Upbit edges it on the overall score.
Criterion by criterion
| Criterion | Upbit | Kraken |
|---|---|---|
| Regulation | 7.0 | 7.0 |
| Fees | 7.0 | 6.0 |
| Platform | 6.0 | 7.0 |
| Support | 6.0 | 7.0 |
| Trader reviews | 7.0 | 6.0 |
| Trust score | 6.6 | 6.6 |
The facts, side by side
| Upbit | Kraken | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2017 | 2011 |
| Headquarters | KR | US |
| Minimum deposit | KRW 5,000 (about USD 3.53 at August 2026 rates) | not disclosed |
| Maximum leverage | not disclosed | 10x on perpetuals per the homepage; margin leverage varies by pair and was not retrieved |
Upbit: strongest points
- KRW spot trading at 0.05% maker and taker, among the cheapest anywhere, with no volume tier needed
- A BDO member firm has run agreed upon procedures over reserves quarterly since June 2018, most recently 103.27% of digital assets and 118.29% of money payable as at 1 July 2026, with the five short assets named and a proof of control test on a wallet the accountant chose
- Pays 2.1% a year before tax on idle won balances, as the Virtual Asset User Protection Act requires
Kraken: strongest points
- Quarterly proof of reserves that covers client liabilities via a Merkle tree, not just on-chain assets
- Publishes working code so a client can independently rebuild their own Merkle leaf and path
- Publishes its own list of what proof of reserves cannot prove, including hidden encumbrances and borrowed funds
Full detail, licence tables and the evidence behind every number: read the Upbit review and the Kraken review. Scores are recomputed daily and this page updates with them.
SCORES ARE COMPUTED BEFORE ANY COMMERCIAL CONVERSATION ยท MONEY BUYS THE SLOT, NEVER THE NUMBER