Kraken vs HTX: How these crypto exchanges compare

This Kraken vs. HTX article breaks down how the two platforms differ in important areas like, fees, products, support and security.

Founded in 2011, Kraken is one of the world’s largest and most trusted names in crypto. Headquartered in Wyoming, it serves millions of global clients across over 190 countries.

Covering products such as staking, margin, futures, and OTC trading, Kraken offers different ways to gain exposure to hundreds of the world’s largest digital assets. All backed by its globally recognized security standards, Kraken was the first to pioneer Proof of Reserves and continues to uphold a new standard for transparency and accountability.

Kraken’s reviews show that it appeals to early investors and advanced traders who appreciate legal compliance, responsive customer support and effective security features backing their trading journey. As one of the oldest, most trusted and best known crypto exchanges, Kraken has the tools and features you need to execute your crypto strategy on your own terms.

Kraken grundades 2011 i USA och är ett av de tidigaste och mest etablerade namnen inom kryptovalutaindustrin. Börsen lanserades mindre än två år efter Bitcoins debut och har fått globalt erkännande för sitt starka fokus på säkerhet, operativ transparens och en användarupplevelse av hög kvalitet.

Idag betjänar Kraken fler än 15 miljoner kunder i över 190 länder. Dess erbjudanden sträcker sig från flaggskeppsplattformen Kraken för enskilda investerare, till kraftfulla allt-i-ett-handelsplattformar för avancerade och institutionella handlare via Kraken Pro-plattformen och Kraken Desktop-appen.

Krakens institutionella svit omfattar spot-, marginal-, terminsmarknader, staking och OTC-handel för kvalificerade kunder. Kraken investerar också mycket i utbildning genom Kraken Learn, som stöder både nya och erfarna handlare.

Med huvudkontor i Wyoming understryker Kraken sitt engagemang för ansvarsskyldighet med rutinmässiga Proof of Reserves, en praxis som introducerades i branschen redan 2014. Det var också den första kryptobörsen som listades på Bloomberg Terminal, vilket hjälpte till att överbrygga klyftan mellan traditionell finans och digitala tillgångar.

Med regleringslicenser på nyckelmarknader inklusive USA, Kanada, Storbritannien, EU och en historia av att bistå i fall som Mt. Gox-fordringsägare, har Kraken byggt upp ett rykte för stabil, compliant verksamhet som gör det till en betrodd destination för dem som söker en säker och varaktig kryptobörs.

Founded as Huobi in 2013 by Leon Li, HTX is one of the oldest cryptocurrency exchanges. It was initially based in China, but moved overseas following the country’s crackdown on crypto trading. In recent years, it has undergone significant restructuring and rebranding following its acquisition by Justin Sun.

HTX delivers spot, derivatives and margin trading, staking, crypto loans and various yield programs across a wide range of tokens (including smaller, emerging assets). Historically, the platform has enjoyed a strong presence in Asian markets.

HTX is known for its broad asset listings and deep altcoin liquidity — making it a popular choice among traders seeking access to newer tokens. Today, it continues to maintain sizable trading volume in certain regions.

However, the exchange has faced regulatory uncertainty, a change in leadership and concerns around transparency. HTX has exited multiple markets (including mainland China) and reduced operations in others. Additionally, questions have been raised about its corporate governance, reserve disclosures and stability following layoffs and its ownership change. While it publishes Proof of Reserves, confidence among institutional and Western users has declined in recent years.

Today, HTX is regarded as a legacy exchange that still serves active traders in certain regions, but it is generally perceived as higher-risk compared to more regulated and transparent competitors.

Investors frequently choose Kraken because of their proven track record in regards to account security, product quality, and strong compliance standards. These priorities have helped it build long-term trust with millions of users across the globe.

While HTX offers breadth and flexibility, Kraken emphasizes stability, regulatory clarity, and client protection. For users seeking a regulated exchange with a focus on reliability and a deep product suite, Kraken remains a consistent first choice.

Krakens produktekosystem är utformat för att stödja ett brett utbud av handelsstilar och erfarenhetsnivåer. Användare kan handla när de är på språng med dess strömlinjeformade mobilapp eller utnyttja mer avancerade verktyg via Kraken Pro, som erbjuder detaljerad diagramanalys, anpassade ordertyper och marknadsdata i realtid.

Plattformen stöder spothandel för alla användare, med marginalhandel (upp till 5x hävstång) och terminskontrakt (upp till 50x hävstång) tillgängliga i berättigade regioner. Institutionella kunder och kunder med högt nettovärde kan få tillgång till ytterligare tjänster via Krakens OTC-disk och Kraken Prime-erbjudande.

Utöver handel erbjuder Kraken kryptostaking på över 21 tillgångar, med belöningar upp till 17 % APY beroende på myntet och nätverksförhållandena. Användare kan tjäna passivt genom att staka tillgångar som Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL) och Cardano (ADA) direkt via plattformen.

Kraken stöder också globala digitala betalningar via Krak, en funktion som gör det möjligt för användare att skicka krypto eller kontanter utan transaktionsavgifter.

Under 2024 lanserade Kraken sitt Ink Layer-2-nätverk byggt på Optimisms SuperChain, vilket ger en sömlös brygga mellan centraliserade börser och populära DeFi-protokoll.

För dem som vill fördjupa sina finansiella kunskaper erbjuder Kraken Learn utbildningsresurser som täcker allt från grunderna i blockchain till avancerade handelsstrategier.

HTX offers an expansive product suite beyond simple spot trading. Users can access spot markets of hundreds of cryptocurrencies, margin and perpetual futures contracts with leverage of up to 200×, copy-trading features, token earning programmes like Launchpool, as well as staking and yield products, allowing users to earn passive income from their dormant digital assets.

The platform also supports advanced technical tools such as leveraged ETPs and multi-asset collateral systems to appeal to both high-frequency traders and ecosystem-focused users.

Additionally, HTX provides sophisticated API support for automated and algorithmic trading. The platform supports external trading bots and custom integrations via its WebSocket and REST APIs. This allows advanced traders and developers to integrate their own tools and strategies for automated trading.

And recently, HTX started offering access to tokenized stocks. For example, HTX has launched a perpetual contract for TSLAX, a tokenized stock that tracks Tesla's stock price. By partnering with Backed Finance (a regulated real-asset tokenization firm), which issues a compliant xStock, HTX is then able to list it for trading.

While HTX offers an expansive range of trading features, including high-leverage futures up to 200×, copy-trading bots, and hundreds of altcoin listings, Kraken stands out by offering a more structured, compliance-oriented product ecosystem.

HTX’s focus is strongly on derivatives and fast-moving token opportunities. In contrast, Kraken provides not only spot and futures trading, but also staking across dozens of assets such as ETH, DOT, ADA, and institutional-grade access to tokenised stocks and ETFs in supported regions.

For traders seeking global access and product depth under a regulated architecture, Kraken delivers a broad, well-integrated platform. HTX may appeal to users focused purely on derivatives and high-frequency token plays, but for those who value product variety and regulatory clarity, Kraken offers a more balanced and institution-ready solution.

Kunder kan få tillgång till över 600 kryptovalutor på Kraken, inklusive stora som Bitcoin (BTC) och XRP (XRP) samt en mängd altcoins, från memecoins till liquid staking tokens.

Det finns också över 11 000 courtagefria ETF:er och aktier tillgängliga att handla direkt i Kraken-appen. Och för kunder på berättigade platser kan de investera i xStocks, som är tokeniserade versioner av dessa aktier.
Kraken stöder uttag och insättningar i tio stora fiatvalutor, vilket gör det snabbt och bekvämt för globala kunder att finansiera sina konton.

Valutor som stöds inkluderar:

• USD (amerikansk dollar)

• CAD (kanadensisk dollar)

• GBP (brittiskt pund)

• EUR (euro)

• JPY (japansk yen)

• AUD (australisk dollar)

• CHF (schweizisk franc)

• ARS (argentinsk peso)

• MXN (mexikansk peso)

• BRL (brasiliansk real)

Det finns också 15 stablecoins som stöds, inklusive Tether (USDT), USDC och USDG.

HTX supports a broad asset universe, listing over 700 cryptocurrencies and more than 1,000 trading pairs as of 2026.

The exchange emphasises new and niche listings, including first-to-market tokens across sectors such as DeFi, AI and memecoins, making it a platform for users seeking exposure to emerging markets.

HTX also supports over 25 fiat currencies and 14 stablecoins, providing decent versatility for users in a number of different regions.

HTX lists over 700 cryptocurrencies, catering to traders seeking exposure to new or niche projects. Kraken, however, takes a more measured approach, offering more than 500 carefully vetted digital assets alongside 11,000+ traditional instruments through Kraken Securities.

This blend of depth and due diligence gives Kraken an advantage for investors prioritizing asset integrity, liquidity, and regulatory compliance over sheer volume of listings — key differentiators in today’s evolving crypto market.

Krakens volymbaserade avgiftsmodell är nivåindelad och transparent för att stödja både professionella handlare och tillfälliga investerare.

Med maker-avgifter som börjar på 0,25 % och taker-avgifter på 0,40 % finns det också rabatter tillgängliga för individer och institutioner med hög volym. Med en Kraken+-prenumeration kan dessa avgifter elimineras helt för berättigade kunder upp till vissa månatliga volymer.

De flesta krypto- och fiatinsättningar är gratis, med vissa undantag beroende på transaktionsmetod och specifik tillgång. Kraken betonar också transparens genom att visa alla avgifter innan en transaktion bekräftas, vilket säkerställer att kunderna är väl medvetna om eventuella avgifter i förväg och undviker kostsamma överraskningar.

HTX operates a tiered maker-taker fee model where both spot makers and takers start at 0.20% each. Users can reduce their fees through higher trading volume, subscription-based VIP tiers, or by holding the platform’s native token (HT/HTX) for discounts.

Futures trading at HTX reflects much lower base rates (around 0.02% maker and 0.06% taker), with further reductions possible under VIP conditions.

While cryptocurrency deposits are free, withdrawal fees vary by asset and network, and fiat-card purchases may carry higher costs.

HTX’s straightforward fee model appeals to users who value predictable costs, but Kraken offers even greater flexibility across global markets with lower entry fees for active traders.

Kraken’s maker-taker rates start as low as 0.16% for makers and 0.26% for takers, undercutting HTX’s standard 0.40% flat rate.

Kraken also boasts a much wider range of products, including futures and staking, under the same transparent pricing framework, giving users more ways to earn or trade without facing hidden charges or token-based incentives.

For traders focused on minimizing costs within a regulated, multi-asset environment, Kraken’s global fee structure and clear disclosures make it the stronger long-term option over HTX.

Kraken anses allmänt vara en av de säkraste kryptoplattformarna i branschen. Sedan starten har Kraken aldrig upplevt ett intrång som resulterat i förlust av kundmedel, ett påstående som få andra börser kan göra.

Kunder drar nytta av ett flerskiktat kontoskydd, inklusive 2FA med passnycklar, PGP-e-postkryptering, detaljerade API-nyckelbehörigheter med intervallgränser, konfigurerbar kontotidsgräns, realtidsövervakning för misstänkt aktivitet, vitlistning av uttag och inställningar för huvudnyckel.

Kraken var pionjär inom Proof of Reserves 2014 och fortsätter att leda branschen med regelbundna, oberoende verifierbara revisioner. Denna kryptografiska procedur gör det möjligt för kunder att personligen granska hur deras kontosaldo backas upp av verkliga tillgångar, när som helst. Kraken innehar också ISO/IEC 27001:2013-certifiering, SOC 2 Type 2-revisionsöverensstämmelse och driver ett robust offentligt bug bounty-program.

HTX emphasizes security via institutional-grade custody and transparency measures. The exchange has integrated with Fireblocks Off-Exchange to allow institutional trading while keeping assets in external custody and reducing counterparty risk.

HTX also provides Proof of Reserves verification to prove asset backing. Other core security protections include:

• Two-factor authentication
• Withdrawal whitelisting
• Multisig cold storage
• And automated fraud detection and wallet monitoring.

However, HTX has also faced regulatory scrutiny, including UK enforcement actions related to advertising compliance, a reminder that users should balance technical safeguards with awareness of regional risk.

User-review data also shows some concerns around HTX’s customer support, mainly pertaining to responsiveness and account restrictions. This threatens their security reputation further, especially from a user perspective.

With a record of no breaches resulting in the loss of client funds since 2011, Kraken maintains one of the industry’s most trusted security frameworks, built on independent Proof of Reserves audits, extensive cold-storage protocols, and institutional-grade controls.

These measures continue to make Kraken a preferred choice for investors who desire trust, transparency and trading volume.

Meanwhile, HTX provides comprehensive verification vs. Kraken’s long-standing commitment to security.

Kraken är känt för sin responsiva och professionella kundtjänst, som erbjuder flera supportkanaler för att möta olika användarbehov. Kunder kan få tillgång till livechatt dygnet runt med riktiga mänskliga agenter, skicka in förfrågningar via e-post, eller (i utvalda fall) tala direkt med en supportspecialist via telefon.

Krakens flerspråkiga supportteam kan hjälpa användare på över ett dussin språk. Detta hjälper företaget att betjäna sin globala kundbas mer effektivt.

Börsen har också fått höga betyg i kundnöjdhet och erkändes som vinnare av Best Use of AI in CX (Europe) vid Customer Centricity World Series. Dess fokus på tydlighet, empati och snabbhet i att lösa problem fortsätter att utmärka Krakens kundupplevelse i en konkurrensutsatt miljö.

HTX provides customer service through live-chat on its website and email support. The platform also features a comprehensive help centre including FAQs and tutorials for a diverse range of user-issues.

However, user feedback paints a mixed picture. While some users report fast responses via live chat, many others cite significant delays in email support, withdrawals, account access or case-resolution, and as a result HTX holds a Trustpilot rating of around 1.4/5.

HTX offers standard support channels common to large exchanges, but the actual customer service experience appears inconsistent, particularly when complex issues like KYC, fund recovery or large withdrawals are involved.

HTX lists over 700 cryptocurrencies, catering to traders seeking exposure to new or niche projects. Kraken, however, takes a more measured approach, offering more than 500 carefully vetted digital assets alongside 11,000+ traditional instruments through Kraken Securities.

This blend of depth and due diligence gives Kraken an advantage for investors prioritizing asset integrity, liquidity, and regulatory compliance over sheer volume of listings — key differentiators in today’s evolving crypto market.

Kraken and HTX serve distinct segments of the crypto market. HTX appeals to traders seeking expansive token access, low fees, and a wide range of advanced products, from futures and copy trading to NFT markets and token launches.

Kraken, by contrast, focuses on regulatory clarity, robust security, and transparent operations, delivering a trusted and extensive trading environment for both retail and institutional users.

For traders weighing scale against scrutiny, HTX offers variety and flexibility, while Kraken provides reliability, compliance, and a proven record of safety.