How to trade spot on Kraken? What is the difference between placing orders and taking orders?

To trade spot on Kraken, sign up, verify your identity, deposit funds, and navigate to the spot trading section to buy or sell cryptocurrencies at current market prices.

May 14, 2025 at 08:50 am

Trading spot on Kraken involves buying and selling cryptocurrencies at the current market price. This type of trading is straightforward and suitable for beginners and experienced traders alike. In this article, we will explore how to trade spot on Kraken, and delve into the differences between placing orders and taking orders.

Getting Started with Spot Trading on Kraken

To begin trading spot on Kraken, you need to follow a few initial steps to set up your account and familiarize yourself with the platform. Here's how you can get started:

• Sign up for a Kraken account: Visit the Kraken website and click on the "Create Account" button. Fill in your personal details, including your email address and a strong password.
• Verify your identity: Kraken requires users to complete a verification process to comply with regulatory standards. You'll need to provide personal identification documents such as a passport or driver's license.
• Deposit funds: After verification, you can deposit funds into your Kraken account. You can choose to deposit via bank transfer, credit/debit card, or cryptocurrency transfer.
• Navigate to the spot trading section: Once your account is funded, go to the "Trade" section on the Kraken platform and select "Spot Trading."

Understanding the Spot Trading Interface

The Kraken spot trading interface is designed to be user-friendly, but it can be overwhelming for new users. Here's a breakdown of the key components you'll see:

• Order Book: This displays the current buy and sell orders for a specific cryptocurrency. The order book shows the depth of the market, with the highest bid price at the top and the lowest ask price at the bottom.
• Price Chart: The price chart shows the historical price movement of the cryptocurrency you are trading. You can customize the chart to view different time frames and add technical indicators.
• Trading Pair: This is the pair of cryptocurrencies you are trading, such as BTC/USD or ETH/BTC.
• Order Entry Panel: This is where you will enter your trading orders, specifying the type of order, the amount, and the price.

Placing Orders on Kraken

Placing an order on Kraken involves setting the parameters for your trade. There are several types of orders you can place:

• Market Order: This type of order is executed immediately at the current market price. It's the simplest way to buy or sell a cryptocurrency quickly.
• Limit Order: A limit order allows you to set a specific price at which you want to buy or sell a cryptocurrency. The order will only be executed if the market reaches your specified price.
• Stop Order: A stop order is used to limit losses or protect profits. It becomes a market order once the stop price is reached.

To place an order on Kraken, follow these steps:

• Select the trading pair: Choose the cryptocurrency pair you want to trade from the dropdown menu.
• Choose the order type: Decide whether you want to place a market, limit, or stop order.
• Enter the order details: Specify the amount of cryptocurrency you want to buy or sell and, if applicable, the price.
• Review and submit the order: Double-check your order details and click the "Submit Order" button.

Taking Orders on Kraken

Taking an order, also known as filling an order, involves executing a trade that matches an existing order in the order book. When you take an order, you are essentially accepting the terms of an order placed by another trader. Here's how it works:

• Market Order: If you place a market order, you are taking the best available price from the order book. For a buy order, you'll take the lowest ask price, and for a sell order, you'll take the highest bid price.
• Limit Order: If you place a limit order at a price that matches an existing order in the order book, your order will be filled immediately. For example, if you place a buy order at a price that matches an existing sell order, your order will be taken by the seller.

Differences Between Placing and Taking Orders

Understanding the difference between placing and taking orders is crucial for effective trading on Kraken. Here's a detailed comparison:

• Control Over Price: When you place an order, you have control over the price at which you want to buy or sell. If you place a limit order, your order will only be executed at your specified price. On the other hand, when you take an order with a market order, you have no control over the price and will get the best available price at that moment.
• Execution Speed: Placing a limit order can result in delayed execution, as your order will only be filled if the market reaches your specified price. Taking an order with a market order ensures immediate execution, as you are accepting the best available price from the order book.
• Impact on Market: Placing a large order can impact the market, especially if it's a limit order that adds significant depth to the order book. Taking an order with a market order does not directly impact the market, as you are simply filling an existing order.
• Risk Management: Placing orders, particularly stop orders, can be an effective way to manage risk. By setting a stop price, you can limit potential losses or protect profits. Taking orders with market orders does not offer the same level of risk management, as you are executing at the current market price.

Practical Example of Placing and Taking Orders

To illustrate the difference between placing and taking orders, let's consider a practical example. Suppose you want to buy Bitcoin (BTC) with US dollars (USD) on Kraken.

• Placing a Limit Order: You decide to place a limit order to buy 1 BTC at a price of $30,000. You enter the order details and submit the order. Your order will be added to the order book and will only be executed if the market price reaches $30,000 or lower.
• Taking an Order with a Market Order: Instead of placing a limit order, you decide to buy 1 BTC immediately with a market order. You enter the order details and submit the order. Your order will be filled at the best available price from the order book, which might be $30,100. You have no control over the price, but your order is executed instantly.

Managing Your Spot Trading on Kraken

Once you've placed or taken orders, it's important to manage your trades effectively. Here are some tips for managing your spot trading on Kraken:

• Monitor Your Orders: Keep an eye on your open orders to see if they are being filled. You can cancel or modify your orders if necessary.
• Use Stop Loss and Take Profit Orders: To manage risk, consider using stop loss and take profit orders. A stop loss order will automatically sell your cryptocurrency if the price drops to a certain level, limiting your losses. A take profit order will sell your cryptocurrency if the price reaches a certain level, locking in your profits.
• Review Your Trading History: Regularly review your trading history to analyze your performance and identify areas for improvement. Kraken provides detailed reports of your trades, which can help you make more informed decisions in the future.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I trade spot on Kraken with leverage?

A: No, spot trading on Kraken does not involve leverage. Spot trading means you are buying or selling the actual cryptocurrency, without borrowing funds from the exchange. If you want to trade with leverage, you would need to use Kraken's margin trading feature, which is separate from spot trading.

Q: What fees are associated with spot trading on Kraken?

A: Kraken charges different fees depending on the trading pair and the volume of your trades. For most trading pairs, the maker fee (for placing an order) is 0.16% and the taker fee (for taking an order) is 0.26%. However, these fees can be lower if you trade high volumes or use Kraken's Pro plan.

Q: How can I withdraw my funds from Kraken after spot trading?

A: To withdraw your funds from Kraken after spot trading, follow these steps:

• Go to the "Funding" section on the Kraken platform.
• Select the cryptocurrency or fiat currency you want to withdraw.
• Enter the amount you want to withdraw and the destination address or bank account.
• Review the withdrawal details and submit the request. Kraken will process your withdrawal, and the funds will be sent to your specified address or account.

Q: Is it possible to automate spot trading on Kraken?

A: Kraken does not offer built-in automation features for spot trading. However, you can use third-party trading bots that support Kraken's API to automate your spot trading. These bots can place and take orders based on predefined rules and strategies, but you should be cautious and thoroughly research any bot before using it.