Security Compliance
Crypto.com is a highly secure exchange by industry standards: cold storage custody, two-factor authentication, encrypted user data, mandatory withdrawal address whitelisting with email confirmation, and substantial insurance coverage on custodied assets. For balance, it did suffer a hack in January 2022, when roughly $34 million was taken from around 483 accounts, but Crypto.com fully reimbursed affected users and overhauled its security in response, and there have been no comparable incidents since. As always, we recommend moving long-term holdings to your own crypto wallet.
Kraken keeps about 95% of user funds in cold storage, encrypts all account information, and physically secures its servers under constant surveillance. It has never been hacked since launching in 2013, one of the cleanest security records of any major exchange. Users can enable two-factor authentication, receive email notifications for every withdrawal, and benefit from account timeout protection. Kraken also publishes regular Proof of Reserves audits demonstrating customer funds are fully held.
Both Kraken and crypto.com are highly secure crypto exchanges. They keep funds in cold storage, offer two-factor authentication to keep accounts secure, encrypt user data, and more. Kraken even states that its servers are protected by armed guards.
While Kraken keeps 95% of users’ funds in cold storage, crypto.com keeps 100% of users’ funds in cold storage, specifically in a Ledger vault. This percentage is the highest we’ve seen of any crypto exchange, showing crypto.com truly values security. Crypto.com also has $750M in cold storage insurance in case of theft.
Crypto.com also makes its users whitelist all withdrawal addresses via email and users multi-factor authentication - such as FaceID - to secure accounts. You can be sure your funds are as safe as can be with crypto.com.
Regulatory Compliance
Crypto.com is among the most regulated crypto platforms available to Canadians. It was the first platform to sign a Pre-registration Undertaking with the CSA and OSC in August 2022, and in May 2025 it received restricted dealer registration in every province and territory, making it only the second major global exchange after Coinbase to reach this status. It's now working toward full investment dealer registration and CIRO membership. It's also registered with FINTRAC, and globally holds a MiCA license in the EU, US money transmitter licenses, and licenses in Singapore, the UK and Dubai.
Kraken is one of the most compliant exchanges available to Canadians. It completed the CSA's rigorous pre-registration undertaking process and obtained restricted dealer registration in April 2025, recognized nationally, while it works toward full investment dealer registration and CIRO membership. In the US, the SEC's lawsuit against Kraken was dismissed in early 2025, clearing its regulatory slate as the company prepares for a public listing. Canadians can use the platform with confidence, with one caveat: as a restricted dealer, its client assets aren't covered by CIPF insurance.
Kraken is fully compliant with US regulations. The exchange is independently audited to show that customers’ funds are properly held. Crypto.com is also fully regulated and can be accessed in Canada, USA (except New York), Europe, and other countries around the world.
Customer support
Crypto.com's customer support remains its weakest area: users love the app, security and coin range, but support is chat and ticket-based and can be slow for complex issues. On the education front, the platform now offers Crypto.com University with courses and articles for beginners, so our earlier criticism about missing educational resources no longer applies.
Kraken offers 24/7 live chat and email support plus an extensive learning centre with helpful articles and guides. Support quality has historically been a sore point, with tickets sometimes taking a long time to resolve, though the live chat handles routine issues reasonably quickly.
Kraken offers a 24/7 live chat and email support. It also offers a good amount of learning documentation and helpful articles on its website. Unfortunately, many people say Kraken has poor customer support with tickets taking a long time to be resolved if ever. The same can be said for crypto.com. Users like the app, security, and the wide range of coins, but the customer service needs work. Crypto.com does not offer educational resources or a knowledge centre, which is a let down.
Conclusion
If the question is Kraken vs crypto.com for Canadians, then the clear winner is crypto.com. While Kraken is a good exchange and many people like it, crypto.com offers so much more. Not only can you earn cashback with the crypto.com Visa cards and stake your crypto directly in the app, but crypto.com offers free deposits via Interac E-transfer making it a top choice for Canadians to buy crypto. Crypto.com’s fees are more reasonable than Kraken’s, plus it offers more cryptocurrencies. Crypto.com has been marketing itself well lately, and its own coin, crypto.com coin (CRO) is slowly catching up on Binance coin (BNB). Overall, crypto.com has everything you need in a crypto exchange. You can sign up here.
Kraken stands out with its variety of flexible funding methods, including wire transfers and crypto funding options, giving users more convenience when moving their assets. Furthermore, Kraken’s 24/7 customer service is a significant advantage, ensuring that users can get support anytime, which is crucial for traders working across multiple time zones. This level of accessibility can be a key differentiator when compared to other exchanges, some of which may not offer round-the-clock support.
When comparing Crypto.com to other exchanges, it's essential to note that Crypto.com stands out by offering over 350 cryptocurrencies, making it one of the most comprehensive platforms available. It also provides a Visa card with customizable cashback rates and different card types to suit user preferences. Additionally, Crypto.com’s robust DeFi services and competitive staking options, with regularly updated APY rates, make it a versatile choice for investors. Furthermore, its security certifications, such as SOC2 and ISO standards, further enhance its appeal by ensuring a high level of safety and trustworthiness.
On top of these two, we would recommend Coinsmart for a number of reasons. Why? Check on our Coinsmart review.
