Kraken vs River — Head-to-Head Custody Comparison

An independent, data-driven comparison of Kraken and River across security, insurance, fees, regulatory compliance, and more.

Verdict

Quick Verdict

Kraken scores 7.6 vs River's 6.6. Kraken leads in 6 of 8 categories.

Kraken is better suited for Active traders, Security-conscious exchange users, International users. River is better suited for Bitcoin-only investors, DCA enthusiasts, Beginners.

7.6

GoodCustody Score

Kraken

6.6

FairCustody Score

River

Scores

Score Comparison

Weighted scores across all 8 custody criteria.

Criterion	Weight	Kraken	River	Winner
Security	20%	8.5	7.5	Kraken
Insurance	15%	5.5	4.0	Kraken
Regulatory	15%	8.0	7.0	Kraken
Fee Transparency	10%	8.0	7.5	Kraken
Track Record	15%	9.0	7.0	Kraken
Withdrawal Flexibility	10%	8.5	9.0	River
Reporting & Audit	10%	8.0	6.0	Kraken
Counterparty Diversification	5%	2.0	2.0	Tie
Overall Score	100%	7.6	6.6	Kraken

Visual

Score Radar

Visual overlay of Kraken and River across all categories.

KrakenRiver

Deep Dive

Category-by-Category Analysis

A deeper look at how each provider performs in every scoring criterion.

Security (8.5 vs 7.5)

Kraken uses Exchange hot/cold wallet system key management with 95%+ cold storage in cold storage and regular penetration testing. Compliance: SOC 2 Type 2. Incident history: No major security breaches in 13+ years.

River uses Proprietary cold storage key management with Majority cold in cold storage and regular penetration testing. Compliance: SOC 2. Incident history: No incidents.

Insurance (5.5 vs 4.0)

Kraken offers Not explicitly disclosed via N/A. Maintains significant cold storage reserves. Proof of reserves verified.

River offers Not explicitly disclosed via N/A. US-regulated Bitcoin-only platform.

Regulatory (8.0 vs 7.0)

Kraken holds FinCEN MSB, State money transmitter licenses, FCA registered (UK), AUSTRAC (Australia) and is not a qualified custodian operating in United States / Global. One of the most compliant global exchanges. Bank partnership for USD.

River holds FinCEN MSB, State money transmitter licenses and is not a qualified custodian operating in United States. US-regulated Bitcoin financial services company.

Fee Transparency (8.0 vs 7.5)

Kraken charges None in annual custody fees with 0.16-0.26% maker/taker per transaction. Competitive trading fees. Free ACH deposits. Proof of reserves audited.

River charges None in annual custody fees with 1.0-1.5% (spread) per transaction. Zero-fee recurring buys. Spread-based pricing. Free withdrawals.

Track Record (9.0 vs 7.0)

Kraken was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. AUM: $20B+ in quarterly trading volume. Incident history: No major security breaches in 13+ years.

River was founded in 2019 and is headquartered in San Francisco, CA. AUM: Not publicly disclosed. Incident history: No incidents.

Withdrawal Flexibility (8.5 vs 9.0)

Kraken withdrawal fees: Network fees + small flat fee. Minimum account: No minimum. Supported assets: Bitcoin, Ethereum, 200+ cryptocurrencies.

River withdrawal fees: Free Bitcoin withdrawals. Minimum account: No minimum. Supported assets: Bitcoin only.

Reporting & Audit (8.0 vs 6.0)

Kraken: SOC compliance is SOC 2 Type 2. Not classified as a qualified custodian.

River: SOC compliance is SOC 2. Not classified as a qualified custodian.

Counterparty Diversification (2.0 vs 2.0)

Kraken is a exchange custody provider. Key management: Exchange-managed hot/cold wallet system with proof of reserves..

River is a exchange custody provider. Key management: Bitcoin-only exchange with proprietary custody infrastructure..

Fees

Fee Comparison

Side-by-side fee breakdown for Kraken and River.

Fee Type	Kraken	River
Setup Fee	Free	Free
Annual Custody	None	None
Transaction	0.16-0.26% maker/taker	1.0-1.5% (spread)
Withdrawal	Network fees + small flat fee	Free Bitcoin withdrawals

Kraken: Competitive trading fees. Free ACH deposits. Proof of reserves audited.

River: Zero-fee recurring buys. Spread-based pricing. Free withdrawals.

Features

Feature Comparison

Checklist of features across both providers.

Feature	Kraken	River
13+ year track record	✓	✗
24/7 customer support	✓	✗
95%+ cold storage	✓	✗
Bitcoin education resources	✗	✓
Bitcoin-only focus	✗	✓
Excellent mobile app	✗	✓
Free Bitcoin withdrawals	✗	✓
Futures and margin trading	✓	✗
Lightning Network support	✗	✓
Proof of reserves	✓	✗
Staking services	✓	✗
Zero-fee recurring purchases	✗	✓

Recommendation

Who Should Choose Which?

Kraken is better if you…

✓Are a active traders
✓Are a security-conscious exchange users
✓Are a international users
✓Are a stakers
✓Want: 13+ year track record with zero major breaches
✓Want: Proof of reserves — verified by third party
✓Want: 95%+ assets in cold storage

River is better if you…

✓Are a bitcoin-only investors
✓Are a dca enthusiasts
✓Are a beginners
✓Are a us-based bitcoiners
✓Want: Bitcoin-only — aligned with Bitcoin ethos
✓Want: Zero-fee recurring purchases
✓Want: Free Bitcoin withdrawals

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kraken or River better for Bitcoin custody?

Kraken scores 7.6 vs 6.6 in our weighted Custody Score. Kraken leads in 6 of 8 scoring categories. However, the best choice depends on your specific needs: Kraken is best for Active traders and Security-conscious exchange users, while River suits Bitcoin-only investors and DCA enthusiasts.

What is the difference between Kraken and River?

Kraken is a exchange custody provider, while River is a exchange custody provider. Kraken excels in Track Record, whereas River is strongest in Withdrawal Flexibility.

How do Kraken and River fees compare?

Kraken charges None annual custody fees with 0.16-0.26% maker/taker transaction fees. River charges None annual custody fees with 1.0-1.5% (spread) transaction fees.

Which is more secure, Kraken or River?

Kraken scores 8.5/10 for security while River scores 7.5/10. Kraken uses Exchange hot/cold wallet system key management, and River uses Proprietary cold storage.