The short version
- Score: 3.3/5, ranked 10 of 16 exchanges we rate
- Strongest: Features (5.0/5)
- Weakest: Access (1.2/5)
- US users: not accepted
This review is generated from public evidence. Every point below links to the fee page, license, audit or report it came from, and the same rules score every exchange we cover. Evidence was last checked on Sep 30, 2026.
Blocklr score: 3.3/5
| Category | Score | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Security and trust | 2.9/5 | 40% |
| Fees | 4.4/5 | 20% |
| Features | 5.0/5 | 15% |
| Access | 1.2/5 | 15% |
| Support | 3.3/5 | 10% |
How KuCoin earned its score
Security and trust: 2.9/5
| What we checked | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Reserve assurance | 3 / 3 | Reserves attested by an independent third party. source |
| Incident record since 2019 | 2.5 / 4 | 1 incident since 2019. |
| Regulatory record since 2019 | 0 / 4 | 8 fines, bans or pleas since 2019. |
| Licensing | 1.5 / 3 | Licensed outside the US and EU only: EU MiCA CASP authorization (Austria FMA, KuCoin EU Exchange GmbH, granted 27 Nov 2025; FMA states commencement of business operations remains prohibited as of its May 2026 notice). source |
| Account protection | 3 / 3 | Offers authenticator 2FA, passkeys or security keys, withdrawal allowlist. source |
Fees: 4.4/5
| What we checked | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Spot taker fee (base tier) | 4 / 4 | 0.1% taker fee at the base tier. source |
| Spot maker fee (base tier) | 3 / 3 | 0.1% maker fee at the base tier. source |
| Free bank deposits | 0 / 1 | Bank deposits carry a fee. source |
Features: 5.0/5
| What we checked | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Coins listed | 3 / 3 | About 1000 coins listed. source |
| Products | 4 / 4 | Offers staking, futures, margin, trading API. source |
Access: 1.2/5
| What we checked | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| US availability | 0 / 3 | Not available to US residents. source |
| Mobile apps | 1 / 1 | iOS and Android apps. |
Support: 3.3/5
| What we checked | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Support channels | 2 / 3 | Offers live chat, 24/7 coverage. source |
Track record since 2019
Incidents
- 2020 · Hack: In September 2020 roughly $281 million was taken from KuCoin hot wallets. CEO Johnny Lyu said stolen customer money would be covered completely by an insurance fund, and about $204 million had been recovered by Oct 3, 2020. The amount is what was stolen from the platform. About $281 million taken; customers were made whole. source
Regulators and courts
- 2026 · Ban (Thailand SEC): Thailand's SEC ordered a temporary suspension of business at ERX Co., Ltd. (KuCoin Thailand) in January 2026 after its capital fell below 60% of the minimum for five consecutive business days. This is a suspension order on the Thai affiliate, not a permanent ban. source
- 2026 · Ban (Austria FMA): On 19 Feb 2026 the FMA prohibited KuCoin EU Exchange GmbH from conducting new business because key anti-money-laundering and sanctions compliance roles were no longer filled. The FMA later lifted that ban but stated commencement of business operations remains prohibited under a separate 18 Feb 2026 decision. source
- 2026 · Ban (Dubai VARA): Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority said in March 2026 that KuCoin was operating without the required approvals and must cease and desist from serving clients in Dubai. source
- 2026 · Fine or settlement (CFTC): A federal court entered a consent order on March 30, 2026 permanently enjoining Peken Global Limited from letting US participants access KuCoin without registering as a foreign board of trade, with a $500,000 civil monetary penalty. Amount: $500K. source
- 2025 · Guilty plea (US Department of Justice (SDNY)): KuCoin operator Peken Global Limited pleaded guilty to one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, agreeing to forfeit $184.5 million and pay a criminal fine of about $112.9 million. Amount: $297 million. source
- 2025 · Fine or settlement (FINTRAC (Canada)): FINTRAC imposed an administrative monetary penalty of C$19,552,000 on Peken Global Limited (KuCoin) on July 28, 2025 for non-compliance with Canada's anti-money-laundering law. USD figure is an approximate conversion; this was a regulator-imposed penalty, not a negotiated settlement. Amount: $14 million. source
- 2023 · Fine or settlement (New York Attorney General): KuCoin agreed to pay $22 million ($16.77 million refunded to New York customers and $5.3 million to the state) and to exit New York to settle the state's lawsuit. Amount: $22 million. source
- 2022 · Ban (Ontario Securities Commission / Capital Markets Tribunal): KuCoin was permanently banned from participating in Ontario's capital markets and fined C$2 million (about $1.5 million) plus nearly C$100,000 in costs for operating an unregistered crypto trading platform. Amount: $2 million. source
Who KuCoin fits
A good fit if
- You trade often: the base taker fee is 0.1%.
- You want a wide choice of coins (about 1000 listed).
- You want reserves checked by an outside firm.
Think twice if
- You live in the US: KuCoin does not accept US residents.
- A clean regulatory record matters to you: KuCoin pleaded guilty in 2025.
- Custody risk matters to you: funds were taken from KuCoin in a 2020 hack.
Goes to the official site. Blocklr earns nothing from this link.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is KuCoin available in the US?
No. KuCoin does not accept US residents. KuCoin's Terms of Use list the United States as a Restricted Location. KuCoin closed all US accounts effective Jan 23, 2025, and a March 2026 CFTC consent order permanently bars its operator from giving US participants access unless it registers.
What are KuCoin's trading fees?
At the base tier, KuCoin charges 0.1% for maker orders and 0.1% for taker orders on spot trades. Fees fall as your monthly volume rises.
Has KuCoin been hacked?
Yes. We found 1 hack since 2019; the details and sources are in the track record above.
How is KuCoin's score calculated?
KuCoin scores 3.3/5. The score is calculated by fixed rules from public evidence, and the same rules apply to every exchange. No company can pay to change it.
About this review
Blocklr has no affiliate, advertising or sponsorship deal with KuCoin or any other platform, so nothing here was paid for. Scores come from the rules in our review methodology. A fact we could not confirm scores as the lowest tier, which can make a score lower than it deserves. If something is wrong or out of date, tell us and we will check the source and correct it.