Is Kraken MiCA-regulated? Kraken license status
Verified 2026-09-23 against the ESMA CASP register
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Yes, for crypto-asset services. Payward Europe Solutions Ltd has held a MiCA licence since June 2025.
EU perps run under a separate MiFID II licence. Note: Trading-platform service (b) held via a second Payward entity.
Kraken MiCA licence facts
- Authorized entity
- Payward Europe Solutions Ltd
- LEI in the register
- 254900641D8KNHUZYX24ESMA CASP register · 2026-09-15
- Regulator
- Central Bank of Ireland (🇮🇪 Ireland)
- Authorization date
- June 25, 2025
- Website in the register
- kraken.com
- Licensed MiCA services
- 8 of 10
- Spot fees (maker / taker)
- 0.25% / 0.4%
- EU perpetual futuresVia Payward Europe Digital Solutions (CySEC, MiFID II) — 150+ perp markets, up to 10x, launched May 2025
- Yes, 0.02% / 0.05%
- EU and EEA in the venue termsKraken offers derivatives, including perpetual futures, to EEA clients through a CySEC-licensed MiFID investment firm. Leverage for EU-based clients is up to 10x on eligible pairs.
- AvailableKraken perpetual futures page (Norway view), entity disclosures · 2026-09-25
- Global 24h perp volumeDaily snapshot, October 3, 2026
- $1.3B, rank 16 of 21 CEXs
- $10,000 BTC market buyGlobal book, cost sweep of October 3, 2026
- 5.06 bps all-in, rank 21 of 39
ESMA CASP register data through 2026-09-15. Fees: published standard tier.
Licensed MiCA services: 8 of 10
- Custody & administration (a)
- Exchange crypto ↔ fiat (c)
- Exchange crypto ↔ crypto (d)
- Execution of orders (e)
- Placing of crypto-assets (f)
- Reception & transmission of orders (g)
- Portfolio management (i)
- Transfer services (j)
The licence leaves out services (b) and (h).
Kraken in the ESMA register
Payward Europe Solutions Ltd entered the ESMA register on June 25, 2025, as the 9th of 16 tracked exchanges. By service count, Kraken ranks 2 of 16.
Kraken is the only tracked exchange under the CBI. The register lists 12 firms under the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI).
Kraken charges 0.4% spot taker, above the 0.25% median. For EU perps, Kraken uses a second licence: via Payward Europe Digital Solutions (CySEC, MiFID II) — 150+ perp markets, up to 10x, launched May 2025.
Kraken in the EU
Payward Europe Solutions Ltd, supervised by the Central Bank of Ireland
Other MiCA-authorized exchanges
Kraken MiCA FAQ
Is Kraken MiCA-authorized?
Yes.
The Central Bank of Ireland authorized Payward Europe Solutions Ltd on June 25, 2025, for 8 of the 10 MiCA services.
Does Kraken offer perps to EU users?
Yes.
Via Payward Europe Digital Solutions (CySEC, MiFID II) — 150+ perp markets, up to 10x, launched May 2025
What do the Kraken terms say about EU users?
Yes.
Kraken offers derivatives, including perpetual futures, to EEA clients through a CySEC-licensed MiFID investment firm. Leverage for EU-based clients is up to 10x on eligible pairs. Source: Kraken perpetual futures page (Norway view), entity disclosures, read September 25, 2026.