Fees and terms are as captured on August 25, 2026, alongside our exchange data. Everything can change; confirm inside your own account.
Side by side
| Fact that changes the decision | Kraken | Coinbase |
|---|---|---|
| Pix deposit | yes, Brazil-only row | yes, Pix or bank transfer |
| Minimum deposit | BRL 50 | BRL 1 |
| Stated cost on the deposit | 0.3% IOF tax, not an exchange fee | no published amount |
| Entry-tier taker fee | 0.80% | 0.60% |
| Entry-tier maker fee | 0.40% | 0.40% |
| Scope of that schedule | global, by 30-day USD volume | Coinbase Exchange, entry tier |
| Named Brazilian entity | not on record | Coinbase Brasil Ltda |
| User-verifiable proof of reserves | yes | not on record |
| Brazil market status | editorial only | editorial only |
Coinbase vs. 2 alternatives
A quick view of canonical data. Open the comparison for every source and condition.
Coinbase- Funding
- Pix + Bank transfer
- Taker fee
- 0.6%
- Status
- Editorial only
Bitso- Funding
- Pix + BRL
- Taker fee
- 0.4%
- Status
- Editorial only
Kraken- Funding
- Pix + BRL
- Taker fee
- 0.8%
- Status
- Editorial only
Pix deposits, where the gap shows up first
Kraken's cash deposit page carries a Brazil-only row: bank transfer by PIX, a 50 BRL minimum, a 0.3% IOF tax and near-instant processing. Kraken also explains what Pix is: an instant payment system created by the Central Bank of Brazil that runs 24/7.
Read that row carefully. The 0.3% is IOF, a tax stated on the deposit line, not a charge Kraken keeps. On a BRL 1,000 deposit it is BRL 3.
Coinbase's payment-method table lists Pix and bank transfer for Brazilian customers, described as instant, with a minimum deposit of one real. The page publishes no fee amount for that deposit.
If you want to start with BRL 20 to test the flow, Kraken will not take it. Its floor is BRL 50.
Trading fees: 0.80% against 0.60% at the entry tier
Kraken's fee schedule starts at 0.40% maker and 0.80% taker for accounts with 30-day volume from zero dollars upward, and steps down as volume grows. Coinbase Exchange's documentation uses a maker-taker model and says an order placed at the market price and filled immediately pays between 0.04% and 0.60%, with new accounts at the expensive end.
On a BRL 1,000 taker buy the picture is this:
| Step | Kraken | Coinbase |
|---|---|---|
| IOF on a BRL 1,000 deposit | BRL 3.00 | no published amount |
| Taker fee on the buy | BRL 8.00 | BRL 6.00 |
| Stated cost of the first purchase | BRL 11.00 | BRL 6.00 |
For a beginner the maths favours Coinbase. For an active trader it flips: Kraken's ladder is keyed to 30-day volume and keeps falling, while the Coinbase range depends on tier and product. The full bill for each is in what Kraken charges and what Coinbase charges.
Quote the same order on both at the same moment and compare the final price. A table percentage captures neither spread nor currency conversion.
Both trading schedules are global, not Brazilian
The deposits are Brazil-specific. The trading fees are not. Kraken's ladder is measured in US-dollar 30-day volume, and the Coinbase range belongs to the Coinbase Exchange product and moves with tier and product. Neither publishes a price in reais for a Brazilian account, so treat both percentages as reference points and confirm the number inside your own account.
Which company you actually contract with
Coinbase's Brazil page states that on 1 September 2023 the company established Coinbase Brasil Ltda to serve all users residing in Brazil, and that the entity is based in Brazil with a valid CNPJ.
In our data Kraken appears as the Payward group, with no named Brazilian entity. We did not verify which group company signs a Brazilian customer's contract, so read that in the terms shown when you open the account.
Either way the market classification stays editorial only: no named authorisation under the Banco Central transition rules was confirmed against an official source for either provider.
Reserves
In our data, Kraken carries a public, user-verifiable proof-of-reserves programme, with the caveat that its date and cadence must be checked separately. Coinbase carries no verifiable cryptographic proof; its transparency rests on disclosed licences and public-company reporting.
Checklist before you open an account
- Add tax, deposit fee and order fee together before comparing the two.
- Check the minimum deposit against the amount you actually plan to start with.
- Read the fee shown for your own tier inside the account, not the public table.
- Read the contracting entity name in the terms you accept.
- Check withdrawal rules and costs before your first deposit, not after.
- Decide how much of your money you are willing to leave with one custodian.
FAQ
Do both support Pix? Yes. Kraken lists Pix in a Brazil-only row with a BRL 50 minimum. Coinbase lists Pix or bank transfer with a BRL 1 minimum.
Is the 0.3% IOF a Kraken charge? No. It is a tax stated on the Brazilian deposit row. The distinction matters because IOF does not disappear if you switch exchanges.
Which charges less per order? At the entry tier, Coinbase: up to 0.60% against Kraken's 0.80%. Both schedules are global and move with volume, tier and product, so quote the same order on both before concluding.
Is either licensed by the Banco Central? In our data neither has a named authorisation confirmed. Both remain editorial only.
Verdict
Coinbase to start small in reais: a BRL 1 minimum, a lower entry fee and a named Brazilian company on the contract. Kraken if you trade volume and want a user-verifiable proof of reserves, accepting the BRL 50 floor and the IOF on deposits.
Both stay editorial only in our data, with no referral link on this page. Compare the final cost of each in the exchange list and see the full ranking in which crypto exchange charges the lowest fees in Brazil.