Bitcoin Forum

Hi Everyone!

I hope you're having a great week. I wanted to get your opinion on Kraken vs Coinbase. What exchange do you think is better? Which exchange do you like more for trading and buying crypto?


I wrote my thoughts on Kraken here (https://blog.shrimpy.io/blog/kraken-review-exchange-features-trading-fees-and-security).

I also wrote an article on Coinbase Pro here (https://blog.shrimpy.io/blog/coinbase-pro-cryptocurrency-exchange-review).

Would love to hear your thoughts and see how they compare to mine!

Looking forward to chatting with everyone!

If you had great experience with what exchange you belong right now, and you find it sustainable, stay consistent with your goals, never let it go. To decide which is better, I think that depends on our experiences and it doesn't mean we rate them by popularity, because if our finances relied from Kraken or coinbase I am certain that we already considered it as the best.

depends on each person, because everyone has different preferences, both are large exchanges and are already popular, in my opinion both are good, the most important thing is they already have a good repustation.

Your words are very reasonable and correct and I agree with you. Choosing an exchange is an individual matter. It all depends on personal preferences and goals. I don’t understand why topic starter selects only among these 2 exchanges. I would not limit myself to just Kraken and Coinbase, since there are already a lot of exchanges in the world. Everyone can find to their liking. If you still need to make a choice of two, then Coinbase has a slightly higher rating according to the version of users here: https://revain.org/exchanges/kraken and https://revain.org/exchanges/gdax. Of course, this is a subjective indicator, but perhaps the reviews you have here will help make the choice you need.

I don't chose Kraken because never use it but coinbase yes. The platform is easy to understand, can generate address and friendly cs, fee is relative. All come back to you, which is the best depend your experience not our. You're the player decide by yourself not ask to us.

I think Coinbase is much better. Kraken is also a reputable exchange and has a very high volume but in terms of security is not too good. For Coinbase, they have a wallet app for investors and the transaction fee is extremely low. These are definitely great services that any trader or speculator is very interested and impressed with Coinbase. I am used to and trading at Coinbase, and besides, I have not seen any exchanges that are comparable to it.

If you are trading bitcoin or litecoin against euros, then Kraken is definitely the best because their euro markets are liquid.

On Coinbase (and other exchanges) you can wait ages for your order to get filled, because there isn't much liquidity in any of their euro pairs.

On the other hand if you are trading against dollars, Coinbase is best.

So - the answer to your question is, "It depends on which trading pair you concentrate on".

Its all about preference to be honest. Plus, once you actually get used to one exchange, you'd most likely use that for most transactions you'd actually do, as long as it's possible anyway. Both of them are reputable exchanges and both of them have their advantages over the other, but since I've been pretty much-using coinbase since like forever, I'd choose it anytime over Kraken. Plus, Coinbase is pretty much known to even beginners so I'd guess just based on popularity, coinbase actually wins.

depending on each person, the reputation of the two is equally good. yes there may be a few advantages in each of these market exchanges but overall whatever the choice or market exchange place. because I'm a coinbase user, I would say that the withdrawal fee is lower than any market exchange, only those points make me feel comfortable. even so, kraken and coinbase cannot be compared to just from the "fee withdrawal", so it's better if you can be a user on the 2 market exchanges, and so you know what it's like.

Kraken and coinbase provide different sort of stuff to me I think, well not to me but generally to everyone else. Kraken is a bit more global and it provides a horrible design yet at least a good amount of freedom, coinbase is more legit, it feels like the first ever bitcoin bank to be honest with you, dudes are as legally backed as possible without any situation but they are mostly american.

Definitely, you can do stuff on coinbase without being an american (back in the day it was even more difficult) but lets be honest, coinbase is american company, and it is a lot easier to use it if you are an american as well. All in all they are two totally different set out company that works out for two different type of needs, it is like comparing apples and oranges if you ask me.

I cant say which one is better yet i havent any experience on using up Coinbase ever since so i cant point if its better or not compared to Kraken which ive been using.

Its a matter of preference though just like on what others been saying here.Important thing here is that these 2 services are reputable and been known.

Ugh, I can't stand Kraken.  They function just fine, and I would trust them as much as I can trust any regulated exchange, but they don't offer a wide selection of coins and--at least to me--their site just isn't very intuitive and I find it a bit difficult to use.  I did a few trades there a couple of years ago and never used them again.

Coinbase was fine before they banned me, and I've related the story as to why that was a few times and won't bother now.  They're just fine if you want to buy bitcoin with fiat.  I haven't used them since 2015 so I don't know what coins they're offering now.  The only issue with them for users might be that they watch where you're sending your coins and will ban you if they're used for gambling and who knows what else--and someone please correct me if I'm wrong about that, because I don't want to be spreading misinformation about them.  But I've heard stories many times about that and I'm 99% sure it's true.

Thank the stars those aren't the only two exchanges in existence.  But if there's one good thing I can say about both of them, it's that US customers can use them, though I think there are probably certain states that can't.  That seems to be a trend that I find ominous.

Hmmm. Preference I'd say? I prefer Kraken since I just joined trading a few months back and well, I got wind of Kraken first before Coinbase. That resulted in me getting used to it after a few weeks and well, even if I see Coinbase being good, I still prefer using kraken. The unfortunate thing about Kraken though is that it lacks the wide array of choices for exchange and seems kind of lacking in comparison with other exchanges but eh, what you prefer to use right.

I am using Kraken for a very long time and i started using it because i was able to deposit money using the bank transfer with easy and there was no deposit charges and i do not remember purchasing bitcoin using coinbase.

I would like to hear your idea about promoting your blog in the name of this comparison :P.

It is really a matter of preference. I've been using kraken lately and get pretty much experience to it and I've been with coinbase for a couple of years now and still getting what I need to get to it. It is given, there is a competition among the exchanges but as long as it served its very purpose that'll be fine. Coinbase have massive user growth on the other hand kraken has a huge volume and liquidity, so it will just base on how the user which he thinks he can get the most of it.

Been using Kraken since the time when they were the first who listed ICN, its not  really an exchange you would use to look at the charts to analyse its data but just to bid. I can say its still one of the oldest exchange I have tried so far. I'm not using them for years already. I like the Cryptowatch for it doesn't hurt the eyes to monitor charts but it isn't the one what most of the traders use these days.

For making quick trades like day trading, Kraken is better. Coinbase is more of a long term trading platform because trades take so long to happen.

For security purposes, I like Coinbase because they are more like a regular company that is regulated by the US.

Coinbase has better liquidity. I also prefer their look and UI. Kraken has them beat by a mile on fees though.


That's the thing, there aren't many other options for US traders, especially in certain states. Coinbase and Kraken are two of the most liquid exchanges. Bitstamp is the only other option with (sort of) comparable liquidity. Gemini lags far behind, with Binance.US and Bitflyer barely on the radar.

I think all the exchanges are tracking customer coins now. Kraken also has a clause in its terms prohibiting the use of their services for "illegal gambling activities" so I think they'd terminate your account (or worse) same as Coinbase or Gemini.

I use coinbase not kraken so I'll say coinbase is better. Already support al trading/ investment activity, can generate address and also have speed transaction very fast ( so far ). Kraken is old but they create so many innovation that can be use to solve member problem right now, up to you my friends.

It depends on each person's experience. I have tried Kraken and I feel it is not as good as Coinbase. Coinbase is based in the US and officially licensed by the government and that makes a lot of sense. This makes me feel safe sending money at this exchange and in addition they have a great wallet system. Good security, extremely low transaction fees and very fast transactions.

In my opinion both exchanges are very good and have real volume too. But if I have to choose I will choose coinbase compared
to kraken. Actually, this is just a matter of taste in each person, whichever is more comfortable. If asked the reason I chose
coinbase over kraken is maybe from the number of coins listed on each exchange, coinbase certainly superior to me. But I return
to each of you, because everyone has a view and different tastes.

Depends on situation and person by person.But I love to use coinbase.Because coinbase user interface and it's easy to use.Though I tried to use karken few times.But I prefer coinbase.But both of them are reputed,trusted.