Program Details
| Commission | 20% of trading fees (recurring) (Recurring) |
| Cookie Duration | Not disclosed |
| Network | Impact |
| Payment Methods | Direct bank deposit via Impact |
| Min. Payout | Not publicly specified |
| Payment Frequency | Monthly (paid ~29th of following month) |
| Category | Cryptocurrency / Finance |
| Countries | Global (geo restrictions apply; US/Canada restricted on some offers) |
| Website | www.kraken.com |
Kraken is one of the world’s longest-running cryptocurrency exchanges, founded in 2011 and serving millions of traders across more than 190 countries. The platform offers spot trading, margin trading, futures, staking, and NFT services, covering hundreds of digital assets including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and a wide range of altcoins.
The Kraken affiliate program runs through Impact and pays a standard 20% recurring revenue share on trading fees generated by referred clients. It targets established publishers, crypto content creators, and sub-affiliate networks rather than casual promoters – approval is selective, but the recurring commission model can deliver long-term passive income for affiliates with active, engaged audiences.
Kraken Affiliate Program Commission Structure
Kraken pays affiliates 20% of the trading fees collected from referred clients on an ongoing basis. This is a true recurring revenue share – not a one-time CPA – meaning you continue earning as long as your referrals trade on the platform. The revenue share applies to spot trading fees, futures fees, and spot margin fees (both opening and rollover).
Kraken also states it will consider alternate commission structures on a case-by-case basis, including CPA (cost per acquisition), flat placement fees, or hybrid arrangements. If you drive significant volume, it is worth reaching out directly to negotiate a custom deal. There is no publicly listed tiered structure – the base rate is 20% for everyone starting out.
| Product | Commission Type | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Spot Trading | Recurring revenue share | 20% of fees |
| Futures Trading | Recurring revenue share | 20% of fees |
| Spot Margin (Opening) | Recurring revenue share | 20% of fees |
| Spot Margin (Rollover) | Recurring revenue share | 20% of fees |
| Custom / High-Volume | CPA, flat fee, or hybrid | Negotiable |
Cookie Duration and Tracking
Kraken does not publicly disclose a specific cookie duration on its affiliate program page. Attribution relies on same-device, same-browser tracking – if the referred user clicks your link and signs up on the same browser without clearing cookies or blocking tracking scripts, the conversion is credited to you.
One practical issue affiliates have flagged: attribution breaks if the referred user has Google Analytics blocked or uses aggressive ad-blocking. This is worth flagging to your audience or accounting for when estimating conversion rates – particularly in privacy-conscious crypto communities where ad blockers are common.
Reporting is handled through the Impact dashboard. Revenue data updates daily but carries a 3-4 day reporting delay. Confirmed commissions appear in Impact by the 15th of the following month, with payment processed around the 29th.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- 20% recurring revenue share – commissions continue as long as referrals keep trading
- Revenue share covers multiple product lines: spot, futures, and margin trading fees
- Paid through Impact directly to bank account in your account’s default currency
- Custom commission structures (CPA, flat fee, hybrid) available for high-volume partners
- Kraken is a well-established, trusted brand – strong conversion potential with crypto audiences
- Open to diverse publisher types: content sites, influencers, and sub-affiliate networks
Cons:
- Manual approval process – Kraken prioritizes businesses and declines private/inactive accounts
- Cookie duration is not publicly disclosed, creating uncertainty about attribution windows
- Attribution can fail if users block Google Analytics or use privacy-focused browsers
- Payment threshold not publicly specified, which makes planning cash flow difficult
- Reporting has a 3-4 day delay and payments arrive late in the following month
How to Join the Kraken Affiliate Program
The Kraken affiliate program requires manual approval. The process involves signing up through Impact and submitting a detailed application – Kraken reviews each applicant to confirm they fit the program’s publisher criteria.
- Sign up for an Impact publisher account if you don’t already have one. Impact is the affiliate network that hosts and manages the Kraken program.
- Search for the Kraken affiliate program within the Impact marketplace and submit your application.
- In your application, clearly describe your platform: content niche (crypto, personal finance, investing), audience size, traffic sources, and promotion methods. Vague answers or listing your account type as “Offline” or “Other” without context will result in rejection.
- Wait for manual review. Kraken does not publish a specific approval timeline, but given the selective nature of the program, expect at least several business days.
- Once approved, access your tracking links and creative assets through the Impact dashboard and integrate them into your content.
To improve your approval odds, ensure your site or channel has a clear crypto or finance focus with existing published content, a real audience, and no prohibited content (illegal financial advice, gambling, adult content). Kraken explicitly declines private social accounts, inactive sites, and applicants whose content has no relevance to the platform.
Who Should Promote Kraken?
Best fits: Crypto and blockchain content publishers are the obvious primary audience – review sites, trading strategy blogs, and YouTube channels covering Bitcoin, Ethereum, and altcoins. Personal finance and investing publishers with audiences interested in portfolio diversification into digital assets are also strong candidates. Sub-affiliate networks with finance-focused publisher rosters can also qualify for the program.
Influencers and creators with active followings in crypto Twitter (X), crypto Reddit communities, or YouTube will find Kraken’s brand recognition works in their favor – it’s a household name among crypto traders, which helps conversion. The 20% recurring model particularly suits affiliates who can build long-term content (evergreen guides, tutorials) rather than one-off promotional posts.
Weaker fits: General lifestyle bloggers, deal aggregators, or affiliates without any crypto or finance content will almost certainly be rejected during the manual review. Privacy-first or anti-tracking audiences (common in some parts of the crypto community) are also a practical challenge – the attribution model depends on cookies and Google Analytics, so a technically privacy-savvy user base will reduce your tracked conversion rate.
How Kraken Compares to Alternatives
| Program | Commission | Cookie | Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kraken | 20% recurring on trading fees | Not disclosed | Impact |
| Coinbase | 50% of trading fees (first 3 months) | Not disclosed | Impact |
| Crypto.com | Up to 50% perpetual on trading fees | Not disclosed | Impact |
| eToro | Not publicly specified | Not disclosed | eToroPartners |
| Binance | Not publicly specified | Not disclosed | Direct |
On headline rate, Coinbase and Crypto.com both advertise higher percentages (up to 50%) compared to Kraken’s 20%. However, Coinbase’s rate only applies to the first three months of a referred user’s trading activity, while Kraken’s 20% is genuinely perpetual – if you refer active, long-term traders, the lifetime value from Kraken could exceed a higher short-term rate.
If your audience skews toward beginners who are likely to churn after initial experimentation, Coinbase’s front-loaded 50% may yield better short-term returns. For audiences of serious, committed traders, Kraken’s ongoing revenue share model offers a stronger long-term upside.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much commission does the Kraken affiliate program pay?
The standard commission is 20% of trading fees generated by referred clients, paid on a recurring basis for as long as those users remain active on the platform. Kraken will also consider alternate structures – CPA, flat placement fees, or hybrid deals – for partners who can demonstrate significant reach or volume.
Does Kraken’s affiliate commission apply to all trading products?
Yes – the 20% revenue share applies to spot trading fees, futures trading fees, and spot margin fees (both opening and rollover fees). This broad product coverage means your commission scales with a referred user’s overall trading activity, not just one product type.
What is the cookie duration for the Kraken affiliate program?
Kraken does not publicly disclose a specific cookie duration. Attribution is based on same-device, same-browser tracking – the referred user must sign up using the same browser they clicked your link in, without clearing cookies. If users have Google Analytics or tracking scripts blocked, the conversion may not be recorded.
Who qualifies for the Kraken affiliate program?
Kraken targets businesses and established publishers – primarily crypto and personal finance content sites, influencers or creators with active finance audiences, and sub-affiliate networks. Private social media accounts, inactive websites, and applicants without a clear connection to crypto or finance are typically declined during the manual review process.
How and when does Kraken pay its affiliates?
Payments are processed through Impact and sent directly to your bank account in your account’s default currency. Revenue data updates daily with a 3-4 day reporting delay; confirmed commissions appear in Impact by the 15th of the following month, with payment sent around the 29th.
Can social media influencers join the Kraken affiliate program?
Yes, creators and influencers are explicitly listed as a supported publisher type – but only if your account is public, active, and has a clear crypto or finance audience. Private accounts or channels with unrelated content will not pass the approval review. YouTube creators and public social accounts in the crypto space are the most likely to qualify.
Is the Kraken affiliate program available worldwide?
Kraken notes that geographic restrictions may apply. The Kraken Pro Futures affiliate program specifically excludes the US, Canada, and other regulated jurisdictions for certain offers. Affiliates based in or targeting those markets should check current program terms directly on the Impact platform before applying.
How does Kraken’s affiliate program compare to Coinbase’s?
Coinbase offers 50% of trading fees for the first three months of a referred user’s activity, while Kraken pays 20% indefinitely. If you refer casual traders who churn quickly, Coinbase’s higher front-loaded rate may earn more. If your audience includes committed, active traders, Kraken’s perpetual 20% can generate higher lifetime commissions.
Final Verdict
The Kraken affiliate program offers a genuinely recurring 20% revenue share across multiple trading products – a meaningful advantage over programs that cap earnings at a short initial window. For crypto publishers with loyal, active-trading audiences, this structure can build reliable long-term passive income.
The main drawbacks are the selective approval process, the undisclosed cookie window, and an attribution model that is vulnerable to ad blockers – real practical concerns for anyone targeting a privacy-focused crypto audience. The delayed payout timeline (around the 29th of the following month) is also worth factoring into your cash flow planning.
If you run an active crypto or personal finance site with solid organic traffic and a genuine trading audience, Kraken is worth applying for. Apply through Impact, make sure your application clearly describes your platform and audience, and focus on creating evergreen trading guides that continue driving conversions over time.
