Catenaa, Tuesday, September 30, 2025- A recent Kraken survey of 1,000 U.S. crypto users found that trust outweighs fees when choosing an exchange, highlighting a shift in investor priorities amid industry maturation.
The survey revealed that 79% of respondents are willing to pay slightly higher fees for exchanges they trust, while only 16% cited low fees as their top consideration.
Trustworthiness, security features, and platform reliability ranked higher, reflecting concerns over past collapses such as FTX and breaches like Coinbase’s recent incident in India. Kraken’s global head of consumer, Mark Greenberg, said Americans increasingly prioritize asset safety and ease of access over short-term savings.
Despite this focus on trust, many users maintain multiple exchange accounts.
About 44% of respondents said they use two platforms, while 26% use more than two, a practice that allows diversification of listings, mitigation of platform-specific risks, and separation of trading from long-term holdings.
The survey also indicates a rising interest in decentralized exchanges, with platforms like Uniswap generating $478 million in trading volume last month, a 259% increase from the previous year.
Kraken, reportedly preparing to go public, joins other major platforms navigating the balance between fee structures and user confidence.
Analysts note that as institutional and retail adoption grows, exchanges that combine regulatory transparency, security, and reliable performance may hold an edge in attracting users willing to pay a premium for trust.
