MEXC vs Kraken

Platform Overview

MEXC

Founded in 2018, MEXC is known for its aggressive growth and listing strategy. It attracts traders looking to capitalize on newly launched coins, low fees, and flexibility around KYC. The exchange is popular among speculative traders and those outside of heavily regulated regions.

Kraken

Kraken is one of the oldest and most reputable crypto exchanges, launched in 2011 and headquartered in the U.S. It’s built a strong reputation for regulatory compliance, institutional security, and transparent business practices. Kraken appeals to more conservative traders and investors looking for long-term stability.

Supported Cryptocurrencies

If you’re looking for variety, MEXC easily wins — with over 2,960 cryptocurrencies listed, including low-cap altcoins and memecoins.

Kraken, on the other hand, lists just over 200 coins. The selection includes all major cryptos and a few handpicked altcoins, but it’s significantly more curated and geared toward long-term utility and compliance.

Fees and Trading Costs

Fees are where the two exchanges diverge sharply:

• MEXC offers 0% spot trading fees for spot and futures makers, and takers are charged 0.05% for spot and 0.02% for futures.
• Kraken charges 0.25/0.40% for spot trading and 0.02/0.05% for futures trading.

For casual or high-frequency traders, MEXC offers much lower fees across the board.

User Interface and Trading Costs

• MEXC provides a familiar trading interface with TradingView charts, detailed order books, and support for advanced order types. It can feel busy due to its feature-heavy layout, but experienced traders will appreciate the depth.
• Kraken offers two distinct experiences:
  • The main Kraken app is minimalist and beginner-friendly, focusing on basic buy/sell functions.
  • Kraken Pro gives advanced users access to full trading dashboards, analytics, and a deeper experience.

While Kraken wins for clean UI and regulatory clarity, MEXC gives more tools for the adventurous trader.

Derivatives and Leverage Trading

• MEXC offers hundreds of perpetual contracts, often including altcoins not found elsewhere. Leverage up to 200x is available on selected pairs.

• Kraken supports margin and futures trading through Kraken Pro, offering up to 5x leverage on a smaller range of assets.

MEXC is the better choice for variety and higher-risk derivatives, while Kraken is best for regulated, conservative margin trading.

Earning Features: Staking, Launchpads, and Yield

• MEXC Earn includes flexible staking, fixed savings, launchpads, and token reward events (like Kickstarter votes).

• Kraken offers staking for major tokens including ETH, DOT, and ADA with competitive APYs — both on-chain and off-chain staking options are available.

Both platforms provide reliable earning options, but MEXC includes more experimental opportunities, while Kraken focuses on stability.

Copy Trading and Social Features

• MEXC offers a built-in copy trading system where you can follow top traders, review their history, and automatically mirror their positions.

• Kraken does not support copy trading, instead prioritizing traditional trading and secure custody services.

If you're a beginner looking to learn by copying pros, MEXC is better equipped.

Security and Trust

• Kraken is widely considered one of the most secure crypto exchanges, with a long history, robust cold storage systems, and no major hacks since its launch.

• MEXC has had no major breaches but is less transparent about internal audits, insurance, and security policies.

For users who prioritize regulatory protection and transparency, Kraken is the winner.

Customer Support

• MEXC provides 24/7 multilingual chat support and email support, with a decent help center for self-service.

• Kraken also offers 24/7 live chat and phone support, along with a well-organized support hub and Kraken Learn.

Support is strong on both platforms, but Kraken's long-standing reputation for professionalism gives it a slight edge.

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose MEXC if you want:

• Access to 2,960+ coins and early altcoin launches
• Anonymous trading without KYC
• Lower trading fees and higher leverage
• Built-in copy trading and experimental earning tools

Choose Kraken if you want:

• Strong regulatory compliance (especially in the U.S. or EU)
• Institutional-grade security and trust
• Clean, easy-to-use interfaces for both beginners and pros
• A reliable exchange for long-term holding and regulated trading

Conclusion

In the battle of MEXC vs Kraken, the right platform depends on your priorities.

Kraken is a better fit for conservative investors, U.S. residents, and anyone who values security and regulation.
MEXC is ideal for traders looking to explore altcoins, avoid strict KYC, and experiment with staking or copy trading features.

Ultimately, using both may offer the best of both worlds — one for compliance, one for growth potential.

Still Researching?

To do more research before signing up to either of these platforms, you can read my Kraken review (here) and MEXC review (here). You can also read this article on the top cryptocurrency exchanges in the US. I have also included a quick comparison table below that summarizes some key info.