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Data refreshed 4 Nov 2026 · Compiled by Charlie Williams
Trust score 9 / 10 · Trust rank #7 · Founded 2011
Bitstamp is a well-established cryptocurrency exchange known for its user-friendly interface and robust security measures. It provides a range of trading options with competitive fees, making it suitable for both beginners and…
Read the Bitstamp review
Trust score 10 / 10 · Trust rank #2 · Founded 2011
Kraken is a well-established cryptocurrency exchange known for its robust security measures and comprehensive range of digital assets. It provides a user-friendly platform suitable for both beginners and experienced traders, offering competitive…
Read the Kraken reviewBitstamp and Kraken are both centralized exchanges. Bitstamp (founded 2011, headquartered in Luxembourg) ranks #7 on our trust rank, reports $240.7M in 24-hour trading volume and lists 96 coins across 186 trading pairs. Kraken (founded 2011, headquartered in United States) ranks #2 on our trust rank, reports $1.60B in 24-hour trading volume and lists 717 coins across 1,402 trading pairs. The two overlap in 44 countries; Bitstamp is available in 199 countries where Kraken is not, and Kraken in 0 where Bitstamp is not.
Scored on 7 measurable dimensions where both exchanges have verified data. Dimensions missing for either side are excluded rather than guessed. This is a data summary, not a recommendation.
| Criteria | Bitstamp | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Trust score | 9 / 10 | 10 / 10 |
| Trust rank | #7 | #2 |
| 24h trading volume | $240.7M | $1.60B |
| Coins listed | 96 | 717 |
| Trading pairs | 186 | 1,402 |
| Founded | 2011 | 2011 |
| Headquarters | Luxembourg | United States |
| Exchange type | Centralized (CEX) | Centralized (CEX) |
| Countries available | 243 countries | 44 countries |
| Licences / registrations | Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF), MiCA licence - Luxembourg, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), cryptoasset registration - United Kingdom, Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) - Singapore | Central Bank of Ireland, MiCA licence - Ireland, Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), cryptoasset registration - United Kingdom, Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA), registered platform - Canada, Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), broker-dealer licence - United Arab Emirates |
| Trading types | Spot | Derivatives, Spot |
| Best-for use cases | — | Beginner-Friendly, Centralized, High Liquidity, Low-Fee, Margin trading, Peer-to-Peer (P2P) |
Highlighted cells mark the stronger value where a direction is objectively better (e.g. more licences, lower fees). "Not verified" means the field is not yet in our catalogue for that exchange — we never fill gaps with estimates.
Available at both (44): Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa and 4 more.
Only Bitstamp (199): Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Aruba, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bouvet Island, British Indian Ocean Territory and 174 more.
Availability reflects the countries each exchange declares it serves. Local rules change; confirm on the exchange's own site before signing up.
Kraken reports the higher 24-hour trading volume ($240.7M vs $1.60B), based on the latest market data in our catalogue.
Kraken lists more coins: 96 at Bitstamp versus 717 at Kraken.
Kraken has the higher trust score (9 / 10 vs 10 / 10). The score reflects liquidity, scale of operations and cyber-security signals as tracked in our catalogue.
Bitstamp is the older of the two, founded in 2011; Kraken was founded in 2011.
They overlap in 44 countries. Bitstamp is additionally available in 199 countries (Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla and 193 more) and Kraken in 0 countries ().
Risk warning: cryptoassets are highly volatile and largely unregulated in many jurisdictions. You may lose the entire amount you deposit. Nothing on this page is financial advice; check availability and terms with the exchange before opening an account. Full risk disclosure.