To transfer crypto from Kraken to another exchange or a cold wallet, add the destination address on Kraken, confirm it through the emailed link within an hour, open Withdraw, choose the coin and theTo transfer crypto from Kraken to another exchange or a cold wallet, add the destination address on Kraken, confirm it through the emailed link within an hour, open Withdraw, choose the coin and the

新手学院/Spotlight/How to Transfer Crypto From Kraken to Another Exchange or a Cold Wallet: 72-Hour Holds, 7-Day Holds and the Email You Cannot Skip

How to Transfer Crypto From Kraken to Another Exchange or a Cold Wallet: 72-Hour Holds, 7-Day Holds and the Email You Cannot Skip

作者：Sarah Chen

初阶

Sep 24, 2026Sarah Chen

0 分钟

XRP$1.5066-1.29%

SIX$0.00542+2.45%

MOVE$0.009348-0.76%

Recent card, PayPal or ACH purchases may be held for 72 hours or seven days first.

Key Takeaways

A new withdrawal address on Kraken has to be added and confirmed first, and unless you add it from a trusted device the confirmation link goes to your email and expires after one hour.
Card, digital wallet and PayPal purchases can carry a 72-hour withdrawal hold and ACH Plaid purchases a seven-day hold, on the purchased amount only, while trading continues.
A password change holds withdrawals to new addresses for 24 hours, and coins inside an open order cannot leave until the order is cancelled.
Kraken labels each withdrawal with a status: Initiated and Pending take up to 10 minutes each, and Success means one confirmation on the network.
Kraken Pro's Level 1 fees are 0.40% for makers and 0.80% for takers under the July 9, 2026 schedule, against 0.0000% and 0.0500% on MEXC's standard spot schedule.
MEXC does not serve the United States, the United Kingdom or the European Economic Area, so most Kraken customers should look to a platform licensed to serve them.

Why Do People Move Crypto Off Kraken?

Two reasons come up more than any other.

The first is cost, and it changed this summer.

On July 9, 2026, Kraken restructured its Pro fee tiers, and its support article on the change lists Level 1 at 0.40% for makers and 0.80% for takers, with lower tiers unlocked by spot volume, futures volume or assets held on the platform.

Our ranking of Kraken alternatives and the entry tier most reviews still get wrong works through what that means per trade.

The second is self-custody: some people want the keys, which no exchange account can give them, and the cold wallet section below is for them.

Neither reason is a judgement on Kraken's safety, and Kraken serves customers in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and other markets where MEXC does not operate, which this guide says plainly wherever it matters.

If withdrawals are already failing for you, that is a different situation, covered in our guide on how to move assets away from an exchange in distress.

What Holds a Kraken Withdrawal Back?

Kraken publishes its holds in one place, which makes them planning items rather than surprises.

What triggered it	How long	What is held
Debit or credit card, digital wallet or PayPal purchase	72 hours, and Kraken says a hold may not apply to every purchase	The purchased amount, not your whole balance
Purchase through ACH Plaid	Seven days	Cash or crypto equal to the purchased amount
Recurring SEPA Direct Debit purchase	Seven days	An amount equal to the purchase
Password change	24 hours	Withdrawals to new or updated addresses only
Sale of stocks or ETFs	Until the trade settles one business day later	The sale amount
Coins inside an open or pending order	Until the order is cancelled or filled	The coins in the order

Data verified as of September 22, 2026 against Kraken's official support articles on withdrawal holds (updated September 17, 2026) and on being unable to withdraw.

Kraken's holds page says trading is unaffected throughout, and that the withdrawable amount is your spot balance minus whatever is under a hold.

To see your own number, open the withdrawal flow and click the tooltip beside your available balance, which lists funding limits and any active holds.

One detail is worth knowing before you plan around PayPal: Kraken's holds page, updated September 17, 2026, lists a 72-hour hold on PayPal deposits, while its troubleshooting page still describes a seven-day hold for PayPal, so plan for the longer one.

Kraken Support cannot bypass a time-based hold.

Why Does the Address Come First on Kraken?

On most exchanges you paste an address into the withdrawal form and go.

On Kraken you add the address first, and it has to be confirmed before the form will send anything to it.

Kraken's guide, updated March 4, 2026, sets out the sequence: add the address with a label that no other address on your account uses, and if you did not add it from a trusted device, click the confirmation link that Kraken emails you.

That link is valid for one hour, and if it expires you add the address again.

If you have the Global Settings Lock enabled, you cannot add a withdrawal address at all until you unlock it.

The approval step at the end is your funding 2FA, which Kraken keeps separate from the 2FA you use to sign in.

Two rules follow from this.

Add the destination address a day before you plan to move, so the email, the one-hour window and any password-change hold are behind you.

And keep your registered email and your funding 2FA device to hand on moving day, because both are on the path.

Why Should You Set Up the Destination First?

Kraken will not send to an address it has not confirmed, so the receiving account has to exist before anything else.

We run MEXC, so it is the worked example, and the same checks apply to any destination.

One thing first: MEXC's User Agreement lists the United States and the United Kingdom as prohibited jurisdictions, and MEXC holds no MiCA authorisation for the European Economic Area.

If you live in one of those places, the example still shows what a destination should give you, and yours should be a platform licensed to serve you.

On MEXC, go to Wallets, then Deposit, then On-Chain Deposit, choose the coin and the network, and copy the address, as set out in MEXC's guide on how to deposit crypto on the web.

Copy the memo as well if the deposit page shows one.

Note every network the deposit page accepts for your coin, because Kraken's withdrawal form will ask you to choose one and it has to match.

For USDT, MEXC has accepted deposits on the TON network since April 2024, alongside Tron, Ethereum, BNB Chain and Solana.

MEXC credits Bitcoin after 2 block confirmations, Ethereum after 10 and USDT on ERC-20 after 96 network confirmations, according to the MEXC deposit and withdrawal guide.

What a Kraken trader would pay on MEXC

This section is for readers outside the markets listed above, and it is a comparison, not an invitation.

MEXC's fee page lists spot trading at 0.0000% for makers and 0.0500% for takers, as of September 10, 2026.

The same orders for a year	Kraken Pro Level 1	MEXC standard spot	Difference per year
Maker orders, $20,000 a month	$960 at 0.40%	$0 at 0.0000%	$960
Taker orders, $20,000 a month	$1,920 at 0.80%	$120 at 0.0500%	$1,800

Data verified against Kraken's official article on its July 9, 2026 fee tiers and MEXC's fee page as of September 10, 2026; each figure is monthly volume multiplied by the rate and by 12.

The limits belong on the page.

Kraken's tiers fall quickly: the same article lists Level 3 at 0.22% and 0.38% for accounts with $10,000 of 30-day spot volume or $20,000 held on the platform, so a larger account pays far less than Level 1.

MEXC futures rates are pair-specific, and orders sent through the MEXC API follow a separate futures schedule of 0.06% maker and 0.08% taker.

Our MEXC vs Kraken comparison goes through the two schedules line by line, and our crypto exchange fee index shows the wider field.

On reserves, MEXC publishes Proof of Reserves with Merkle tree verification, and our guide to exchanges that publish proof of reserves explains how to check any platform's claim.

What Does Kraken Charge to Withdraw?

Kraken charges a flat fee per asset and network, with a minimum withdrawal amount for each, and its fees-and-minimums page, last updated December 31, 2025, says the fees are subject to change and that the final fee is shown at confirmation.

That is the number to read: open the withdrawal form, choose the network, and the fee and the minimum appear before you commit.

We do not reprint the table, because a stale flat fee is worse than none.

Two things on that page are easy to miss.

USDC exists in two versions on Polygon and Arbitrum, and Kraken supports both, so the version has to match the one your destination accepts.

And PAXG carries an issuer fee of 0.02% on top of Kraken's flat fee.

For the receiving side of that sum on other platforms, see which exchanges charge the least to withdraw.

Which Network Should You Pick?

Kraken's withdrawal guide puts the rule first: always select the same network that your receiving wallet uses, because withdrawing to an incompatible network can result in permanent loss.

List the networks the destination accepts on its deposit page, list the networks Kraken offers for the coin, and keep only the ones on both.

Then take the cheapest of what is left.

Kraken adds a warning of its own: different cryptocurrencies may share the same address format, so make sure you are sending to the right type of address as well.

Addresses beginning with 0x look identical on Ethereum, BNB Smart Chain, Polygon and Arbitrum, and the address will never tell you which one you meant.

Our guide to USDT networks compared explains how the chains differ.

How to Move Crypto From Kraken to a Cold Wallet

A hardware wallet follows the same route, with the address-confirmation step on Kraken and no support desk on the other side.

Generate the receive address on the device, confirm it on the device's own screen, add it on Kraken with a label, and confirm it through the email link.

Send a small amount first and wait until it shows in the wallet before you send the balance.

Write down which network you used, since the same coin can exist on several and the wallet has to be set to the right one to display it.

XRP from Kraken to a hardware wallet: the destination tag

XRP is the coin people most often move from Kraken to a hardware wallet, and it carries one extra field.

An XRP address on an exchange needs a destination tag to route the deposit to your account, and a missing tag is the usual reason an XRP deposit has to be recovered by hand.

A hardware wallet address that you control usually does not need one, and your wallet software will say so on its receive screen.

If the receive screen shows a tag, enter it on Kraken exactly; if it does not, leave the field empty rather than inventing one.

How to Transfer Crypto From Kraken in Six Steps

Step 1: Clear the holds and the orders.

Cancel open orders in the coin you are moving, check the tooltip in the withdrawal flow for active holds, and make no password change on the day.

Step 2: Get the deposit address and any memo from the destination.

On MEXC that is Wallets, then Deposit, then On-Chain Deposit, with the coin and the network chosen.

Step 3: Add and confirm the address on Kraken.

Give it a unique label, click the emailed link within the hour, and do this the day before if you can.

Step 4: Open Withdraw and choose the network.

Kraken's guide has you select or search for the coin, choose the correct network, and enter an amount that meets the minimum shown under the field.

Step 5: Send a test, then the balance.

Confirm the network and the address in the To field, approve with your funding 2FA, and repeat for the rest once the test has credited.

Step 6: Track the status.

Kraken does not send an email confirmation for a withdrawal, so watch the status under your recent transactions: Initiated and Pending take up to 10 minutes each, Sending means it is on the network, and Success means one confirmation.

What Happens on the Receiving Side?

Success on Kraken is one confirmation, and the destination decides how many it wants.

On MEXC, progress shows under Wallets, then Funding History, then Deposit, where the transaction ID links to the block explorer.

If the chain shows enough confirmations and MEXC shows nothing, its support guide points to a short list of causes.

Wrong network for the address you copied: submit an Uncredited Deposit Return Application, typically reviewed in 1 to 2 business days.
A missing or incorrect memo or tag: the same application.
A token contract address that MEXC does not support: the deposit is not credited, so compare contract addresses first.
A transfer sent through a smart contract: it needs manual processing through the same application.

The full list is in MEXC's troubleshooting guide for deposits that are not credited.

Six Things That Stall a Kraken Withdrawal

The page says Withheld or Balance is insufficient.

A hold is running on part of the balance, and the tooltip in the withdrawal flow shows which one and for how long.

The new address is not available yet.

Either the confirmation email has not been clicked, the one-hour link has expired, or a password change put new addresses on a 24-hour hold.

The coins are in an order.

Cancel the order, or exchange the balance into the coin you want to withdraw.

The status says On hold.

Kraken is checking the withdrawal by hand, and it says to contact support or wait for support to reach you.

The status says Failed.

Open the withdrawal ID and read the Error field before you try again.

Someone offers to release it for you.

The FBI has warned about scammers who impersonate cryptocurrency exchange employees, and no genuine agent needs your password, your codes or your recovery phrase.

Do You Owe Tax When You Move Crypto Between Exchanges?

In the United Kingdom, HMRC's manual states that there is no disposal when you keep beneficial ownership, as when you move tokens between addresses you control.

The IRS's virtual currency FAQs take the same view of a transfer between wallets or accounts that both belong to you.

Rules differ elsewhere, and this is not tax advice.

Export your Kraken transaction history before the account is empty, and keep each withdrawal ID with it, since your cost basis lives there.

Can You Do This From Your Country?

United States.

Kraken serves US customers, and MEXC's User Agreement lists the United States as a prohibited jurisdiction, so the destination should be a platform registered with FinCEN and licensed in your state.

United Kingdom.

MEXC's User Agreement lists the United Kingdom as a prohibited jurisdiction, so UK readers should look to firms authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority.

European Economic Area.

MEXC does not hold a MiCA authorisation and appears on ESMA's register of non-compliant entities following a decision by the Dutch AFM in September 2025.

MEXC is also leaving the Netherlands, with offboarding running to October 31, 2026 and final offboarding on November 16, 2026.

EEA readers should choose a MiCA-authorised provider.

Japan.

Japan does not appear among the prohibited jurisdictions in MEXC's User Agreement, but the MEXC apps cannot be downloaded from Japanese iOS or Android stores, per MEXC's own restricted regions article.

MEXC appears on the Financial Services Agency's list of unregistered operators, with entries in March 2023 and November 2024.

Elsewhere.

Check the restricted regions article before opening an account, and use only platforms that serve your jurisdiction.

The MEXC View

We run an exchange that most readers of this page cannot use, and we think that is worth saying plainly.

Kraken serves the markets this guide is mostly read in, and we do not.

Its holds page is the clearest we have read on any exchange, its address confirmation step stops the kind of mistake that costs people their balance, and its tiers reward accounts that hold assets on the platform, so a larger account pays far less than the Level 1 rates above.

What we add is the receiving side, which most guides leave out, and a schedule that readers outside those markets can set against Kraken's.

How we weigh claims like these is set out in our methodology for reviewing exchanges.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I transfer crypto from Kraken to another exchange?

Add the destination's deposit address on Kraken, confirm it through the emailed link, then withdraw on the network the destination accepts.

Send a small test first.

What is the Kraken withdrawal fee?

A flat fee per asset and network, with a minimum amount, shown in the withdrawal form at confirmation.

Kraken says the fees can change, so read the live figure.

Why are my funds withheld on Kraken?

A recent card, PayPal or ACH purchase, a password change or an open order has put part of the balance under a hold.

The tooltip in the withdrawal flow shows which one.

How long does a Kraken withdrawal take?

Initiated and Pending take up to 10 minutes each, then the network confirms it.

The destination's own confirmation count decides when it is usable.

How do I move crypto from Kraken to a cold wallet?

Generate the address on the device, add and confirm it on Kraken, and send a small amount first.

Keep a note of the network you used.

How do I transfer XRP from Kraken to a hardware wallet?

Add the wallet's XRP address on Kraken and enter a destination tag only if the wallet's receive screen shows one.

Exchanges need the tag; a wallet you control usually does not.

Can I withdraw from Kraken with an open order?

No, coins used in an open or pending order cannot be withdrawn.

Cancel the order first.

Why does Kraken need me to confirm a withdrawal address by email?

Kraken only sends to addresses that have been added and confirmed, unless you add them from a trusted device.

The emailed link expires after one hour.

How do I move crypto from Kraken to MEXC?

Copy an address from Wallets, Deposit and On-Chain Deposit on MEXC, add and confirm it on Kraken, and withdraw on the same network.

MEXC does not serve the United States, the United Kingdom or the European Economic Area.

Risk and Compliance

On-chain transfers are irreversible, and funds sent to a wrong address, an unsupported network or an unsupported asset may be permanently unrecoverable.

Fees, holds, supported networks and regional availability change without notice, so confirm every figure inside the platform at the time you transfer.

Use only platforms that are licensed to serve you where you live, and do not use tools to bypass geographic restrictions.

This article is for information only and is not investment, legal or tax advice.

If you are still choosing a destination, our roundup of crypto exchange alternatives for 2026 compares the main options side by side, and our exchange hack history database shows how past incidents were resolved.

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