Kraken Sign Up 2026: Fees, Verification and USD Deposits for US Residents
- US residents sign up with Kraken through Payward Interactive, Inc., which the licensing page lists as a FinCEN-registered Money Services Business (No. 31000270997766). Kraken does not serve residents of Maine and New York. Checked on October 31, 2026.
- Fees: instant buys cost 1% plus spread (up to $2 on small instant trades), custom orders 1.5%. Kraken Pro starts at 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker. Kraken+ waives trading fees up to $10,000 a month, but not on Kraken Pro (fee schedule).
- Deposits in USD: ACH is free from $1 and near-instant, but it holds withdrawals for 7 days. FedWire is free and takes 0-1 business days. A debit card costs $0.25 + 3.75% and holds withdrawals for 72 hours.
- Verification before you can buy: phone number, name, date of birth (18+), address, occupation, an ID, a proof of address and, for US residents, a face photo.
- US residents can deposit USD only, and a few states have transfer limits (Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Utah).
- Recent reviews describe the app as easy to use and bank linking as smooth; the cost sits in small instant trades and card deposits. Start with ACH, a small first buy and a test withdrawal.
What is Kraken and who can sign up in the US?
Kraken is a crypto exchange with two interfaces: the Kraken app and website for buying, selling and converting in a few taps, and Kraken Pro for spot trading with an order book. Last updated: October 31, 2026. The figures below come from Kraken’s own pages that I opened that day, not from a personal Kraken account.
| Topic | Status on October 31, 2026 | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Entity for US clients | Payward Interactive, Inc., FinCEN Money Services Business No. 31000270997766; custody through Kraken Financial, a Wyoming-chartered Special Purpose Depository Institution (Kraken licensing page) | You contract with the US entities of the group |
| Excluded states | Maine and New York | Residents of those two states cannot open an account |
| Currency | USD only for US residents | Euro or other non-USD deposits are not available to you |
| Verification | ID, proof of address and a face photo for US residents | Have all three ready before you start |
| Fees | Instant 1% plus spread; Pro from 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker | Small trades cost more on instant buys |
Living outside the US? Kraken serves the UK and the EEA through other entities with their own fee and deposit tables. This guide covers US residents; the licensing page above lists every region.
Kraken fees: instant buys, Kraken Pro and Kraken+
Kraken runs two separate fee structures: instant buys in the app and trading on Kraken Pro. They should not be compared as if they were the same product. All numbers come from the official fee schedule.
| Mode | Fee | On a $1,000 trade |
|---|---|---|
| Instant and recurring buys and sells | 1% plus spread (up to $2 on small instant trades) | $10 plus spread |
| Custom orders | 1.5% plus spread | $15 plus spread |
| Kraken Pro tier 1 (30-day volume from $0) | Maker 0.40%, taker 0.80% | $4 maker, $8 taker |
| Kraken Pro tier 2 (from $2.5K) | Maker 0.30%, taker 0.60% | $3 maker, $6 taker |
| Kraken Pro tier 3 (from $10K) | Maker 0.22%, taker 0.38% | $2.20 maker, $3.80 taker |
| Convert Small Balances | 3% flat below the minimum order size | n/a |
My yardstick is simple: buying and selling $1,000 costs about $20 plus spread with instant trades, $16 with taker orders on Pro and $8 with maker orders. For one purchase the gap is a few dollars. For a recurring plan of small buys, the spread weighs more than the fee. Kraken is not the cheapest place to buy a little; it gets cheaper when you use Pro or Kraken+.
Kraken+ and what it waives
Kraken+ is the premium subscription. Trading fees are waived for members on volume up to $10,000 per month. According to the Kraken+ support page (updated September 17, 2026) it works in the Kraken web interface and app, not in Kraken Pro; spread and payment fees still apply. The store screenshot below shows $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year; the price the app shows before you subscribe is the one that counts.
How to sign up for Kraken: create your account
Kraken sign up takes a few minutes. The order is: create the account, confirm the code, verify, secure it.
- Install the app from the App Store or Google Play, or open the website, and tap Create account.
- Enter your email address, a secure password and your country of residence. On the website you can sign up through this Kraken invite link.
- Enter the activation code from the email in the app, or tap the link in the message.
- Verify the account (documents in the next section) before you buy or sell.
- Turn on two-factor authentication in the security settings before you deposit.
Kraken account verification (KYC): what to prepare
To buy and sell you must verify the account. The official guide asks for a mobile number, your name as on your ID, date of birth (at least 18), address and occupation. Then you photograph two documents: an ID (national ID front and back, passport information page, or driver’s license front and back) and a proof of address such as a utility bill, bank statement or credit card statement. Residents of the US are also asked for a face photo.
- The name on the ID has to match the account and your bank: fund only from an account in your own name.
- Shoot the documents in even light, without glare and with all four edges in the frame.
- The support page is dated August 8, 2025 and gives no processing time, so I would not promise one; Kraken emails you when the account is verified.
Depositing USD on Kraken: ACH, wire, card and PayPal
The table shows the USD deposit options for US residents from Kraken’s deposit methods and fees page (updated October 30, 2026).
| Method | Minimum | Fee | Speed | Withdrawal hold |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ACH (Plaid) | $1 | Free | Near-instant | 7 days |
| FedWire (Dart Bank) | $1 | Free | 0-1 business days | None |
| Debit card | $10 | $0.25 + 3.75% | Near-instant | 72 hours |
| PayPal | $1 | Processing fees on the confirmation page | Near-instant | 72 hours |
| SWIFT (Customers Bank) | $100 | Free | 1-3 business days | None |
| SWIFT (Bank Frick) | $4 | $3 | 1-5 business days | None |
My clear recommendation: fund by ACH or FedWire from your own bank account. A $1,000 card deposit costs about $37.75 ($0.25 plus 3.75%) and locks withdrawals for three days. ACH is free, but the 7-day withdrawal hold matters if you may need the money back. I would send a small first transfer to see how long it takes and how it shows up in your balance.
Buying your first crypto
In the app, open Buy, pick the coin, enter the amount and confirm. The official screenshot advertises starting with $10, which matches the small-trade note above: tiny instant buys carry the up-to-$2 fee instead of 1%.
Withdrawing USD from Kraken
Kraken’s cash withdrawal page (updated September 28, 2026) lists these USD options for US residents.
| Method | Minimum | Fee | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACH | $1 | Free | 0-2 business days (2pm EST cutoff) |
| FedWire | $20 | $4 | 0-1 business days |
| RTP | $20 | 1.50% ($50 max) | Near-instant |
| SWIFT (Bank Frick) | $100 | $14 | 1-5 business days |
Kraken adds that this information can change without notice, so check the withdrawal screen in your account before a large transfer. Remember the holds: 72 hours after card, PayPal or wallet purchases and 7 days after an ACH deposit.
When something is stuck
| Problem | Likely cause | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Withdrawal blocked | 72-hour or 7-day hold after the deposit | Wait out the hold; next time use FedWire or a smaller test amount |
| Deposit not showing | FedWire and ACH timing differ; the table lists the range | Check the method’s processing time before contacting support |
| Verification still open | The support page gives no processing time | Watch the status in the app and email support if it stalls |
| Euro or other non-USD deposit refused | US residents can deposit USD only | Convert on your bank side or use a USD route |
State limits and other restrictions for US residents
- No service: Kraken does not offer services to residents of Maine and New York. If you move, you can use the new address for regular verification with a proof of residence.
- Transfer limits: crypto transfers are not available in Indiana; fiat transfers are not available in Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts and Utah.
- Currency: residents of the United States cannot deposit fiat currencies other than USD, and residents of Texas and New Hampshire cannot deposit or hold euros (full list on Kraken).
Security and Kraken reviews: 2FA and where it can go wrong
Turn on two-factor authentication first
Set up two-factor sign-in in the app’s security settings before your first deposit. I would do this first because a locked or hijacked account is the problem that costs the most time, and it is the one step you can finish in two minutes.
What recent users say
Recent US reviews of the app are mostly positive about ease of use, linking a bank account and the convert feature. The complaints I see are about the app redesign rather than money problems. Still, when something does hang, support is the bottleneck, so keep your first deposit small and run a test withdrawal before moving real size.
Honest verdict: who Kraken fits and who should skip it
- You trade spot and want limit orders: Kraken Pro at 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker on tier 1 makes sense, especially as volume grows.
- You buy rarely and in small amounts: the instant fee plus spread adds up. Compare the deposit tables in the guides to OKX registration and deposits, Bybit deposits and withdrawals and Bitget deposits and withdrawals, and check each exchange’s availability for your state first.
- You want a broader platform overview: see the Binance registration guide or the Backpack Exchange review before you decide.
- You are ready to start: open a Kraken account, fund it by ACH, and make a first buy of $10 or more.
Frequently asked questions
How do I sign up for Kraken in the US?
Create an account in the app or on the website with an email, a password and your country and state of residence, enter the activation code, then verify with an ID, a proof of address and a face photo. Source: Kraken Support.
How old do you need to be to open a Kraken account?
At least 18: the verification step asks for your date of birth and states you must be 18 or older. Source: Kraken Support.
Should I use Kraken or Kraken Pro?
Use the Kraken app or website for simple buys and sells (1% plus spread) and Kraken Pro for order-book trading (from 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker). Kraken+ applies to the first, not to Pro.
How do I fund a Kraken account?
US residents deposit USD by ACH, FedWire, debit card, PayPal or SWIFT. ACH and FedWire are free. Source: USD deposit methods.
Is Kraken available in every US state?
No. Kraken does not offer services to residents of Maine and New York, and some transfer types are unavailable in Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts and Utah. Source: Kraken licensing page.
Why can’t I withdraw right after depositing?
Card, PayPal and wallet purchases trigger a 72-hour withdrawal hold, and ACH deposits are held for 7 days. Plan around this or fund by FedWire.
Affiliate disclosure: the Kraken links on this page are invite links. If you open an account through one of them, this site may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. The assessment and the order of the information do not depend on it. Terms as of October 31, 2026; check the official pages before you deposit. This is not financial, legal or tax advice.
