VaultRubric
Kraken vs Binance.US
Pick your crypto platform by the evidence.
Kraken and Binance.US are both popular crypto exchanges. Below: the sourced facts side by side, then VaultRubric's equal-weight score with the math shown, so you can see exactly why one comes out ahead. Every number links to its source and date; anything we couldn't verify says not found.
Run your own comparison →Opens the tool with these platforms filled in, so you can change the weights.
Key facts compared
| Fact | Kraken | Binance.US |
|---|---|---|
| Trading fees (entry tier) | 0.25%–0.4% maker / 0.4%–0.8% taker Kraken Pro base tier; sources disagree (0.25/0.40 vs 0.40/0.80). Simple buys ~1% fee + 1% spread per Yahoo. src · 2026-10-10 src · 2026-10-10 | 0% maker / 0.02% taker Base rate for every user on all Advanced (spot) pairs since 2026-04-22, no volume tier or subscription; select pairs (e.g. BNB/USD) 0.01%. One Click Buy/Convert priced separately. src · 2026-10-10 src · 2026-10-10 |
| Supported coins | 523+ src · 2026-10-10 | not found |
| Security incidents | 2024-06 Deposit bug exploited for ~$3M from Kraken treasury (not client assets); funds returned src 2026-04 Insider-filmed support systems; ~2,000 accounts potentially viewed; extortion attempt; no funds at risk src | none in curated data (not proof of none) |
| Regulatory / legal actions | 2023-02 SEC settlement over unregistered staking-as-a-service: $30M, US staking program ended src · 2026-10-10 | 2023-06 SEC sued Binance/BAM Trading (Binance.US) for unregistered exchange/broker activity and misrepresenting trading controls; dismissed with prejudice 2025-05-29, no penalty src · 2026-10-10 src · 2026-10-10 |
| Proof of reserves | Yes src · 2026-10-10 | not found |
| US availability | Yes Listed as available in the US src · 2026-10-10 | Yes, 38 states src · 2026-10-10 |
| Licensing / regulation | Regulated in multiple jurisdictions (FCA, FinCEN-registered per Rononcrypto) src · 2026-10-10 | not found |
VaultRubric verdict
VaultRubric pick: Binance.US
⚠ Binance.US: Regulatory: SEC sued Binance/BAM Trading (Binance.US) for unregistered exchange/broker activity and misrepresenting trading controls; dismissed with prejudice 2025-05-29, no penalty (2023-06)
⚠ Kraken: treasury loss (2024-06)
⚠ Kraken: data breach (2026-04)
⚠ Kraken: Regulatory: SEC settlement over unregistered staking-as-a-service: $30M, US staking program ended (2023-02)
| Criterion (weight) | Binance.US | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Fees (17%) | 10.0/10 | 1.3/10 |
| Security & track record (17%) | 7.0/10 | 6.0/10 |
| Supported coins (17%) | not found | 10.0/10 |
| Ease of use (17%) | 8.0/10 | 8.0/10 |
| Customer support (17%) | 4.0/10 | 7.8/10 |
| US availability/regulation (17%) | 7.6/10 | 7.0/10 |
| Overall | 73.2% coverage 83% | 66.8% coverage 100% |
Show math: Binance.US
0.167×10.0 + 0.167×7.0 + 0.167×8.0 + 0.167×4.0 + 0.167×7.6 = 6.10; ÷ covered weight 0.833 = 7.32/10 → 73.2%Show math: Kraken
0.167×1.3 + 0.167×6.0 + 0.167×10.0 + 0.167×8.0 + 0.167×7.8 + 0.167×7.0 = 6.68; ÷ covered weight 1.000 = 6.68/10 → 66.8%Pros and cons
From independent reviews; each point links to its source.
Binance.US
Pros
- Low trading fees src
- High security ranking src
- Staking rewards available src
- Fiat payments supported src
Cons
Opens the tool with these platforms filled in, so you can change the weights.
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FAQ
Is Kraken or Binance.US better?
On VaultRubric's equal-weight rubric, Binance.US scores higher (66.8% vs 73.2% for Kraken and Binance.US respectively). The better choice depends on what you weight most; run the tool with your own priorities.
Which has lower fees, Kraken or Binance.US?
Entry-tier taker fees in our data: Kraken 0.8%, Binance.US 0.02%. Binance.US is cheaper on that measure. Spreads and withdrawal fees are extra; check each fee page.
Has Kraken lost customer funds in a hack?
No customer-funds hack is in our curated data. It does list: 2024-06: Deposit bug exploited for ~$3M from Kraken treasury (not client assets); funds returned; 2026-04: Insider-filmed support systems; ~2,000 accounts potentially viewed; extortion attempt; no funds at risk.
Is Kraken available in the US?
Yes. Listed as available in the US
Is Binance.US available in the US?
Yes. US-only entity; not in 12 states
How does VaultRubric score platforms?
Each criterion gets 0–10 from cited evidence (curated dated data, live independent reviews, and AI analysis that must quote its source verbatim). Weights are normalized to 100%; missing data is excluded and shown as coverage. Platforms with an unreimbursed customer-funds hack in the last 48 months are capped at 60% and can't be the pick. Criminal guilty pleas (−2) and major civil settlements (−1) in the last 5 years reduce the security score.