KuCoin Exchange Review
KuCoin Cryptocurrency Exchange isn't available on Finder right now.
- Fiat currencies
- 71
- Supported assets
- 780
Our verdict
Features a generous selection of coins but isn’t available to US residents.
KuCoin is a digital asset trading platform that boasts a generous collection of cryptocurrencies for mobile trading. It also provides a variety of trading features, a Visa debit card for purchasing crypto and an AI-trading bot for beginners. However, it does not disclose all fees, making it difficult to know the amount you’ll be charged before completing a transaction. Also, although the KuCoin exchange serves over 200 countries, it is not available in the US.
Pros
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900+ listed tokens
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Availability in 200+ countries
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Protective Buy feature to counter market downturns with price protection
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Referral program with up to 20% commission
Cons
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Not available in the US
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Poor fee transparency
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Inactivity fee for KuCard
Details
Product details
| Name | KuCoin Cryptocurrency Exchange |
| Deposit methods | Bank transfer, Credit card, Cryptocurrency, Debit card, PayPal, P2P, Zelle |
| Supported Cryptocurrencies | BTC, USDT, ETH, WCT, AGIX, USDC and 1014 more |
| Trading Fee | Varies based on trade |
| Withdrawal Fees | Not disclosed |
| Fiat Currencies | USD, CHF, HRK, MXN, CDF, VES, ZMW, ZAR and 63 more |
KuCoin is best for international investors
The KuCoin exchange is a global platform that enables investors in over 200 countries to buy and sell cryptocurrency. With 48 fiat currencies and 1,021 cryptocurrencies, it allows investors to find all the crypto they want in one place.
However, it has been the subject of legal action twice, both from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. Today, it no longer serves the US or its territories, but it still remains available to 40 million international users.
What we like about KuCoin
If you’re outside the US, you’ll find plenty of advantages when trading with KuCoin.
Flexible trading
KuCoin offers a series of investment types, such as margin, options, spot and perpetual futures trading. You can use KuCoin’s P2P exchange and the KuCoin Spot Market to buy crypto. It supports 48 fiat currencies and 1,021 cryptocurrencies, making it easy to trade the digital assets of your choice.
Good for beginners
If you are a beginner to investing, KuCoin can lend a helping hand. It offers AI-powered trading bots that help automate your investments for around-the-clock support. As KuCoin notes, its bots take the emotion out of investing and offer a helping hand to guide your portfolio based on your financial goals.
Passive income feature
You can earn passive income through lending, staking and other investing strategies when you use KuCoin Earn. This wealth management service allows you to benefit from professional asset management, guiding you toward more promising opportunities that expand your portfolio. Additional features include Smart Earn, which helps you select your investment picks, and Auto-Earn, which puts your investing on autopilot for greater convenience.
KuCard
KuCoin offers its own KuCard, a Visa debit card that allows you to purchase crypto and receive rewards when you use your card. To make spending easier, investors can benefit from real-time conversions from cryptocurrency to fiat currency, so you can use your card to make purchases anywhere Visa is accepted. Rewards include bonuses like cash back and partner discounts as special incentives.
Where KuCoin falls short
Limits apply
KuCoin sets certain limits on trades. If using USD, there is a transaction limit of $50,000 when you buy or sell. There is also a deposit limit between $5 and $5,000 for each trade.
Not available in the US
Unlike many other popular brokers, KuCoin is not available in the US, making it better suited for international investors. If you are in the US, you will be better served by a brokerage account with a platform like Robinhood, SoFi® or Interactive Brokers.
Other restricted locations
The US is not the only place where KuCoin does not operate. It is also unavailable in Singapore, Malaysia, the mainland of China and Hong Kong and Ontario, Canada.
Transaction fees apply
KuCoin charges transaction fees when you buy cryptocurrency with your bank card. The final fee is shown on the order confirmation page, so you can review it before clicking the buy button.
Is KuCoin legit?
KuCoin is a legitimate crypto exchange founded in 2017. It protects user accounts with multi-factor authentication, endpoint protection and more, including identity verification and anti-phishing measures. It also employs various other security measures, such as data encryption, monitoring and auditing.
However, KuCoin has not been without its legal problems. In March 2024, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) filed a civil enforcement action in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York. It was against the operators of KuCoin: Mek Global Limited, PhoenixFin PTE Ltd., Flashdot Limited and Peken Global Limited. They were accused of illegal operations and multiple violations of not only the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) but also CFTC regulations.
Additionally, the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York filed an indictment against PhoenixFin PTE Ltd., Flashdot Limited and Peken Global Limited for KuCoin. They were accused of three charges:
- Violating the Bank Secrecy Act
- Operating an unlicensed money transmitter business
- Conspiracy to violate the Bank Secrecy Act and operate as an unlicensed money transmitter business
Given these charges, it comes as no surprise to learn that KuCoin no longer operates in the US.
Listed KuCoin crypto exchange assets
With 1,022 cryptocurrencies, KuCoin offers many of today’s leading options for your investment.
Popular assets on KuCoin
- Bitcoin (BTC)
- XRP (XRP)
- Solana (SOL)
- USDC (USDC)
- Cardano (ADA)
- Chainlink (LINK)
- Shiba Inu (SHIB)
- Ethereum (ETH)
- Sui (SUI)
- Hedera (HBAR)
- Polkadot (DOT)
- Stellar (XLM)
- BNB (BNB)
- Dogecoin (DOGE)
- Tether (USDT)
- TRON (TRX)
- Toncoin (TON)
- Hyperliquid (HYPE)
- Bitget Token (BGB)
How to sign up for KuCoin
KuCoin requires a quick setup that takes a few steps.
- Download the KuCoin app from Google Play or the App Store.
- Sign up for a KuCoin account with your email address, phone number and country of residence. Be sure to create a strong password.
- Complete the Know Your Customer (KYC) process by uploading the necessary documents and completing face verification.
- Log in using your email, phone number or QR code.
- Tap your profile in the top right corner to set up your security settings for your account. Select Account Security to adjust your settings.
- Go to the Deposits page to fund your account with your preferred payment method, such as a credit or debit card.
- Wait for the deposit to be credited, then move your funds from your Funding Account to your Trading Account.
Customer experience
| Trustpilot score | 1.4 out of 5 stars, based on 1,343 customer reviews |
|---|---|
| App Store Score | 4.7 out of 5 stars, based on 2,600 customer reviews |
| Google Play Score | 4.3 out of 5 stars, based on 266,000 customer reviews |
Online reviews of KuCoin from US users are generally poor.
On Trustpilot, it earns a disappointing 1.4 out of 5 rating. Customers say that while KuCoin’s wide selection of crypto is impressive, they complain of constant changes to verification protocols and trading limits, with poor customer service to boot.
Meanwhile, on Reddit, customers speculate over KuCoin’s legitimacy and whether it is safe to use at all.
Because KuCoin is not a US company, there is no rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Compare KuCoin to other platforms
Compare similar platforms by available asset types, trade fees and minimum deposit requirements. Select Go to site; to sign up for an account.
Frequently asked questions
Is KuCoin allowed in the US?
No, KuCoin is not allowed in the US. Following regulatory issues, KuCoin no longer serves the US market, including its territories.
Is KuCoin like Coinbase?
Both Coinbase and KuCoin offer a generous selection of cryptocurrencies and a user-friendly platform. However, KuCoin is unavailable in the US, making Coinbase better suited for US users.
Disclaimer: Cryptocurrencies are speculative, complex and involve significant risks – they are highly volatile and sensitive to secondary activity. Performance is unpredictable and past performance is no guarantee of future performance. Consider your own circumstances, and obtain your own advice, before relying on this information. You should also verify the nature of any product or service (including its legal status and relevant regulatory requirements) and consult the relevant Regulators' websites before making any decision. Finder, or the author, may have holdings in the cryptocurrencies discussed.
Your reviews
Lena Finder
Contributor
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Jhezelyn Finder
October 09, 2018
Hello Hina,
Thank you for your comment.
If you’re referring to buying Electroneum in Kucoin, open a Kucoin account first. After creating an account, transfer Ethereum from Coinbase to Kucoin (you must have a coinbase account with Ethereum in it).
– Go to your Coinbase account and click on Accounts at the top of the page.
– Next, scroll down and click on Ethereum. Then, click on Send.
– Now you need to enter the Kucoin wallet address that you want to send the funds to.
– In Kucoin, click on Assets.
– In the search box, enter Ethereum and then click on Deposit.
– You will now be asked to install Google Authenticator. Click Next and then follow the instructions. This is important and adds extra security to your account.
– Once you have set up Google Authenticator, go back to step five by clicking on Deposit. You will then see the warning message. This is to make sure you are depositing the correct coin (which in our case is Ethereum). Then click Confirm.
– You will now see your unique Ethereum wallet address for Kucoin. Copy it to your clipboard.
– Now, go back to Coinbase and paste the address into the required field. Once you click Send, your Ethereum coins will be sent to your Kucoin account. This can take up to 10 minutes to complete.
To Buy Electroneum on Kucoin, please see the continuation below:
– Once your Kucoin account is funded with Ethereum, click on Markets at the top of the page.
– Next, click on ETH and then in the search box enter ETN then click on ETN/ETH.
– You are now on the main trading screen for the Electroneum/Ethereum exchange! Look for the green buying box in the bottom right part of the page.
– Now, click on the blue Best Price link and enter the amount of Electroneum coins you want to buy.
– Finally, to complete your trade, click on the green BUY As you clicked on best market price, your trade should complete within a couple of seconds.
I hope this helps. Should you wish to have real-time answers to your questions, try our chatbox on the lower right corner of our page.
Regards,
Jhezelyn
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Georsadler
August 10, 2018
Is there a daily limit to the number of times you can buy and sell a crypto?
charissety Finder
August 17, 2018
Hi Georsadler,
Thank you for leaving a question on Finder.
Trading limits may vary from one exchange platform to another. There are some exchange platforms which have daily trading limits while some would base their limits on your level of verification. If you are referring to KuCoin, they currently do not have any daily buy/sell limit.
If you are looking to buy a large amount of cryptocurrency, you can choose to either purchase through a traditional cryptocurrency exchange or to use an over-the-counter (OTC) exchange. Remember to check the pros and cons of each platform to see which one might be right for you.
Hope this helps!
Cheers,
Charisse
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Hina
October 09, 2018
How can I buy Electroneum?