Kraken Referral Code 2026: How to Get the Up-to-$75 Sign-Up Bonus (and Which Offer Actually Pays Most)
I compared Kraken's referral bonus with the Rakuten and TopCashback offers before opening my own account. Here's the math.
Disclosure: The link below is my referral link. If you use it, we can both get a bonus from Kraken. I only recommend what I use: my trading bot runs on Kraken Pro with real money. Not financial advice, and crypto is risky.
The short answer: sign up for Kraken with a referral link, deposit US dollars, and buy crypto within the window in Kraken's terms (15 days at the time of writing). You can get up to $75. As of September 2026 that beats every cash-back offer I checked.
Get the Kraken sign-up bonus →
Which Kraken sign-up offer pays the most?
I checked all three before opening my own account:
| Offer | Bonus | What you have to do |
|---|---|---|
| Kraken referral link | Up to $75 | Deposit US dollars and buy crypto within the window (not a stablecoin) |
| TopCashback | $25 | Make a single trade of $1,000+ within 30 days |
| Rakuten | $10 | Make a single trade of $1,000+ within 30 days |
You can't combine them. Both cash-back sites say that using a Kraken referral code, discount or coupon cancels their cash back. So pick one.
For most people the referral link wins. It pays more, and you don't have to make a $1,000 trade.
How to claim it, step by step
- Sign up using the referral link. Kraken's help pages say the program runs through the Kraken mobile app, so open the link on your phone.
- Verify your identity. Have your ID ready and expect to take a selfie.
- Deposit US dollars from your bank. The free bank transfer (ACH) works.
- Buy real crypto within the window, such as BTC, ETH or SOL. Converting dollars to stablecoins (USDC, USDT) doesn't count.
- The bonus is paid after Kraken confirms you met the terms.
Mistakes that lose you the bonus
- Signing up through a cash-back site as well. Then neither offer pays out.
- Buying only stablecoins. Stablecoins don't count toward the bonus.
- Missing the deadline. Buy within the window stated in Kraken's terms.
- Creating more than one account, or using a VPN. Both are listed as referral abuse in Kraken's rules.
Is Kraken worth it after the bonus?
For small accounts in the US, I think so. It's what I use.
- Fees: Kraken Pro charges 0.40% on limit orders at the entry tier. Coinbase Advanced starts at 0.60%, and its market orders cost 1.20% versus Kraken's 0.80%.
- API: solid, and supported by Freqtrade, the open-source bot I run on it.
- Skip Kraken+ (the $4.99/month subscription) if you trade on Kraken Pro. Its zero-fee trading only covers the regular Kraken app, not Pro or API trades. I explain the numbers here.
I tested 7 crypto bot strategies on Kraken fees before putting in real money, and most of them lost. Read the full backtest →
FAQ
Is the Kraken referral bonus available in the US? Kraken says the program runs "in select countries." I'm in the US and it's available to me. Check the terms in the app when you sign up.
How much can a referral earn? Kraken advertises up to $75 for each side. The person referring can earn up to $1,500 in total.
Do I need to use the app? Kraken's help page describes the referral flow in the mobile app, so sign up on your phone to be safe.
What if I already have a Kraken account? Referral bonuses are for new users only.
I post the live results of my Kraken trading bot every week, real money and losses included:
Get the weekly live-bot update (free) →
Offer details are as of September 2026 and can change. Always check Kraken's current referral terms before signing up.