VS 
Kraken vs Swyftx (2026)
Compared on verified data — same methodology, same fact database, every pair.
Ad disclosure: both 'Visit' buttons are affiliate links*. It never affects scores or rankings. How we make money
Choose Swyftx if…
- → you want demo mode to practise first
- → you need SMSF account support
- → you prefer an Australian-based platform
- → a clean incident record matters to you
Side by side
| Our score | 8.4/10 | 8.7/10 better |
|---|---|---|
| Maker / taker fee | 0.25% / 0.4% better | 0.6% / 0.6% |
| Instant-buy fee | — | 0.6% |
| Coins listed | 420+ better | 400+ |
| AUD withdrawal fee | Free | Free |
| AUD deposit methods | PayID · Osko · Card | PayID · Osko · Bank transfer · Card |
| Demo mode | ✕ No | ✓ Yes better |
| SMSF support | ✕ No | ✓ Yes better |
| Australian-based | No | 🇦🇺 Yes better |
| Full AFSL | Transitional | Transitional |
| Incidents on record | ⚠ 1 | ✓ None better |
| Best for | active traders | beginners |
Kraken leads 2 rows, Swyftx leads 5 — what matters is which rows matter to you. Try any other matchup in the comparison tool · sources: Kraken review, Swyftx review
What a A$1,000 buy costs on each
Headline fees only. We hold a verified spread estimate for Swyftx but not for the other, and folding it into one side alone would make the platform we measured more closely look like the expensive one. Instant buys cost more than this on both.
Kraken - Instant buy
- not verified
- Market order
- A$2.50
Swyftx - Instant buy
- A$6.00
- Market order
- A$6.00
Using market orders it's A$3.50. Fees are per trade, so multiply by how often you buy.
What you can actually buy on each
Counted against the 152 coins we track, and re-checked against each platform's own public asset list every day — not the headline number on their marketing pages.
| Coins we track that it lists | 129 | 129 |
|---|---|---|
| Priced directly in AUD | 12 | 129 |
| On this one only | 13 | 13 |
116 of the coins we track are on both. Only on Kraken: USDS, Ethena USDe, Dai, USD1, PayPal USD and 8 more. Only on Swyftx: Gram (prev. Toncoin), TrueUSD, Bitcoin SV, Kite, Terra Luna Classic and 8 more.
What is on each one's record
Hacks, penalties, licence changes and ownership changes we hold a source for. An empty record means we have not recorded an event, not that nothing has ever happened.
Kraken - ⚖️ penalty 12 Dec 2024 ASIC: Kraken operator Bit Trade to pay A$8M over margin product · source
Swyftx - 🤝 acquisition 1 July 2025 Swyftx acquired brokerage Caleb & Brown · source
FAQ
Which is better, Kraken or Swyftx?
It depends what you optimise for: Kraken wins when you'll use market orders — 0.25% beats 0.6%; Swyftx wins when you want demo mode to practise first. Both are AUSTRAC-registered.
Can I use both Kraken and Swyftx?
Yes — many Australians keep accounts on two exchanges: one for cheap market orders, one for range or features. There is no cost to holding both accounts.
Are these comparisons affected by commissions?
No. Both Visit buttons are affiliate links, but every number on this page renders from our verified fact database and the comparison logic is identical for every pair we publish.
General information only, not financial advice. Verify current fees before trading. Facts on this page last verified 2026-07-22.