# ChainATM vs Kraken

> Kraken is a long-established crypto exchange known for its security record and for serving both retail and professional traders from one venue.

## Side-by-side

| | ChainATM | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Website | https://www.chain-atm.com | kraken.com |
| Category | AI-powered crypto wallet (chat + voice) | exchange |
| Fees | 1 credit per tx (0% on USDC and EURC) | Tiered maker and taker fees on the pro interface, higher pricing on the simplified buy flow |
| Interface | AI chat (voice + text) | Trading terminal plus a simplified instant-buy flow |
| Custody | Non-custodial (self-custody wallet) | Custodial (Kraken holds the assets) |
| AI commands | Yes | No |
| Voice commands | Yes (iOS) | No |
| Fiat onramp | Yes (Coinbase) | Yes |

## Kraken strengths

- Long track record and strong security reputation
- Serious staking and professional trading tools
- Transparent published fee schedule
- Good EUR and SEPA support

## Kraken weaknesses

- Custodial, so not your keys
- The cheap fees need the pro interface, not the simple one
- No AI or voice
- No cross-chain swaps
- Self-custody is a separate withdrawal step

## Why choose ChainATM over Kraken

- Self-custody by default: Kraken's exchange holds your funds
- No order books, no charts, no trading pairs. Just chat
- One app for buy, swap, and send (no separate wallet product)
- Voice commands on iOS

## Common questions

### Is Kraken or ChainATM better for buying and sending crypto?

It depends on which part you do most. Pick Kraken if what your use case turns on is what it is strongest at: Long track record and strong security reputation; Serious staking and professional trading tools. ChainATM is the better choice if you want to buy, swap and send from one conversation instead of three separate flows, and it charges 0% ChainATM fees on USDC and EURC. ChainATM is non-custodial throughout: it never holds your funds, and purchases are executed by Coinbase straight into a wallet you control.

### What does Kraken cost compared to ChainATM?

Kraken: Tiered maker and taker fees on the pro interface, higher pricing on the simplified buy flow. ChainATM: 1 credit per transaction, from EUR 0.099 per credit, and 0% ChainATM fees on purchases of USDC and EURC. Other tokens use standard Coinbase on-ramp pricing. Network gas fees apply on both sides and go to the blockchain, not to the provider.

### Can I use Kraken and ChainATM together?

Yes. ChainATM is self-custody and does not require you to move away from Kraken. Many people keep Kraken and use ChainATM for the parts that are awkward elsewhere: cross-chain swaps in a single command, or fee-free USDC and EURC purchases.

### Does ChainATM hold my crypto like Kraken does?

No. Kraken holds your crypto on its own books until you withdraw it. ChainATM is non-custodial: the coins land in your own wallet, we never hold your funds, and we never have access to your keys in usable form. There is no withdrawal step, because nobody else held the funds in the first place.

### Is ChainATM available in my country?

Availability depends on our on-ramp partners' supported regions. ChainATM is built by Noctra Labs UG (haftungsbeschränkt) in Trier, Germany, registered at Amtsgericht Wittlich under HRB 48033. The fiat on-ramp runs through Coinbase, with EUR purchases by SEPA, card and Apple Pay.

## Related

- [All comparisons](https://www.chain-atm.com/compare.md)
- [Buy crypto](https://www.chain-atm.com/buy.md)
- [Pricing](https://www.chain-atm.com/pricing.md)
- [Auf Deutsch lesen](https://www.chain-atm.com/vergleich/kraken.md)