Beyond trading, exchanges compete on staking, yield programs, memberships, and fee tiers. Some of this is real value. Some of it is marketing. Here's what each one offers and what it costs.
Affiliate disclosure: Some links below are affiliate or referral links. If you buy or sign up through them, Fueled Crypto may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. This page is educational. It is not financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. How we handle affiliate links.
Staking vs Rewards vs Cashback
Staking
You lock up a proof-of-stake asset (ETH, SOL, ADA) to help validate the network. In return, the protocol pays you newly minted tokens. Yields are protocol-driven, not exchange-driven — but exchanges take a cut.
Programs where exchanges pay you from their own revenue: platform tokens, membership perks, or marketing budgets. These are exchange promises, not protocol rules, and they can end. Coinbase ended its quiz rewards in May 2025.
Risk factors: Exchange solvency, token value, program changes
Cashback
Rewards earned on spending, not holding. Crypto credit cards and some exchange programs pay a percentage of purchases in crypto. The rate is fixed; the value of the reward fluctuates with the market.
Risk factors: Crypto price volatility, card program changes
Exchanges compared
Available to US residents (availability varies by state)
US onchain staking in 37 states plus DC and Puerto Rico; Kraken Pro for spot trading.
US onchain staking
37 states + DC + Puerto Rico
Kraken Pro base fees
0.40% maker / 0.80% taker
Staking rates
Check site
Minimum stake
Varies by asset
Facts
Onchain staking is not offered in 13 states: Alabama, California, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.
Kraken does not serve New York or Maine residents for any service.
Since July 9, 2026, Kraken Pro fee tiers are set by whichever qualifies you for the higher tier: spot volume, futures volume or assets on platform; the $0+ tier is 0.40% maker / 0.80% taker.
Pros
Fee tier can improve with assets held on the platform, not only trading volume
Cons
Staking unavailable in 13 states
Rates vary by asset and region; Kraken shows no US-specific rate list
Global exchange that agreed to leave the US market.
US availability
Not available
DOJ plea
Jan 27, 2025
Facts
On January 27, 2025, the operator of KuCoin pleaded guilty to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business and agreed to pay more than $297 million in penalties (US DOJ, SDNY).
As part of the plea, KuCoin agreed to exit the US market for at least two years.
Cons
Not available to US residents
Discontinued / historical
Coinbase's quiz-based crypto rewards program ended May 27, 2025.
Gemini Earn concluded; the final distribution of assets owed to users was on June 20, 2024.
Frequently Asked Questions
Coinbase, Kraken, Gemini, Binance.US and Crypto.com all offer some form of staking to US customers, but availability depends on your state. Kraken's onchain staking covers 37 states plus DC and Puerto Rico and excludes 13 states (AL, CA, IL, KY, ME, MD, NJ, NY, SC, TX, VT, WA, WI). Gemini stakes ETH, SOL, MON and HYPE and keeps up to 35% of rewards as a fee. Rates change often, so each row on this page links to the provider's current page.
No. Coinbase's Help Center says Learning Rewards are no longer available as of May 27, 2025, and points users to staking instead.
No. Bybit lists the United States as an excluded jurisdiction. KuCoin's operator pleaded guilty in the Southern District of New York on January 27, 2025 to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business and agreed that KuCoin will exit the US market for at least two years. US-available options on this page include Coinbase, Kraken, Gemini, Uphold, Binance.US, Crypto.com and Nexo, each with its own state restrictions.
Staking involves locking up proof-of-stake assets (ETH, SOL, ADA) to help validate the network, and the protocol pays out newly issued tokens; the exchange keeps a share as a fee. Exchange rewards are paid from the exchange's own revenue or marketing budget. Staking yields are protocol-driven; exchange rewards depend on the platform's finances and can end at any time.
Yes. Nexo announced its US return on February 16, 2026, with Bakkt providing the trading infrastructure. Its US yield rates depend on loyalty tier and product, so check Nexo's site for current figures. Nexo is custodial, so you don't control the private keys, and it carries counterparty risk like any centralized platform.
The SEC and the defendants, including Binance.US's operator BAM Trading Services, jointly dismissed the case with prejudice on May 29, 2025 (SEC Litigation Release No. 26316). Binance.US is not available in 16 states and territories, including New York and Texas, and offers crypto-only service in Kansas and Wisconsin.
Coinbase One Basic is $4.99/month or $49.99/year with zero trading fees on up to $500 of trades a month. Preferred is $29.99/month with a $10,000 monthly cap, and Premium is $299.99/month with no cap. A spread still applies, and Coinbase Advanced, DEX trades and derivatives are excluded. Coinbase lists 3.75% APY on USDC for members; benefits vary by region.
APY rates change frequently; verify current rates on each platform before depositing. Crypto yields are not FDIC insured. Not financial advice. Affiliate disclosure.