What is Kraken?
Kraken was founded in 2011 by Jesse Powell and is headquartered in San Francisco, USA. It is one of the oldest and most trusted cryptocurrency exchanges globally, with an excellent security record spanning over 13 years — notably one of the few major exchanges that has never been hacked.
Why Kraken for Japan?
For Japanese crypto users, Kraken is the top international exchange recommendation. Binance and Bybit are not FSA licensed and have received regulatory warnings in Japan. Kraken, while also not FSA registered, operates as a globally compliant exchange that accepts Japanese users through its standard global platform — without the regulatory red flags of Binance/Bybit.
Kraken Fees
Kraken uses a tiered maker/taker fee model: 0.16%/0.26% at the base level, decreasing with volume. While higher than Binance's 0.1%, Kraken's fees are reasonable for the security and regulatory compliance provided.
Kraken Security
Kraken has an exemplary 13-year security record with no major hacks. Features include: 2FA (TOTP/hardware keys), Master Key for account recovery, Global Settings Lock, and extensive cold storage. Regularly undergoes proof-of-reserves audits.
