Review

You've watched the crypto exchange headlines: billions in customer funds gone, founders arrested, withdrawals frozen, bankruptcy filings. Every few months another platform implodes—Mt. Gox, QuadrigaCX, FTX—and regular people lose everything. You want crypto exposure but the question isn't 'which exchange has the best features?' It's 'which exchange won't steal my money or get hacked?' The crypto exchange industry has an existential trust problem. Most exchanges operate like black boxes—you deposit funds and hope they're actually there. Proof of reserves? Optional. Insurance? Partial at best. Regulatory compliance? Varies by jurisdiction. The lack of traditional finance oversight enabled innovation, yes, but also enabled fraud at a scale that would be impossible in regulated markets. 'Not your keys, not your coins' became a mantra because exchanges kept proving it true. Self-custody solves the trust problem but creates others. Managing your own keys means one mistake—lost seed phrase, compromised computer, wrong address—and your funds are gone forever. For people who want exposure to crypto markets without becoming IT security experts, exchanges remain necessary. The question is which ones deserve trust. Kraken's track record stands alone in an industry littered with failures. Founded in 2011, never hacked, no major security incidents in over a decade. They were the first exchange to complete a Proof of Reserves audit—cryptographic verification that customer funds actually exist. 95% of assets sit in air-gapped cold storage. They're regulated in the US, UK, and EU with actual compliance infrastructure. The platform supports 200+ cryptocurrencies with deep liquidity. Kraken Pro offers advanced trading features. Staking earns passive yields on holdings. 24/7 support exists and actually responds. In an industry where 'trusted exchange' has been an oxymoron, Kraken has quietly built a track record that matters. When you're deciding where to keep your crypto, history matters more than features.