Kraken Pro: Mastering the Different Order Types for Better Trading

Knowing how to place a buy or sell order is no longer enough. In a crypto market where volatility can turn an opportunity into a loss in seconds, the type of order used often makes the difference. Kraken Pro, the advanced trading interface of the exchange founded in 2011, provides investors with a complete range of orders designed to suit every market situation. With over 700 available assets, 1,510 trading pairs, and integrated TradingView charts, according to CoinGecko, the platform caters both to experienced traders and those looking to structure their first strategies. Understanding when and why to use each tool is still necessary.

Market and limit orders on Kraken Pro: the fundamentals

The market order is the most direct. It executes a buy or sell instantly at the best price available on the order book. Its main advantage lies in speed: in a fast-moving market, it guarantees that the entire order will be executed. It is the tool of responsiveness, particularly suited to liquid markets where the bid-ask spread, i.e., the difference between the buying and selling price, remains narrow. Conversely, large orders may be executed at multiple different price levels, with the final price then being an average. The fees applied are those of the “taker,” generally higher than those of the “maker.”

The limit order follows the opposite logic: control takes precedence over speed. The investor sets the exact price at which they wish to buy or sell. The transaction only executes if the market reaches that price or a better one. This order allows positioning at a key level without having to constantly monitor prices. On Kraken Pro, the real-time displayed order book allows viewing market depth and placing the limit order knowledgeably. The main risk: if the price never reaches the set price, the order remains pending, partially or totally unexecuted.

The combination of these two fundamental orders forms the basis of any trading strategy. The market order suits moments when the priority is to seize an immediate opportunity. The limit order is necessary when aiming to enter or exit a position at a precise price, even if that means waiting. Kraken Pro makes these two options accessible from the same order panel, with integrated tooltips explaining each parameter on hover, a detail that makes it easier for individual investors to get started.

Stop loss and take profit: how to protect your positions automatically?

Crypto markets never sleep, and no investor can monitor their positions 24/7. This is precisely the role of conditional orders. The stop loss order automatically triggers a market sale when the price reaches a predefined threshold. The goal: to cap the maximum loss on an open position. Its limited price version, the limit stop loss, adds an extra level of control by triggering a limit order instead of a market order, which avoids price slippage on large orders.

At the opposite end, the take profit order secures gains. It triggers a market sale when the price hits a profit target set by the investor. Combined with a stop loss, it allows building a target risk-reward ratio, a fundamental portfolio management principle. On Kraken Pro, both orders are set directly from the interface, on the same panel as the main order. The investor can thus define their entry point, loss limit, and profit target in a single operation.

One point of caution to keep in mind: brief price fluctuations sometimes called “wicks” can prematurely trigger a stop loss. Kraken Pro offers an option to mitigate this risk: using the index price as the trigger signal. This price aggregates data from multiple platforms and order books, providing a more stable reference than the spot price of a single exchange.

The trailing stop order: follow the trend without letting up

The trailing stop order is the most dynamic tool in the range available on Kraken Pro. Its principle: a trigger price that automatically advances at a fixed distance called “offset” relative to the market price. As long as the market moves in the favorable direction, the trigger threshold follows the movement. If the market reverses and the price falls to reach the offset, a market sell order is automatically placed.

The advantage is twofold. On one side, the investor maintains protection against losses without having to manually adjust their stop loss at every new rise. On the other, they let their gains run as long as the upward trend continues. It is a tool particularly appreciated during a rally, when the price of an asset like Bitcoin hits new highs repeatedly and it is difficult to determine the right moment to secure profits.

Its limited price version: the limit trailing stop, offers even finer control. The offset limit, which can be positive or negative, adjusts the limit order price relative to the trailing stop. An offset of zero places the order exactly at the trigger price, thus reducing slippage risk. However, be aware: offsets too narrow can trigger a sale prematurely on simple intraday oscillations. Setting this offset requires a good understanding of the asset’s volatility.

All these orders are accessible from a single interface on Kraken Pro, which includes customizable TradingView charts, a deep order book, and the ability to display up to four charts simultaneously. The exchange, which has never been hacked since its creation in 2011 and which obtained in March 2026 a primary account with the U.S. Federal Reserve, thus offers an environment where tool sophistication is accompanied by an institutional security framework. It is up to each investor to determine which combination of orders best matches their risk profile and strategy, the tools are there, but mastering them is essential.