Moving From Coinbase to Kraken, Step by Step

Moving crypto from Coinbase to Kraken comes down to four things: get a deposit address from Kraken, send on a network both platforms support for that coin, test with a small amount first, and save your Coinbase cost-basis records before you move anything. That last step matters more than it used to. Under IRS broker rules, coins you transfer in count as "noncovered," so Kraken isn't required to report your original purchase price, and keeping that record falls to you.

Before you move anything: save your records

Do this first, while everything is still in one place.

• Download your full Coinbase transaction history. Every buy, sell, convert, reward and send, with dates, amounts and dollar values.
• Save any tax documents and reports Coinbase provides for the years you've traded, including any Form 1099-DA.
• Write down the specific lots you're moving. If you bought BTC at three different prices, note which purchases the coins you're sending came from.

Here's why. The IRS says a transfer between your own wallets or accounts is generally not a taxable event. But Form 1099-DA basis reporting only covers assets bought after 2025 and held in the same account until sale. The 2026 Form 1099-DA instructions list assets transferred in from another broker as noncovered. Kraken may still receive some acquisition information from Coinbase, but the IRS broker FAQ says a receiving broker can use that information to decide which units were sold, not to report basis on your 1099-DA.

In practice, when you sell on Kraken later, your 1099-DA may show proceeds with no cost basis. Your own records fill that gap. Losing them could mean overpaying tax or struggling to support your numbers.

Set up Kraken to receive

1. Open and verify your Kraken account. You need a verified account to deposit. Kraken doesn't serve residents of New York or Maine, and its residency page lists crypto transfers as unavailable for Indiana residents.
2. Turn on sign-in 2FA. Kraken recommends passkeys. Do this before a large balance lands.
3. Go to the deposit screen for the coin. In the Kraken app or on kraken.com, choose Deposit, then pick the asset.
4. Choose the network. Some assets, including ETH, USDC and USDT, support several networks on Kraken. Pick one, and Kraken shows the address for that network.
5. Read the minimum. Kraken's deposit article warns that deposits below the minimum, after network fees, fail and the funds are permanently lost. Make sure the amount that arrives clears the minimum.
6. Copy the address and any memo or tag Kraken shows. If a tag field appears for that asset, it's required.

Network selection: the step that loses people money

A coin like USDC exists on many blockchains. A USDC address on Ethereum, Solana and Polygon may look similar, but those are separate networks. Send on one network to an address expecting another, and the funds may not arrive.

The rule is simple: the network you pick on Coinbase's send screen must match the network you picked on Kraken's deposit screen.

If the network you want isn't offered on both platforms, don't improvise. Pick a network both sides list, even if its fee is higher.

Send a test transfer first

1. On Coinbase, start a send of the coin and paste the Kraken address. Check the first and last several characters against Kraken's screen. Clipboard-hijacking malware can swap addresses.
2. Select the matching network and enter any memo or tag.
3. Send a small amount that still clears Kraken's deposit minimum after fees.
4. Wait for it to credit on Kraken. Kraken's US quick-start page mentions near-instant Solana deposits and roughly 6-minute Ethereum deposits; other coins vary with confirmations.
5. Once it lands, send the rest using the same address and network.

The test costs one extra network fee. Compared with a lost transfer, that's cheap insurance. For more on timing, see our deposit timing guide.

What the move costs

• The send-side fee: sending off Coinbase costs a network fee that varies by coin, network and congestion. Read the fee on the confirmation screen before you approve, not in an old blog post.
• Kraken's deposit fee: Kraken says most crypto deposits are free. A few assets carry a one-time address setup fee or a deposit fee, shown on the deposit page.
• Tax side effect: the IRS treats crypto spent on transaction fees as a disposition. If you pay a network fee in ETH, that small amount of ETH can produce a gain or loss of its own.

Our withdrawal fees comparison covers what different exchanges charge to send out.

If the deposit doesn't show up

Most delays are just confirmations. Before you panic, work through these in order:

• Find the transaction ID. Coinbase shows a transaction hash for on-chain sends. Paste it into a block explorer for that network to see whether it was broadcast and how many confirmations it has.
• Check the network. Compare the network on the explorer with the one you chose on Kraken's deposit screen. A mismatch is the most common cause of missing funds.
• Check the memo or tag. For assets that need one, a missing or wrong tag can leave the deposit unassigned.
• Check the amount against the minimum. If what arrived was under Kraken's deposit minimum after fees, Kraken says the deposit is marked failed and the funds are lost.
• Contact Kraken support with the transaction ID if it's confirmed on-chain and still missing. Use only support.kraken.com. Kraken says its support staff will never ask for your password or ask you to install remote-access software. Scammers watch for people posting about missing deposits.

Moving a large balance

If you're moving most of your holdings, a little planning helps:

• Split it into batches. After the test clears, you can send the rest in one go or in a few chunks. More chunks cost more network fees but limit exposure to a single mistake.
• Check Kraken's limits. Crypto deposits are unlimited for a standard verified account, according to Kraken's limits article. Cash withdrawal limits are $100,000 a day and $500,000 a month at that level, which matters if you plan to sell and cash out later.
• Avoid busy hours for Ethereum. Gas fees rise with congestion. If the fee on the confirmation screen looks high, waiting a few hours can help.
• Think about whether it all belongs on an exchange. If the point of leaving Coinbase is security, consider whether some of it should go to a wallet you control instead.

After the transfer: lock it down

• Set up a Master Key, ideally a passkey on a different device from your sign-in 2FA.
• Turn on the Global Settings Lock so nobody can add a withdrawal address or change settings without a waiting period you set (1 to 30 days).
• Add funding 2FA so withdrawals need a second factor.
• Cut Coinbase loose if you're done with it. Revoke connected apps and API keys, and turn on alerts if you keep the account open.

Our general exchange transfer guide covers moves between other platforms.

Open a Kraken account

Your transfer checklist

1. Export Coinbase transaction history and tax reports. Note which lots you're moving.
2. Verify your Kraken account and turn on passkey 2FA.
3. Generate a Kraken deposit address on a network Coinbase also supports.
4. Check the deposit minimum and any memo or tag.
5. Test with a small amount, confirm it credits, then send the rest.
6. Lock down Kraken with a Master Key and Global Settings Lock.
7. File your records where you'll find them at tax time.

Get started on Kraken