Comparing Trading Fees and Features: Kraken vs Coinbase

With the rising interest in cryptocurrency as an investment, various cryptocurrency exchanges have emerged in the market. Understandably, UK traders seek platforms that offer the best possible combination of low fees and robust features. This article compares two leading cryptocurrency exchanges, Kraken and Coinbase, that are popular among the UK audience.

A Comparison of Trading Fees

Trading fees are a significant consideration for cryptocurrency traders. Lower fees ensure a larger portion of profits remains with the trader. Comparing Kraken and Coinbase, each has a differing fee structure:

• Kraken operates on a maker-taker fee model, where fees are determined by a 30-day trading volume. Trading fees range from 0.00% – 0.26%.
• Coinbase offers two platforms: Coinbase (basic) and Coinbase Pro. Coinbase charges a spread of about 0.50% for cryptocurrency sales and purchases, plus a fee. Coinbase Pro uses a maker-taker model similar to Kraken, but with fees ranging between 0.04% – 0.50%.

Analysing Trading Features

While trading fees are important, they aren’t the only factor to consider. Let’s delve into some of the key features provided by Kraken and Coinbase to their UK traders:

Kraken’s Trading Features

• Kraken offers a wide variety of cryptocurrencies for trading, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, and many more.
• It provides advanced trading features such as futures and margin trading. Futuristic tools include conditional closes and automated strategy functionalities.
• Kraken also has a strong focus on user security with top-tier security features like Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), 24/7 monitoring, and cold storage for funds.

Coinbase‘s Trading Features

• Coinbase also offers a large selection of cryptocurrencies. In addition to that, Coinbase is known for its user-friendly interface, making it suitable for beginners.
• Coinbase provides integrated wallet services to store cryptocurrencies securely. Furthermore, it offers insurance coverage for digital currencies stored on the platform.
• Extra features include recurring buys, time-delayed withdrawals, and price alerts to keep users updated on market changes.

Comparison to other Platforms for UK Audience

While Kraken and Coinbase hold strong positions in the cryptocurrency market, UK traders also use other platforms like Zignally and Binance. Zignally is known for automated crypto trading with strong support for trading bots and signal providers, while Binance has a vast array of tools and features. It has potentially lower fees compared to Coinbase, ranging from 0.012% – 0.1%. However, for beginners to the crypto world, Kraken and Coinbase‘s user-friendly approach may be more desirable.

Conclusion

Whether Kraken or Coinbase is the better option for a UK trader would depend on individual preferences and needs. Those valuing a broader set of advanced features like futures trading and lower trading fees might prefer Kraken. In contrast, new traders might find Coinbase‘s interface more user-friendly with features like price alerts and integrated wallet services.