VS
Bullish Europe vs Kraken
BaFin-licensed MiCA exchange with an institutional trading focus — The Regulated Veteran with Phone Support and Strong Security
Updated: July 2026
Kraken has been operating since 2011 and is one of the most established platforms in the industry. Bullish Europe, founded in 2021, is 10 years younger and positions itself as "BaFin-licensed MiCA exchange with an institutional trading focus". Both exchanges cater to active crypto traders — but the differences in fees, coin selection, and regulation are significant.
When it comes to fees, Bullish Europe has the edge: 0.03% spot taker fee compared to 0.26% at Kraken. On a $10,000 trade, that's a saving of $23 per transaction. Additional perk at Bullish Europe: Bullish advertises no maker fees and 0-0.03% taker fees for individual accounts; market and tier dependent.
On the security front, Bullish Europe offers MiCA-regulated via Bullish Europe GmbH in Germany (BaFin) with an insurance fund of Full-reserve and custody focus; no quantified public insurance fund. Kraken provides MiCA-regulated via Kraken EU subsidiaries licensed by the Central Bank of Ireland and backs it with Kraken Security Labs, cold storage and proof-of-reserves approach; no quantified public insurance fund. Both platforms feature industry-standard security measures including 2FA, cold storage, and regular audits.
Bullish Europe stands out with Spot Trading, Institutional Liquidity, API, while Kraken differentiates itself through Staking, Futures, Earn. In terms of coin selection, Kraken leads with 250+ trading pairs compared to Bullish Europe's Selected markets.
Kraken wins the head-to-head comparison in 6 out of 11 categories (2x Bullish Europe, 3x tie).
Which Exchange Is Better for You?
Kraken offers the easier onboarding experience, a polished mobile app and Phone/Email/Live Chat.
Bullish Europe charges 0.03% spot taker fee plus Bullish advertises no maker fees and 0-0.03% taker fees for individual accounts; market and tier dependent.
Both exchanges offer strong security features with insurance funds and 2FA.
Kraken lists 250+ trading pairs — 250+ more than Bullish Europe.
Comparison Table
| Criteria | Bullish Europe | Kraken | 🏆 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spot Maker Fee | 0.00% | 0.16% | Bullish Europe |
| Spot Taker Fee | 0.03% | 0.26% | Bullish Europe |
| Futures Maker Fee | N/A | 0.02% | Kraken |
| Futures Taker Fee | N/A | 0.05% | Kraken |
| Max Leverage | N/A | 10x | Kraken |
| Trading Pairs | Selected markets | 250+ | Kraken |
| Copy Trading | No | No | — |
| Grid Bots | No | No | — |
| Insurance Fund | Full-reserve and custody focus; no quantified public insurance fund | Kraken Security Labs, cold storage and proof-of-reserves approach; no quantified public insurance fund | Kraken |
| KYC | Required | Yes | — |
| Rating | 3.9/5 | 4.3/5 | Kraken |
Bonus via CryptoExchangePicks
Bullish Europe via CryptoExchangePicks
No bonus available
Kraken via CryptoExchangePicks
$30,000 Match
3% deposit match up to $30,000 + Spin to Win
Fees in Detail
Bullish Europe
Kraken
Bullish Europe or Kraken — which exchange is better?
How much can I save at Bullish Europe compared to Kraken on fees?
Which exchange is safer — Bullish Europe or Kraken?
Kraken or Bullish Europe — which has more cryptocurrencies?
Which exchange is easier to use — Bullish Europe or Kraken?
Not sure which exchange?
Check out our category rankings