Kraken vs ChangeNOW: A Comprehensive Comparison for 2025

The days of complex and multi-step cryptocurrency exchanges are behind us. Today, platforms like Kraken and ChangeNOW lead the way in offering fast and straightforward trading experiences. While both allow for crypto transactions, their approaches differ significantly. Kraken shines with its advanced features and trading options, making it a go-to choice for experienced traders. In contrast, ChangeNOW focuses on offering quick, non-custodial swaps without the need for sign-ups, catering to users who value simplicity and speed.

In this article, we’ll explore the key differences between these platforms, from fees and supported assets to security and user experience.

Key Takeaways: Quick glance at ChangeNOW and Kraken

This table provides a quick overview of the core features and differences between Kraken and ChangeNOW, making it easier for readers to compare both platforms.

Verdict

• ChangeNOW: Best for users looking for speed, simplicity, and a wide variety of assets without custodial risk.
• Kraken: Best for institutional users and professional traders.

Supported Assets & Fiat

ChangeNOW

ChangeNOW offers a very broad selection of cryptocurrencies, making it particularly appealing for users looking for variety. ChangeNOW supports exchanges with 1400+ coins and tokens, fiat‑to‑crypto and crypto‑to‑fiat purchases. Supported networks include ERC‑20, BEP‑20, TRC‑20, SPL, Linea and more blockchains [1].

The platform offers separate portals for Memecoins and DeFi assets:

These portals outline the current market cap of each sector, trading volume for memecoins, as well as new addings, top losers & top gainers of each category.

ChangeNOW regularly lists new tokens. Fresh addings can be found in the crypto exchange calculator. Moreover, the team posts new listings announcements in their X and Telegram channels [2].

Kraken

Kraken’s asset support is more selective compared to ChangeNOW, but still substantial. On their “Cryptocurrencies available on Kraken” support page, they list a large number of assets, around 550, with detailed breakdowns (network, ticker) [3].

For their wallet product they specify support for native currencies on major networks (Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Dogecoin, Polygon) plus “thousands of tokens” on the supported networks (Arbitrum, Optimism, Solana, Dogecoin, Base and Blast) [4].

While this is still impressive, Kraken’s focus leans more towards well-established, high liquidity assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and various stablecoins. The platform is more tailored for active traders who need deep liquidity and advanced order-book features.

Fees & Pricing

ChangeNOW

ChangeNOW charges all fees upfront, displayed as part of the quoted rate, depending on whether users choose the Floating or Fixed Rate options. Rates are inclusive: displayed prices include fees and network costs. Users may choose floating (market-linked) or fixed (locked in quote) rates.

Kraken

When you buy, sell, or convert cryptocurrencies or fiat on Kraken, fees apply. These include:

• Trading Fees: Kraken charges a fixed 1% trading fee, which is waived for Kraken+ members on trading volume up to $10,000 per month (details below).
• Payment Fees: Additional fees may apply depending on your chosen payment method, such as using a credit/debit card, ACH transfer, or your Kraken account balance.
• For small balance conversions using the “Convert Small Balances” feature, a fixed 3% fee applies to amounts below the minimum order size. [5]

Speed

ChangeNOW

Speed is where ChangeNOW really excels. Thanks to its non-custodial, instant swap model, the platform promises to complete most transactions in about 2 minutes [6]. No waiting for order book matching — just pick your assets, deposit, and get your crypto.

Kraken

Kraken, being a full exchange, operates on a more traditional model. Transaction speed can vary, especially during high traffic or if you’re executing complex orders. Kraken users report that while the exchange generally operates efficiently, withdrawal times and order matching may take longer compared to the instant swaps offered by ChangeNOW.

Security & Trust

ChangeNOW

ChangeNOW works on a non-custodial model, which entails that users are in control of their funds until the exchange is completed. This enhances security because a trader doesn't need to trust the site with his assets. It does mean, though, that in case an error is made in the swap, recovering the money can be a pretty challenging effort. ChangeNOW's rating for security is generally good.

From a compliance perspective, ChangeNOW complies with AML/KYC policies, but does so in a rather flexible way compared to many other services [7]. For most transactions, no KYC is required. At the same time, if you are about to use the service to buy crypto with fiat, then you would have to pass a form of verification for the service to be in full accordance with international financial norms. That way, ChangeNOW can ensure the blocking of illicit activities on their site while still making it easy to use for smaller deals.

ChangeNOW grants transparency through periodic safety reports, showing how the platform manages security and responds to incidents. For example, in one of their articles they report that ChangeNOW recovered $5 Million in collaboration with the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

These reports outline measures taken to prevent fraud and unauthorized transactions and also those cases where stolen funds were recovered with the help of law enforcement. Though ChangeNOW does not publish independent proof-of-reserves audits like some larger exchanges do, these safety reports show the commitment of the platform to the protection of users' funds and operational integrity.

Kraken

Kraken is one of the most established crypto platforms with a rich security track record, holding assets in cold storage, using 2FA on all accounts, and using proof-of-reserves audits regularly [8]. With its license and regulation in several countries, Kraken extends additional security to institutional and casual users alike.

The platform utilizes some of the most advanced measures in the protection of funds and data, including ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certification, SOC 2 Type 1 audits, hot and cold wallet solutions, 24/7 monitoring, encryption, strict access controls, vulnerability testing, and a bug bounty program. These systems make sure the exchange is secure and stable; support is also available 24/7 for urgent concerns [9].

Kraken also abides by strict global AML regulations, including Know Your Customer verification. New users will set up KYC upon onboarding, but for existing clients, update requests can come at any time that may be deemed necessary. These measures protect both the platform and its users from fraud, money laundering, and terrorist financing risks [10].

Customer Support

ChangeNOW

ChangeNOW really positions itself as a user-friendly service, and its customer support is no different. It offers a web chat widget and an email ticket system for support on the platform. Response times may vary, but in most cases, users report receiving replies within a reasonable window, especially for active swaps or urgent issues. There's also a Help Center with straightforward guides covering common problems, from delayed transactions to verification questions for fiat purchases.

One of the advantages of the support system in ChangeNOW is that it doesn't feel too bureaucratic. You don't need to pass through strict identity checks unless your case, for some reason, triggers AML/KYC. In the case of simple swap-related problems, support tends to act relatively fast and tries to resolve the problem even if the user made a mistake with a memo/tag or specified an incorrect address. However, because the platform is non-custodial, there is only so much the team can do. If your assets were sent to the wrong chain or wallet, ChangeNOW support can't always recover the funds, and they're pretty upfront about that.

The style is generally friendly and concise, which suits everyday users.

Kraken

It offers 24/7 live chat support, a ticketing system, and an extensive Help Center covering all aspects of trading, verification tiers, security configurations, and institutional tools. Kraken is often known for its uptight support team, which at times may go to the extent of being overcautious with account access or suspicious activity tracking. This slower, more methodical approach comes from strict compliance standards, not from negligence.

Users benefit from multilevel support, such as detailed articles on troubleshooting, recovering from account lockouts, and guides for more advanced products. Kraken operates a public status page, which allows traders to rapidly determine whether there are platform-wide problems or account-specific ones.

Reliability is the main strength of Kraken's support. If anything goes wrong with either deposits, withdrawals, or verification, you may be sure that this team will investigate it to the very end and provide a documented answer. That said, the whole process can feel heavy for users who just want fast, casual replies. The exchange operates more like a financial institution than a lightweight crypto service.

Users Review

ChangeNOW

ChangeNOW has a solid rating of 4.5/5 based on nearly 13,000 reviews on Trustpilot. The platform is often praised for its excellent customer support, wide range of assets, speed, and reliability.

Another popular comment type is about small fees on transactions:

However, negative reviews frequently mention transaction freezes due to market fluctuations.

Overall, ChangeNOW receives predominantly positive feedback from its users.

Kraken

Kraken’s TrustPilot page has a 1,9 / 5 rating based on 3500+ reviews.

Positive reviews are often about safety and user friendliness of the platform:

Some users mention that they have been using Kraken for many years without great issues:

On the other hand, many users are highly disappointed with assets delisting procedures, which are held quite often lately:

Two other common issues are the bugs and downtimes of platform, and poor customer support service:

These issues have contributed to a lower overall rating despite the platform’s robust infrastructure.

Unique Features

ChangeNOW

For such a seemingly simple swap service, ChangeNOW's ecosystem is surprisingly rich. Among its notable attractions is ChangeNOW Pro, a subscription-based upgrade that offers benefits from cashback rewards and reduced fees to AML address checks and access to crypto-backed loans. Even the free "VIP" tier provides basic cashback and staking options for those holding its NOW Token, making the platform far more functional than many non-custodial exchanges.

ChangeNOW offers a custodial solution for securely storing your funds in a convenient way. For businesses, there is a separate service called NOW Custody, while individual users can take advantage of the custodial solution within ChangeNOW Pro, providing a secure experience for managing their crypto assets. More about ChangeNOW Custody can be found in the article - What is crypto custody and how it helps avoid slippage.

Users who make frequent swaps appreciate the capability to create permanent exchange addresses, which will make repeated transactions between the same wallets easier. ChangeNOW also natively integrates with NOW Wallet, a non-custodial mobile app where users can store, buy, and exchange a wide range of cryptocurrencies. This makes for a very smooth ecosystem experience for users who just want simple, app-based asset management without dealing with centralized accounts.

On the whole, the main “unique” strength of ChangeNOW lies in its accessibility. This flexible set of features is put around a non-custodial core and would appeal to users looking for speed, simplicity, and optional high-level tools without committing to a full exchange account.

Kraken

In contrast to this, Kraken focuses on advanced functionality for trading and regulated financial infrastructure. Its most distinctive feature is the ability to trade crypto-collateralized futures: one can open a derivative position and keep one's assets as collateral, not converting them into fiat. This makes risk management and hedging much easier for professional traders.

The professional-level interface of the platform, Kraken Pro, provides margin trading with up to 10× leverage, algorithmic trading tools, deep analytics, and customizable layouts. API access is supported via REST, WebSocket, and FIX protocols, affording trading bots and institutional clientele the flexibility they would expect from such a large exchange.

The platform continues to expand its ecosystem with features like Kraken Wallet, a non-custodial solution supporting multiple networks and NFTs, and Auto-Invest, which allows users to set recurring purchases or buy curated crypto portfolios (“Bundles”) for easier diversification. For high-volume traders, Kraken is also operating an over-the-counter desk, thus allowing large volumes of trades to take place with very little market impact.

Where Kraken really differentiates, however, is in terms of infrastructure. The exchange consistently publishes proof-of-reserves audits, follows international security standards, and operates under regulatory watch in several jurisdictions. These factors give Kraken a level of transparency and institutional readiness that few competitors match.

B2B Solutions

ChangeNOW

ChangeNOW provides a large set of B2B solutions for companies wanting to integrate crypto functionality without building full blockchain infrastructure. Its most notable product is the ChangeNOW White Label Exchange, a solution allowing businesses to embed a customizable crypto swap interface right into their websites or apps. Supporting many wide-ranging cryptocurrencies, this comes with flexible rate settings and can be fully branded to match the partner identity. Because ChangeNOW is non-custodial, partners can integrate it without taking on the regulatory burden of holding user funds.

Another major offering is the Partner API: it allows developers to perform swaps programmatically, automate workflows, or build custom crypto services on top of ChangeNOW's liquidity. Businesses earn through an affiliate program that pays revenue shares for every completed transaction routed through referral links or widgets.

NOWPayments, another part of NOW Ecosystem, is a payment gateway that allows merchants to accept crypto in over 300 assets, convert them automatically, and withdraw to fiat or crypto. It supports subscriptions, donations, mass payouts, and POS tools for physical businesses.
This makes ChangeNOW an attractive B2B ecosystem for startups, fintech apps, wallets, and platforms that seek fast and easy crypto integration with minimal friction.

Kraken

Kraken's B2B offerings are designed with institutional-level clients in mind. Its OTC desk handles large-volume trades with dedicated account managers, deep liquidity, and personalized pricing. This is particularly useful for hedge funds, high-net-worth individuals, and enterprises executing multi-million-dollar transactions that shouldn't move the open market.

Kraken also offers a suite of services for corporations entitled Kraken Institutional, which includes account management, advanced trading infrastructure, and tailored onboarding. Powered by its robust API suite, businesses can integrate real-time market data, automate trading strategies, or build advanced trading platforms with REST, WebSocket, and FIX connectivity.

Conclusion

Kraken and ChangeNOW are good in their own ways, created for different types of users.

• ChangeNOW is perfect due to its simplicity, speed, and ease of use. It is meant for people who want to make quick, non-custodial swaps without signing up. It is a user-friendly platform with respect to daily crypto transactions since it offers support to a huge number of assets in its ecosystem, flexibility in solutions to B2B partners, and fast transaction processing. ChangeNOW is the best choice if you want a platform that's fast, easy to use, and with a lot of different assets without all the hassle of a traditional exchange.
• Kraken is a very good all-in-one platform for professional traders and institutional users. Advanced trading features, robust security measures, deep liquidity, and adherence to regulations all further create a more organized and professional environment on Kraken. If you need advanced trading tools, the ability to handle a lot of transactions, and a very safe and regulated platform, this is the best choice.

In the end, whether to choose Kraken or ChangeNOW comes down to what you need: ChangeNOW is great to suit casual traders or those in search of a secure but still fast trading platform. Kraken would be much better for an experienced trader or an institutional client seeking advanced features and a secure, regulated infrastructure.

Sources

1. Currencies available for exchange — ChangeNOW
2. ChangeNOW (X / Twitter account)
3. Cryptocurrencies available on Kraken — Kraken Support
4. Kraken Wallet — Kraken
5. Fee Schedule — Kraken
6. ChangeNOW introduces sub‑2‑minute swaps, redefines crypto speed standards — CoinGape
7. KYC FAQ — ChangeNOW
8. Security — Kraken (EN‑IT)
9. Security — Kraken
10. AML & CFT Compliance — Kraken