Your friend mentions Kraken. You sign up. Six months later, you find out he’s been earning a cut of every trade you’ve made without lifting a finger after that one conversation.
That’s the Kraken Affiliate Program working exactly as designed. The question is whether you’re the one having the conversation, or the one who never knew it existed.
What is the Kraken Affiliate Program?
Kraken Affiliate Program is a referral-based earning system that allows you to earn commissions by bringing new users to the exchange platform. You receive up to 20% of the trading fees paid by users you refer.
This essentially turns your content, audience, or network into a source of passive income. It’s a win-win: Kraken gains users, and you earn crypto-based rewards for your influence.
Founded in 2011, Kraken is one of the world’s oldest and most respected cryptocurrency exchanges.
It supports over 200 trading pairs, offers advanced trading features, and is known for its strong emphasis on security, compliance, and transparency.
How to Get Started with the Kraken Affiliate Program
Getting started with the Kraken Affiliate Program is straightforward.
First, visit the official Kraken website and scroll to the footer, where you’ll find the “Affiliate Program” link. Clicking on it redirects you to the program’s information page.
You will also find the application form on the page. On the form, you’ll be asked to provide basic information, such as your name, email, promotional platform(s), and how you intend to promote Kraken.
After submission, the Kraken team manually reviews your application, typically within 5 business days.
Once approved, you’ll receive an onboarding email with access to your affiliate dashboard and referral materials.
After approval, log in to your affiliate dashboard to configure your account settings.
This includes adding your payment method, Bitcoin wallet address, or bank account, depending on your region, filling in tax details if required, and customizing your referral link with UTM parameters for better tracking.
It’s important to complete your profile accurately to avoid payout delays and ensure compliance with Kraken’s terms.
Navigating the Dashboard
Kraken’s affiliate dashboard includes key metrics, such as clicks, sign-ups, total trading volume from referrals, and your earned commissions.
You can filter results by date range, campaign, or geography to analyze which traffic sources perform best.
The dashboard also offers export options for reporting and allows you to create multiple tracking links for different promotional channels.
Tips for First-Time Users
If you’re new to affiliate marketing or Kraken’s program in particular, start by focusing on one or two platforms where you already have an audience.
Use Kraken’s pre-made banners and creatives to save time, and always include clear disclaimers to stay compliant.
Monitor your dashboard daily to understand what content drives conversions.
And finally, take advantage of Kraken’s affiliate support team if you need help fine-tuning your strategy or navigating technical issues.
Starting small and scaling strategically is the key to long-term success.
Property type” simply means where you will promote Kraken through the affiliate program.
Unlike many affiliate programs in the crypto space, Kraken’s program is backed by a platform with a decade-long reputation and institutional-grade infrastructure. You benefit from:
Competitive commissions (up to 20% of trading fees)
Reliable tracking tools
Dedicated support
Continuous revenue potential from active traders
What truly sets it apart is the trust users place in Kraken, meaning higher conversions and longer retention, which directly boost your affiliate earnings.
How the Kraken Affiliate Program Works
Kraken Affiliate Program enables partners to earn commissions by referring new users to the Kraken platform.
Once accepted into the program, you receive a unique referral link you can share via websites, blogs, videos, social media, or newsletters.
When someone signs up and begins trading through that link, you earn a percentage of the fees generated by the user’s trades.
1. Referral Link Tracking
Each affiliate is issued a trackable URL that monitors clicks, signups, and trading activity. This ensures that you are properly credited for your referrals, even if the user doesn’t sign up immediately.
2. Cookie Duration and Attribution
Kraken uses a cookie duration of 180 days, meaning if a user clicks on your link but signs up within 180 days, you’ll still receive credit.
Attribution is based on the last-click model, so the most recent referral link clicked before registration is the one that gets credit.
3. User Conversion Process
Once a referral clicks your link and signs up, they must complete identity verification (KYC) and start trading for commissions to be earned.
This ensures compliance and filters out inactive or spam signups.
4. Commission Structure
Kraken offers a simple but competitive commission structure designed to reward affiliates based on the trading activity of their referrals.
You earn up to 20% of the trading fees generated by each referred user. You receive this for the entire duration the client remains with Kraken, with a cap of $1000 per client.
The more a referred user trades, the higher your commission earnings. Since Kraken caters to high-volume traders, your earnings can compound significantly over time.
For Example:
If a referred user pays $1,000 in trading fees over time, you could earn $200 (at 20%).
Referring 10 users who each pay $500 in fees = $1,000 total commission.
A single institutional trader could generate thousands in commissions yearly for top-performing affiliates.
5. Payout Terms and Conditions
Kraken’s affiliate program facilitates payouts directly to your bank account via Impact, with payments issued in your bank account’s default currency.
The calculation of trading fees includes spot and futures trade fees, as well as both spot margin opening and rollover fees.
A minimum balance of $10 USD is required to withdraw funds from your Impact account. Payments are processed via Direct Transfer, BACS, or PayPal, 14 days after your approved transactions have been invoiced.
Pros and Cons of Kraken Affiliate Program
Pros
High Commission Rates
One of the biggest benefits of the Kraken Affiliate Program is its competitive commission structure. You can earn up to 20% of the trading fees generated by each user you refer.
Since Kraken attracts high-volume traders and institutions, this can translate into substantial recurring earnings for affiliates over time.
Reputable Crypto Brand
Kraken is a well-established name in the crypto industry, trusted by millions of users worldwide.
Its reputation for strong security, regulatory compliance, and professional service makes it easier for affiliates to promote the platform.
You are more likely to convert when the brand is already seen as credible and reliable.
Transparent Payouts
Kraken offers clear, timely, and transparent payouts. You can view your earnings and transaction details directly from the dashboard, and payments are typically issued on a monthly basis.
The inclusion of real-time reporting ensures affiliates can track every dollar earned and verify performance metrics.
Cons
Competitive Market
The crypto affiliate space is highly competitive, especially for major platforms like Kraken.
You may find it challenging to stand out without a unique value proposition, such as original content, niche targeting, or a loyal following.
Beginners may need time to establish credibility and gain traction.
Conversion May Take Time
Due to Kraken’s thorough verification process and its appeal to more serious traders, referrals may not convert immediately.
Users often take time to complete identity verification (KYC) and start trading, which means affiliates might experience a delay between initial sign-up and commission payout.
In addition, to ensure your referrals are properly attributed, referred users have to disable extensions and settings that block tracking, such as Google Analytics or cookies.
Kraken doesn’t manually attribute users who are blocking these.
Restrictions in Certain Countries
Kraken’s affiliate program is not available in every jurisdiction due to regulatory constraints.
Affiliates targeting users in restricted countries, such as those under U.S. sanctions or with strict crypto regulations, may face lower conversion rates or even lose access to the program if non-compliance is detected.
Is the Kraken Affiliate Program Right for You?
Kraken Affiliate Program can be a helpful income stream. It’s best suited for you if you already have an engaged audience interested in crypto, finance, or tech.
If you’re a content creator, blogger, YouTuber, educator, or community builder in these niches, Kraken offers the tools, credibility, and commission structure to help you succeed.
However, if you’re just starting out with no clear promotional strategy or audience, the program might feel slow to take off.
Kraken’s referral process requires that you not only sign up but also complete verification and start trading, so patience and consistency are key.
Additionally, those in restricted regions or looking for quick conversions may find better luck with lower-barrier affiliate programs.
In short, if you’re in it for the long haul and value quality over quantity, Kraken’s affiliate program is a solid, reputable option with real earning potential. It rewards strategy, effort, and ethical promotion, not shortcuts.
Conclusion
Your friend’s still earning. Every trade his referrals make, every month they stay active, it adds up quietly in the background.
The Kraken Affiliate Program doesn’t reward the loudest voice in the room. It rewards the person who understood the structure, respected the terms, and showed up consistently.
That person can be you. The conversation starts with one link.
Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational purposes and should not be considered trading or investment advice. Nothing herein should be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice. Trading or investing in cryptocurrencies carries a considerable risk of financial loss. Always conduct due diligence before making any trading or investment decisions.
