Head-to-head · Global model · Aug 19, 2026
Kraken vs Gemini
Kraken · Winner by +0.6 Decisive factor: fees (8.1 vs 6.4).
Kraken leads this global comparison (8.9 vs 8.3) because fees is the widest gap. Kraken spot fees are 0.16% / 0.26%; Gemini is 0.2% / 0.4%. Scores come from the same snapshot as the ranking, model v2.4, data as of Aug 19, 2026.
Reviewed by CryptoExID Editorial · Aug 19, 2026 · Editorial policy · how we make money
Factor by factor
Quick verdict
Kraken leads this global comparison (8.9 vs 8.3) because fees is the widest gap. Kraken spot fees are 0.16/0.26%; Gemini is 0.2/0.4%. Scores come from the same snapshot as the ranking, model v2.4, data as of Aug 19, 2026.
Kraken is better if…
- Fiat & Payments (8.4 vs 8.2)
- Security (9.8 vs 9.5)
- Asset Coverage (7.9 vs 6.8)
- Liquidity (8.9 vs 7.6)
- Kraken is built for Security record.
Gemini is better if…
- UX & Mobile (8.8 vs 8.6)
- Regulation (9.5 vs 9.1)
- Gemini is built for Regulated custody.
Real cost comparison
Published retail spot maker/taker is 0.16% / 0.26% on Kraken and 0.2% / 0.4% on Gemini. A $1,000 taker ticket is $2.60 versus $4.00 before spread. Deposit and withdrawal are extra. Futures, if both list the product, use a different schedule.
| Exchange · why it ranks here | Spot maker / taker | $100 buy | $1,000 buy | $10,000 buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kraken | 0.16% / 0.26% | $0.26 | $2.60 | $26.00 |
| Gemini | 0.2% / 0.4% | $0.40 | $4.00 | $40.00 |
Products
Kraken flags: Futures, Margin, Staking, Proof of reserves, API. Gemini flags: Staking, Recurring buys, Cards, API.
| Product | Kraken | Gemini |
|---|---|---|
| Futures | Yes | No |
| Margin | Yes | No |
| Staking | Yes | Yes |
| P2P | No | No |
| Recurring buys | No | Yes |
| Proof of reserves | Yes | No |
| Cards | No | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Listed assets | 220 | 80 |
KYC and onboarding
KYC is required before you can trade on Kraken and required before you can trade on Gemini in this dataset. That is the onboarding rule we score, not a legal opinion for every country.
Fiat, deposits and withdrawals
Kraken rails we have marked: sepa, sepa-instant, bank-transfer, debit-card, credit-card, wire-transfer, apple-pay, google-pay. Gemini: debit-card, credit-card, bank-transfer, wire-transfer, ach, paypal, apple-pay, google-pay. Shared: sepa, bank-transfer, debit-card, credit-card, wire-transfer, apple-pay. Only on Kraken: sepa-instant, interac, ideal. Only on Gemini: paypal.
Country availability
This is the global comparison. Kraken US onboarding: Available. Gemini: Available. Open the /en-us/ versus URL for US eligibility and local names such as Binance.US.
Who should choose which
Pick Kraken if this is the trade-off you want: Clean 13-year security record with proof of reserves; fee schedule beats most rivals. Pick Gemini if you would rather live with: NYDFS-regulated with insured custody; thinner books and higher retail fees. The score is a weighted average, not a personal recommendation.
Comparison FAQ
- Who wins, Kraken or Gemini?
- Kraken leads Gemini on this model. The widest gap is fees (8.9 vs 8.3).
- Which is cheaper, Kraken or Gemini?
- Listed spot maker/taker is 0.16% / 0.26% on Kraken and 0.2% / 0.4% on Gemini. A $1,000 taker ticket is $2.60 vs $4.00 before spread.
- Do Kraken and Gemini require KYC?
- Kraken: required before you can trade. Gemini: required before you can trade.
- Can US customers use both?
- Kraken in the USA: Available. Gemini: Available. Use the US versus page if you need Binance.US versus the global entity.