Kraken was founded in 2011 by early crypto pioneer Jesse Powell and launched in 2013. Since then, it has become one of the most reputable exchanges in the industry. Based in San Francisco, US, Kraken is a fully regulated exchange, meaning that you must pass Know Your Customer (KYC) checks in order to trade. Besides, it has the distinction of being the exchange chosen by the Tokyo District Court to handle customer compensation claims related to the infamous collapse of Mt. Gox in 2014.
During its years of operations, Kraken has built a reputation as a secure destination and a popular choice among traders and institutional investors. It was the first crypto exchange to pass the Proof-of-Reserves cryptographic audit and provides crypto market price information to Bloomberg Terminal.
Kraken is a self-regulated exchange and complies with rules and regulations in all supported jurisdictions. It is registered as a Money Services Business (MSB) with FinCEN in the United States and FINTRAC in Canada. Kraken Futures is regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority.
The exchange’s headquarters are in San Francisco, but it has offices in various cities all over the globe, including London in the UK, Chiyoda City in Japan, and Singapore. According to Craft.co, Kraken exchange has received more than USD 126 million in venture capital. As such, it has acquired a number of crypto-oriented startups like CryptoWatch, CleverCoin, Coinsetter, Cavirter, Bit Trade, Crypto Facilities, and InterChange.