Yahya 
In the fiercely competitive world of cryptocurrency exchanges, two giants stand at the forefront: Kraken and Coinbase. For investors that are dealing with the complexities of digital asset market, the differences between these platforms are of crucial importance in order to make an informed choice.
What is Kraken, What is Coinbase?
Let us look at what distinguishes Kraken from Coinbase before we go into the differences between the two. Set up in 2011 by Jesse Powell, Kraken is known for its strong security features and a rich variety of trading pairs. Headquartered in San Francisco, California, Kraken is one of the longest-standing cryptocurrency exchanges in the business. Its simple interface together with the powerful trading features makes it a favorite of both beginners and experienced traders. Powell’s devotion to security is displayed by the adherence of Kraken to the regulatory standards, and in the active stance in installing the state-of-the-art security.
Contrary, Coinbase, formed in 2012 by Brian Armstrong and Fred Ehrsam, stands for simplicity and availability in the world of cryptocurrencies. From the same city as Kraken, Coinbase is now one of the most popular companies in the market. Its user-friendly interface and an app for mobile devices are accessible for all types of users, from retail traders to institutions. The goal of Coinbase to develop a global financial open system is a sign of the company’s commitment to ensuring that cryptocurrency is available to all.
Although Kraken and Coinbase have an identical aim of boosting the adoption of digital assets, their approaches and philosophies are different. Kraken focuses on security and innovation, and seeks to continually expand the platform with new functions and services. Unlike, Bitstamp, whose most attention is paid to technology that allows the clients to trade at a deeper level of the market, Coinbase takes the user experience and accessibility as its centerpoint with the aim of making the process of buying, selling, and storing cryptocurrencies easier for the global audience.
Given that the competition between the exchanges is tough and that the investors have to think of their options, the information about the virtues of Kraken and Coinbase is required for them to make a sensible decision where to trade and invest.
Kraken’s Aggressive Expansion Strategy
Kraken, renowned for its powerful security practices and plethora of supported assets, is intensifying its mission to steal the market share and compete head to head with Coinbase. However, Jesse Powell, CEO of the company detailed ambitious plans of the company to expand and said, “We are not content to be second best.” In a short time exchange has introduced several innovative features like staking services and margin trading, testifying to an increasing number of users interested in quite different investment opportunities.
Coinbase Faces Intense Competition
While, Coinbase, an undisputed industry leader for long is under increasing pressure to defend its position. The recent dispute regarding the customer care and technical malfunctioning of this platform has also caused the satisfaction of the users to decrease. “We know the problems that we are up against,” admitted Coinbase Chief Executive Brian Armstrong. “But we are still determined in creating a connected customer experience.”
Analysts Predict Market Impact
Competition between Kraken and Coinbase has been closely observed by industry analysts with the prominent expectation of revolutionary consequences for the cryptocurrency market. Sarah Thompson, a crypto analyst, commented: “Kraken’s rise as a strong competitor may result in higher innovation and lower fees across the industry”. But, the reputation and the user base of Coinbase are well-known, so, it provides with a good foundation that would enable it to survive.
Investigating User Experiences, Security Measures, and Global Reach
Focusing on user experiences, Kraken and Coinbase agree on the role of user safety. The two platforms are using best practices in security protocols, such as two-factor authentication (2FA) and cold storage for digital assets. Moreover, they are under stringent Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) guidelines to avoid illegal activities.
In terms of global coverage, Kraken and Coinbase take different approaches. However, where Kraken focuses on regulatory compliance and obtaining licenses to operate in various jurisdictions globally, Coinbase has a more aggressive approach, and has a presence in over 100 countries and territories. Ehrsam states, “We believe in democratizing access to cryptocurrencies”, a statement that reflects Coinbase’s goal to reach the farthest part of the planet.
As the fight for dominance heat up, cryptocurrency investors eagerly watch the competitive progression between Kraken and Coinbase, interested in what the fate of digital asset trading is going to be. Regardless of what is being prioritized – security, user experience, or accessibility – the decision between these platforms is a matter of personal preference.