Kraken is one of the largest and longest-operating cryptocurrency exchanges in the world, founded in 2011 by Jesse Powell in San Francisco. The exchange launched publicly in 2013 and has grown into a major platform serving millions of clients across more than 190 countries. Kraken offers spot trading, margin trading, futures, staking, and institutional services across hundreds of cryptocurrency pairs.

Kraken has built a reputation for security, having never suffered a major hack in over a decade of operation. The exchange was the first to be listed on Bloomberg Terminal data feeds and was appointed to assist in the Mt. Gox bankruptcy proceedings in 2014. Kraken supports fiat deposits and withdrawals in USD, EUR, GBP, CAD, AUD, JPY, and other currencies, making it one of the most accessible exchanges for global users.

In recent years, Kraken has expanded significantly. The company acquired futures trading platform Crypto Facilities in 2019 and has pursued regulatory licenses across multiple jurisdictions. Kraken has explored a potential public listing and continues to invest in its institutional platform, offering custody, OTC trading, and API access for professional traders and funds.

Key Features

  • Global Exchange — Spot, margin, and futures trading across hundreds of pairs
  • Fiat Support — Deposits and withdrawals in multiple major currencies
  • Institutional Services — OTC desk, custody, staking, and API trading
  • Strong Security Record — No major security breaches since 2011 launch

Venture Capital Rounds

Coinsetter (now Kraken) logo Coinsetter (now Kraken): $1.4 million - Second

10-Oct-2014 | Exchange

Investors: Unknown

Headquartered: New York

Country: United States

Payward, Inc. (Kraken) logo Payward, Inc. (Kraken): $5 million - First

18-Mar-2014 | Exchange

Investors: Hummingbird Ventures, Trace Mayer, Bitcoin Opportunity Fund.

Headquartered: San Francisco

Country: United States

Coinsetter (now Kraken) logo Coinsetter (now Kraken): $0.5 million - First

17-Feb-2014 | Exchange

Investors: Crypto Currency Partners

Headquartered: New York

Country: United States

Payward, Inc. (Kraken) logo Payward, Inc. (Kraken): $1.5 million - Seed

12-Dec-2013 | Exchange

Investors: Crypto Currency Partners

Headquartered: San Francisco

Country: United States