, so weigh that alongside its solid security record before signing up.

kraken.com
93
Trusted🛒 ShopBuy
🔗https://kraken.com
Why this score?
Base reputation85
Among the most-visited sites (rank #3561)+8
Trust score93

Kraken is widely regarded as one of the most secure and reputable cryptocurrency exchanges, with a 14-year track record of never losing customer funds to hacks. While it maintains strong security, regulatory compliance, and transparency through quarterly Proof of Reserves audits, it receives mixed feedback on platforms like Trustpilot, largely due to user frustrations over account verification delays and customer support responsiveness. For the best value, users should utilize the Kraken Pro platform rather than the basic instant-buy interface to avoid higher fees.

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Video reviews

Pros

  • Excellent security track record with no loss of customer funds in over 14 years
  • Pioneer of transparent, quarterly, user-verifiable Proof of Reserves audits
  • Competitive fees on Kraken Pro platform compared to other regulated exchanges
  • Strong regulatory compliance and licensing across major global regions
  • Broad support for multiple fiat currencies and bank transfer methods

Cons

  • Mixed user reviews regarding verification delays and customer support responsiveness
  • Standard instant-buy app fees are significantly higher than Pro fees
  • Not available to residents of New York and Maine in the U.S.
  • Mobile app experience can be less polished than the desktop version
  • Limited or complex staking features depending on jurisdiction and recent regulatory changes

⚠ Red flags

  • High volume of negative user reviews on Trustpilot citing account verification and support issues
  • Potential for unexpected transaction pending status or account restrictions according to some user reports
  • Not available in certain U.S. states like NY and Maine

Safety signals

Established business (14+ years)
Proof of Reserves audits available
Strong regulatory licenses (FinCEN, FCA, etc.)
Customer support response/availability reports
Mixed Trustpilot sentiment (verification/support complaints)

Third-party ratings

Trustpilot (CA)1.5/5
Nerq Trust Score63.8/100 (C+)

Facts

Connection Valid HTTPS certificate
Certificate valid until 2026-08-02 (39 days) · Google Trust Services
Founded/Operating Since: 2011
Headquarters: San Francisco, CA, USA
Security Record: No loss of customer funds to security breaches since 2011
Regulatory Status: Regulated in 25+ jurisdictions globally, including US (FinCEN), EU (MiCA), UK (FCA), Canada (FINTRAC), Australia (AUSTRAC)

Better options

💡 Smarter pick
Coinbase AdvancedVaries by volume; Pro maker/taker fees start at 0.25%/0.40% and scale down. Instant buy fees can be ~1.5%-2% or higher.

Why switch: Often considered more user-friendly for mobile-first users.

B
BinanceVariable; maker/taker fees typically 0.10%/0.10% default.

Offers lower default trading fees for high-volume or active retail traders.

HasTrust summarizes public web sources and can be wrong or out of date. Not a guarantee of safety or quality — always verify before you buy or pay.

🛡️ Site safety check

Domain age unknown
Valid HTTPS encryption (certificate by Google Trust Services)
On the public web since 1996 (Internet Archive)
Among the ~1M most-visited sites on the web (Majestic Million #3561)

What you should do

  • Still pay with a method that has buyer protection (credit card or PayPal), never a bank transfer.
  • Check the returns policy and delivery time before ordering.
  • We keep tracking this site — check back here if anything feels off later.
Compare Kraken with 2 alternatives →
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Checked 48 days ago. · How we score →

Frequently asked

Is Kraken legit?

Trusted. HasTrust trust score: 93/100. Kraken is widely regarded as one of the most secure and reputable cryptocurrency exchanges, with a 14-year track record of never losing customer funds to hacks. While it maintains strong security, regulatory compliance, and transparency through quarterly Proof of Reserves audits, it receives mixed feedback on platforms like Trustpilot, largely due to user frustrations over account verification delays and customer support responsiveness. For the best value, users should utilize the Kraken Pro platform rather than the basic instant-buy interface to avoid higher fees.

Is Kraken a scam?

Possible concerns from our check: High volume of negative user reviews on Trustpilot citing account verification and support issues; Potential for unexpected transaction pending status or account restrictions according to some user reports; Not available in certain U.S. states like NY and Maine

What is the Kraken trust score?

HasTrust rates Kraken 93/100 (Trusted). Buy

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