Krypto-Leitfaden.at
Provider · KrakenMiCA

Kraken Reviews Austria 2026

Active since 2011 with no major hack. Low fees, high liquidity and excellent security features — but no Austrian tax report.

Active since 2011 with no major hack. Low fees, high liquidity and excellent security features — but no Austrian tax report.

Visit Kraken Go to comparison table

Note: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up through them, we may earn a commission — at no extra cost to you. Funding is transparently disclosed. Editorial coverage is independent of individual sign-ups. Learn more

San Francisco, USA · founded 2011

At a glance

The essentials in 30 seconds

Kraken has been live since 2011 and is considered one of the safest crypto exchanges in the world — with no major hack on record. MiCA-compliant via Ireland, low fees on Kraken Pro, but no automatic Austrian tax report.

  • Security record: 14+ years without a major hack
  • MiCA-compliant via the Irish EU entity (no FMA registration in AT)
  • Kraken Pro: 0.16% maker / 0.26% taker (much lower with volume)
  • Proof-of-Reserves audits are published regularly
  • No Austrian tax report — Blockpit or Koinly required
More about the platformVisit Kraken

What is Kraken?

Kraken is one of the oldest crypto exchanges in the world and has built a reputation since 2011 as one of the safest platforms overall — not a single major hack in the company's history.

In Europe the platform is MiCA-compliant via an Irish entity. There is no FMA registration in Austria — but using it is legal.

Verdict

Pros and cons

Pros
  • Outstanding security record since 2011
  • Low fees (maker 0.16% / taker 0.26%)
  • High liquidity — even large orders without slippage
  • Margin & futures available
  • Withdrawal whitelist & Global Settings Lock
  • German-speaking support
Cons
  • No official Austrian tax report
  • No FMA registration
  • App less beginner-friendly than Bitpanda
  • Pro interface required for cheap fees

What can I do at Kraken?

Kraken is a full-featured spot and derivatives exchange with its own pro interface. Staking is currently suspended for EU customers; spot trading and SEPA banking work smoothly.

ServiceAvailable?Details
Spot tradingYes240+ pairs · Kraken Pro: 0.16% / 0.26%
FuturesYesVia Kraken Futures (separate verification)
Margin (spot)YesUp to 5x on selected pairs
StakingNoCurrently not available for EU customers
Savings planLimitedOnly via external triggers (no native DCA)
Crypto cardNoNot offered

Current numbers

Spot pairs
240+
Maker/taker (Pro)
0.16% / 0.26%
Min. order
varies per pair
Cold storage
~95%

Note: Offering and terms may change. Staking APYs are indicative figures (as of 2026) and fluctuate with the market. Only the provider's own data is binding.

Fees

On Kraken Pro: 0.16% maker / 0.26% taker, well below that with volume discounts. The 'simple' Kraken app is more expensive (up to ~1.5%).

SEPA deposits are cheap (often free or < €1). Crypto withdrawals cost the network fee.

Security

Kraken offers 2FA, a Withdrawal Whitelist (only approved addresses), Global Settings Lock (lock for security changes) and a Master Key for recovery.

~95% of coins sit in cold storage. Kraken regularly publishes Proof-of-Reserves audits.

Taxes in Austria

No native Austrian tax report. You need a tool like Blockpit or Koinly to map the KESt obligation for Austria.

Realised spot gains: 27.5% KESt. Margin & futures are taxed differently — definitely consult a tax advisor here.

Who is Kraken for?

  • Security-conscious investors who want a cold-storage reputation
  • Active traders who need low fees
  • Investors with larger amounts
  • Less ideal for absolute beginners
How it works

How does Kraken work in practice?

Kraken offers two interfaces under one account: the Kraken app / standard web interface for beginners (fixed-price purchases, higher costs) and Kraken Pro with a full order book, limit orders and significantly cheaper fees. Both share the same login and balance.

Verification is done via Intermediate Verification (sufficient for SEPA and crypto withdrawals). SEPA deposits are usually free and arrive within hours. Kraken also offers margin trading and futures — which sets it apart from pure spot platforms like Bitpanda.

There is no FMA registration in Austria — but Kraken is MiCA-compliant across the EU via the Irish entity. Using it from Austria is legal, but you need to declare taxes yourself via a tool.

  • Onboarding: Intermediate verification in 1–24 h
  • Buying: Standard app (expensive) or Kraken Pro (order book, cheap)
  • Withdrawal: SEPA-out free, crypto-out only network fee
  • Extras: Margin (up to 5x), futures, staking (limited for EU)

Is Kraken reputable?

Yes — Kraken is one of the most reputable and safest crypto exchanges worldwide. The US company was founded in 2011 and has had no major security incident in over 14 years — a unique selling point in the industry. In the EU, Kraken operates via an Irish entity with MiCA compliance.

Kraken regularly publishes Proof-of-Reserves and works with established banks. There is no FMA registration in Austria — but usage is legal and EU-wide regulated under MiCA. For Austrian users this means: no direct AT supervision, but the security record of one of the oldest exchanges on the market.

Our experience with Kraken

In our test we used Kraken Pro for medium-sized spot purchases over several months. We were particularly impressed by the liquidity on large orders: even five-figure buys went through with no notable slippage — a clear advantage over Bitpanda Standard.

Our experience with the security features: setting up withdrawal whitelist and Global Settings Lock is a bit cumbersome, but afterwards gives you a much better night's sleep than most competitors. The German-speaking support replied to email queries usually within 24 hours.

Critique: The missing AT tax report is the biggest weak point. We evaluated transactions via Blockpit, which works but requires an additional subscription depending on volume. If you're looking for a simple solution purely for KESt obligations, Bitpanda is a better fit.

Kraken compared with alternatives

How Kraken stacks up directly against the most important alternatives for Austria.

ProviderStrengthFeesBest for
KrakenStrong focus on security since 20110.16% / 0.26% (Pro)Security-conscious investors
BitpandaWidely used in Austria, tax-easy~1.49% (Standard) / 0.03–0.15% (Fusion)Beginners & AT tax pragmatists
Bybit EULow fees, FMA + MiCA0.10% maker/takerActive traders with volume
CoinbaseNASDAQ-listed, MiCA from Ireland0.40% / 0.60% (Advanced)Brand-conscious beginners

Frequently asked questions about Kraken

Is Kraken reputable and legally usable in Austria?

Yes. Kraken is one of the oldest and safest crypto exchanges worldwide (founded in 2011) and MiCA-compliant in the EU via an Irish entity. There is no FMA registration in Austria, but usage is legal and EU-wide regulated.

How high are the fees at Kraken?

On Kraken Pro you pay 0.16% maker and 0.26% taker as the entry tier — much less with volume discounts. The standard app is more expensive (up to ~1.5%) and not recommended. SEPA deposits are free.

Does Kraken provide a tax report for Austria?

No, Kraken does not offer a native AT tax report. You need a tool like Blockpit or Koinly that imports the transactions and produces a FinanzOnline-ready report. You have to declare the KESt (27.5%) yourself.

How safe is Kraken compared to other exchanges?

Kraken has not suffered a major hack since 2011 — a record few other exchanges can show. Around 95% of coins sit in cold storage, regular Proof-of-Reserves audits and security features like withdrawal whitelist, Global Settings Lock and Master Key are industry-leading.

Can I still stake on Kraken in Austria?

Currently no. Kraken has discontinued staking for EU customers. If you want to stake, you can switch to Bitpanda, Bybit EU or native staking solutions.

What is the difference between Kraken Pro and the standard app?

Kraken Pro is the full-featured trading interface with order book, limit orders and maker/taker fees from 0.16%. The standard app is more beginner-friendly but with up to 1.5% spread significantly more expensive. Both share the same account.

What are the alternatives to Kraken in Austria?

For AT tax pragmatists, Bitpanda is the best alternative (FMA, automatic KESt). For even lower fees, Bybit EU is a great fit (0.1%, FMA-registered). Coinbase is a trustworthy NASDAQ-listed option, but more expensive.

Which coins can I trade on Kraken?

More than 240 spot pairs against EUR and USD/USDT. All major coins (BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP, ADA, DOT, MATIC etc.) and many altcoins. Liquidity on the main pairs is excellent — even large orders go through without slippage.

Ready for the next step?

Kraken: 8.9/10

If <strong>security is your priority</strong>, there is hardly a better choice than Kraken. You have to accept the missing FMA registration and missing tax report — both are easily handled with a tax tool.

If security is your priority, there is hardly a better choice than Kraken. You have to accept the missing FMA registration and missing tax report — both are easily handled with a tax tool.

Visit Kraken Go to comparison table

Note: Some links on this page are affiliate links. If you sign up through them, we may earn a commission — at no extra cost to you. Funding is transparently disclosed. Editorial coverage is independent of individual sign-ups. Learn more

All content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Disclaimer & liability

Further comparisons & guides