Crypto & DeFi — An Investigation ← Back to the investigation
Staff Investigation · Part 2: What We Found

We looked into one of the crypto exchanges getting attention. Here's the honest version.

Not a sales pitch, not a takedown. What it actually is, what it isn't, and a free fee-comparison worksheet either way.

Risk disclosure: Not investment advice. Cryptocurrency and DeFi carry real risk of total loss of principal — smart-contract failure, rug pulls, and platform failure are documented, common outcomes, not rare tail risks. Nothing on this page should be your only source before moving money.

Affiliate disclosure: This page contains an affiliate link. If you sign up through it, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. That relationship doesn't change what follows.

What it actually is

Worth saying plainly: Kraken is a real, licensed cryptocurrency exchange — a platform for buying, selling, and trading crypto assets, not an investment program or a coaching service. You create an account, verify your identity, and trade directly.

Every exchange, this one included, charges through a combination of a stated trading fee and a spread built into the buy/sell price — exactly the mechanism Chapter Three's Trade Cost Revealer walked through. We're not going to quote Kraken's exact current fee schedule here, because fee schedules change and the specific number matters less than knowing to check it yourself before you trade — which the checklist below walks you through.

What it isA licensed cryptocurrency exchange for buying, selling, and trading
Cost structureA stated trading fee plus a spread built into the displayed price — check the current schedule directly before trading
Regulatory statusOperates under licensing requirements in the jurisdictions it serves — verify current status for your specific country before signing up
AvailabilityAvailable in most countries, with some regional restrictions
Our take

If you already understand the general idea from Chapter Three — that every exchange has a fee structure worth checking, not just a marketing headline — a licensed, established exchange is a reasonable place to compare against. Check the current fee schedule and your country's availability directly before funding an account.

The questions you're probably asking

"Is this actually cheaper than other exchanges?"

We can't verify a specific number for you — fee schedules change, and the honest answer is you should compare the current published fees directly. The free worksheet below walks you through exactly what to check.

"Is my money safe on an exchange?"

Regulation and licensing address custody standards and accountability, not market risk — the value of what you hold can still go up or down significantly. That's true of any exchange, not specific to this one.

What you get from us either way

Free, no purchase required

The Exchange Fee Comparison Worksheet

A short worksheet listing exactly which fee line items to check on any exchange before you fund an account — the same categories from Chapter Three's Trade Cost Revealer, applied to whichever exchanges you're actually comparing.

Just your email, nothing else — no purchase, no account. Not sold separately, it's part of this investigation whether or not you go any further.
Visit Kraken →
Opens Kraken's own site. Review their current fee schedule and your country's availability before creating an account.
Cryptocurrency values are volatile and can lose value. Nothing on this page is financial advice — do your own research before trading.