Your Kraken account
is blocked?
Kraken publishes exactly why it restricts accounts and how long some restrictions last. One of those durations is 90 days and cannot be shortened by anyone — knowing which restriction you have is what tells you whether that applies.
We are not employees of Kraken. Independent consulting.
Your account has been temporarily restricted due to unusual activity. Withdrawal and trading functions are currently unavailable.
Triggered: Terms of Use violation
Case ID: #BNX-2847-QRST
Last updated: 2 minutes ago
cases reviewed
average first response time
supported exchanges
24h Volume
12.5K BTC
Jurisdiction
United States
Year established
2011
Select what matches your situation
The notice refers to fraud or scam prevention.
Account restricted
This restriction was applied for fraud prevention.
What it means
Kraken states that increased restrictions for fraud prevention can only be lifted after a 90-day period, and that the period exists to protect you against potential further harm.
What Kraken requires
Nothing that shortens it. Kraken is explicit that these restrictions cannot be lifted earlier.
Your first step
Plan around the date. Anyone offering to remove a 90-day scam-prevention restriction is describing something Kraken says is not possible.
Can't find your case? Click 'Analyze my case' — we'll review the wording together.
The seven reasons Kraken names
Kraken lists these as its grounds for restricting an account. Most are resolved by a review; one has a fixed duration written into it.
A potential security issue, or suspected malicious activity
Kraken restricts accounts on detection of a potential security issue and on suspicion of malicious activity targeting the account. This is protective — the restriction exists to stop an irreversible loss while the account is checked.
Withdrawals to wallets linked to prohibited activity
Kraken names withdrawals to crypto wallets associated with prohibited, illegal or scam-related activities. This is an assessment of the destination address, which is why it can hit an account whose owner has done nothing unusual.
A chargeback or a payment reversal
A refund or reversal of one of your recent transactions by your bank or card issuer is a listed ground. It arrives from outside Kraken and usually needs the bank to be part of the resolution.
Identity or contact details that are not current
Kraken names an inability to provide accurate, truthful and up-to-date information concerning your identity and contact details. An expired document or a stale address is enough.
No response to a request for information
Failure to respond to a request for additional information, as required by the regulations of the jurisdiction where you reside, is its own ground — the silence is the trigger, not what the answer would have been.
The seventh ground Kraken lists is a violation of its Terms of Service. Kraken also states that restrictions still allow you to access and manage your funds in many cases — the restriction is not always a total freeze.
5 things that will make the situation worse
Do not pay anyone to shorten a 90-day restriction
Kraken states these restrictions can only be lifted after the 90-day period. There is no version of this that a third party can accelerate.
Do not ignore a request for information
Failure to respond to a request for additional information, as required by the regulations of your jurisdiction, is itself one of the seven grounds Kraken lists for restricting an account.
Do not send a proof of address older than three months
Kraken's requirement is explicit, and a document outside the window is simply rejected, restarting the wait.
Do not retry a withdrawal to a flagged address
Kraken restricts accounts for withdrawals to wallets associated with prohibited, illegal or scam-related activity. Repeating it confirms the pattern rather than clearing it.
Do not let inaccurate details stand
An expired document or an address you no longer live at is enough on its own, and it is the easiest of the seven grounds to remove.
These increased restrictions for fraud prevention can only be lifted after a 90 day period. This 90-day period allows us to protect you against potential further harm.
— Kraken Support, Why is my account restricted?
What to check first on Kraken
Read which ground the notice cites
Kraken's list is closed and specific. A fraud-prevention restriction and a documents request end very differently.
Check the email on the account
For a withdrawal held for internal review, Kraken states its team contacts you by email within 5 business days.
Check the documents Kraken already holds
An expired ID or an out-of-date address is itself a listed ground: inaccurate or not up-to-date identity and contact details.
Use the appeal form for a locked account
Kraken publishes a dedicated Appeal Locked Account form. That is the route — not a general support message.
What Kraken may ask you for
Kraken publishes its document requirements, including the one condition that causes most repeat submissions: how recent a proof of address has to be.
A valid government-issued identity document
Kraken states that in general a valid government-issued ID is required as part of verification.
A proof of address statement
It must contain your name and address, and be dated less than three months before the date of submission.
Whatever the information request specifies
Kraken may ask for additional information to verify identity as part of its security and compliance standards — to prevent account takeovers, impersonation, unauthorised transactions and fraud.
An appeal through the locked-account form
Kraken publishes a specific Appeal Locked Account form for accounts in that state.
Two timeframes are published and worth holding onto: 5 business days for Kraken to make contact about a withdrawal held for internal review, and 90 days as the minimum life of a restriction applied for fraud prevention.
Block risk assessment
Answer 8 questions — we'll show the block type and recommendations for Kraken.
#Q1 of 8
When was your account blocked?
What we actually do
Match the notice to Kraken's list
Seven named grounds, and each one implies a different next step. Two of them are resolved by updating a document.
From: compliance@kraken.com
Your account flagged for suspicious activity. Please complete KYC verification.
Check the documents against the rules
Valid ID, proof of address inside three months, name and address visible. Most re-submissions fail on one of these.
Answer the information request properly
Since silence is itself a ground for restriction, the reply matters more here than on most platforms.
DO
Clear facts
Documents
DON'T
Emotions
Threats
Prepare the appeal
Kraken has a dedicated form for locked accounts. We help you put the right facts into it the first time.
Tell you when the answer is 90 days
Where the restriction is fraud-prevention, the honest advice is that it runs its course. We would rather say that than take a case for it.
The decision is always the exchange's. What we control is that your case reaches it complete, correct and on time.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my Kraken account restricted?
today 14:23
Kraken lists seven grounds: detection of a potential security issue; suspicion of malicious activity targeting your account; withdrawals to crypto wallets associated with prohibited, illegal or scam-related activities; a chargeback or reversal by your bank or card issuer; inability to provide accurate, truthful and up-to-date identity and contact information; failure to respond to a request for additional information required by your jurisdiction's regulations; and violation of its Terms of Service.
unblock.exchange · today 14:23
How long does a Kraken restriction last?
today 14:30
It depends which one it is. Kraken states that increased restrictions applied for fraud prevention can only be lifted after a 90-day period, and that this cannot be shortened. Other restrictions can be lifted once its team has reviewed the account.
unblock.exchange · today 14:30
Kraken is holding my withdrawal. When will someone contact me?
today 14:37
Kraken states that where it holds a withdrawal for internal review, its team will contact you by email within 5 business days.
unblock.exchange · today 14:37
What documents does Kraken ask for?
today 14:44
In general a valid government-issued ID, plus a proof of address statement that contains your name and address and is dated less than three months before submission. Kraken may also ask for additional information to verify identity as part of its security and compliance standards.
unblock.exchange · today 14:44
Can anyone lift a Kraken 90-day restriction early?
today 14:51
No. Kraken publishes the 90-day period as a fixed minimum for fraud-prevention restrictions and states the reason: protecting you from potential further harm. Any offer to remove it sooner is not coming from Kraken.
unblock.exchange · today 14:51
Other exchanges
The same block scenarios play out on other platforms.
Tell us what happened
Tell us what happened with your Kraken account, attach email screenshots. We'll review the situation, assess risks, and suggest a course of action.
Fully confidential. No account credentials required.