Kraken was one of the first big exchanges to offer staking, with support for ETH, DOT, ADA, ATOM, and more. It built a rep for being secure, transparent, and user-friendly. But in 2023, the SEC forced Kraken to shut down its US staking service and hit them with a $30M fine.
As of 2025, Kraken staking is still strong in Europe and globally, but US customers are locked out. For degens, Kraken feels safe and reliable, but boring compared to DeFi alternatives.
📜 Background & Reputation
Kraken introduced staking in 2019, focusing on coins with native staking systems like Tezos, DOT, and ADA. ETH staking followed after The Merge.
Reputation:
- Highly respected for security and compliance.
- Known as the “serious” exchange compared to Binance’s casino vibes.
- Hurt badly by the US SEC crackdown, which limited growth.
🚀 How It Works
- Choose a supported coin → stake directly on Kraken.
- Rewards are auto-paid twice a week.
- Assets supported (2025): ETH, DOT, ADA, ATOM, SOL, KSM, and more.
- APRs are competitive but not flashy:
- ETH: ~3–4%
- DOT: ~9–12%
- ADA: ~3–4%
- ATOM: ~15%
🛡️ Safety and Trust
- Kraken is considered one of the safest exchanges in crypto history. It has never been hacked since 2011.
- Custodial risk still applies: coins are in Kraken’s control.
- Regulatory risk is high in the US, but outside the US Kraken staking still operates normally.
🎭 What the Users Say
Positive:
- “Best UI for staking, simple and clean.” — Reddit
- “Trust Kraken more than Binance.” — Twitter
- “Weekly payouts are nice.” — App Store
Negative:
- “US ban killed it, had to move to Coinbase.” — US user
- “Yields are lower than DeFi.” — DeFi forum
- “Feels too centralized.” — Telegram
The vibe: respected, but limited.
🌍 Who Actually Uses Kraken Staking?
- Europeans who want a safe CEX option.
- Old-school crypto users who’ve stuck with Kraken since 2013.
- Institutional clients in regions where it’s regulated.
Not really used by US traders anymore. Degens usually skip it for higher yield options.
📊 Real Examples
- 2019: Kraken launches staking with Tezos.
- 2021–2022: Expands to dozens of tokens.
- 2023: SEC lawsuit → staking banned for US users.
- 2025: Still alive globally, but volumes smaller than Binance and Coinbase.
🎰 Should a Degen Use It?
Kraken staking is like the quiet blackjack table at the casino. Solid, safe, but not where the wild plays happen.
If you’re in Europe or outside the US, it’s a strong choice for steady yields. But for degens chasing action, it feels tame.
🏁 Final Degen Verdict
Kraken staking is safe, clean, and reliable — but limited by regulation and overshadowed by higher-yield options.
Use it if you want trust and compliance. Skip it if you want hype and big returns.
WAGMI — but you won’t get rich here.
