Kraken operates a maker-taker fee model with a base maker fee of 0.25% and base taker fee of 0.40% for spot trading. These rates apply to accounts with less than $50,000 in 30-day volume. As volume increases, both rates decrease — and high-volume market makers on Kraken can qualify for 0.00% maker fees, effectively trading for free on their liquidity-providing orders.
Kraken's Futures platform uses a slightly different structure, with maker fees as low as -0.02% (a rebate) for market makers at the highest tiers. On spot markets, the 30-day volume calculation resets on a rolling basis, so consistent trading is required to maintain lower fee tiers. Placing limit orders away from the current market price is the clearest way to always qualify for maker status on Kraken.
< $50K
BASEMaker 0.25% / Taker 0.40%
Standard Kraken accounts with less than $50,000 in monthly volume pay the base rates. Even at this tier, the maker-taker spread of 0.15% motivates using limit orders when timing allows.
$50K+
TIER 2Maker 0.20% / Taker 0.35%
Traders exceeding $50,000 per month see their first fee reductions. Both maker and taker rates drop, but maker rates fall faster — widening the incentive to provide liquidity.
$10M+
ELITEMaker 0.00% / Taker 0.10%
At the highest spot trading tiers, Kraken reduces maker fees to zero. This means market-making strategies on Kraken at institutional volume carry no fee burden whatsoever.
FUTURES
REBATESNegative Maker Fees Available
On Kraken Futures, the most active market makers receive fee rebates — they are paid to place limit orders. This represents the most extreme version of the maker incentive model.
