If you hold USDC on Kraken, it earns automatically. Full stop.
By default, users earn 1.75% APR. For customers with Kraken+, rewards increase to up to 3.75% APR, without changing how your USDC works or where it lives.
Earn automatically with no setup required
All eligible customers holding USDC on Kraken will now earn rewards automatically through Stablecoin Rewards, across Kraken, Kraken Pro, and Krak:
No product switching
No lockups
No behavior change required
Your USDC simply starts earning in the background the moment it’s in your account. Rewards accrue by the second and are paid out weekly.
Freedom without trade-offs
One of the biggest frustrations with earning products is the fine print: assets get locked, trading is restricted, or withdrawals take time.
Kraken’s approach is different. While your USDC earns rewards, it remains:
Fully tradable
Fully withdrawable
Fully usable at any time
You can move in and out of positions, respond to market conditions, or withdraw funds instantly, all while rewards accrue automatically in the background.
Earning doesn’t come at the expense of accessibility.
Why settle for 0% yield on your USDC?
Many platforms hold USDC without paying users anything unless they subscribe, opt into separate products, or give up liquidity.
At Kraken, earning is not a subscription perk or a special setting. It’s the baseline experience.
If you’re currently holding USDC on another platform and earning nothing, this changes the equation. Your capital doesn’t need to sit idle, and you don’t need to commit to lockups or complex strategies just to earn a reasonable return.
Baseline vs. amplified value
Kraken’s USDC rewards are designed to be simple and transparent:
1.75% APR by default, for all eligible users
Up to 3.75% APR with Kraken+, for users who want to amplify their rewards
And importantly, higher rewards don’t come with added friction. No new products to manage. No change in liquidity. No extra decisions.
Simple by default, optional by design
Stablecoin Rewards is built for simplicity and liquidity; earning that just works.
For users who want to explore more advanced opportunities, DeFi Earn is a complementary option. It offers easy access to onchain USDC yield opportunities.
How to start earning on USDC
Already holding USDC on Kraken? You’re already earning.
Don’t hold USDC yet? Just deposit or swap into USDC and rewards start automatically.
Want to earn more? Subscribe to Kraken+ to boost your rate to 3.75% and get zero trading fees up to $10K in trades per month.
Earn 3.75% on USDC with Kraken+
Geographic restrictions apply. Rewards rates are determined and paid out by Kraken in its sole discretion and are subject to change. See our Terms of Service for more info. Due to its partnership with Circle, Kraken receives an economic benefit with respect to amounts of USDC minted, held on platform, and received in on-chain transfers.
Rewards are variable and not guaranteed; you can lose some or all of your assets. Interacting with on-chain smart contracts involves risks which are further detailed in the terms of service, including technological risk (bugs, exploits, and oracle/MEV/bridge failures), market risk (price volatility, de-pegs, and liquidation where relevant), and operational risk (irreversible transactions, gas fees, network congestion). Kraken does not control third-party protocols. Offered by Payward Wallet, LLC. Fees apply. Availability varies by jurisdiction.
Kraken+ is an automatically renewing subscription requiring recurring payments. Cancel anytime. Price is inclusive of applicable taxes (i.e., VAT) where required. In other regions, the price shown does not include taxes, which will be added at the time of purchase where applicable. Subscription benefits vary by region and may be modified by Kraken at any time upon notice. Zero-fee trading is subject to monthly trading-volume limits, which can be viewed in your account settings. Spread and payment processing fees still apply. Boosted USDG Rewards, including the Rewards rate, is subject to change and is not available in all regions. See our Terms of Service for more info. Other fees may apply.
The post appeared first on Kraken Blog.
