KuCoin review

KuCoin built its following on breadth. Nicknamed the People's Exchange, it lists more than 700 coins, far beyond the conservative menus of regulated Western venues, and pairs that with a flat 0.1% spot fee, or 0.08% paying with its KCS token. For traders hunting smaller-cap tokens at low cost, it has long been a go-to.

The platform's reputation took a serious hit in January 2025, when its operator pleaded guilty in a US case over running an unlicensed money-transmitting business and agreed to penalties totalling roughly 297 million dollars, plus a two-year exit from the US market. It was a genuine compliance failure, not a loss of customer funds.

The response has been a compliance rebuild. KuCoin now enforces full KYC for all users, where it once allowed limited anonymous trading, has secured operating licences in several jurisdictions, and publishes proof-of-reserves. Founded in 2017 and based in Seychelles, it serves more than 30 million users and runs a broad earn, staking and futures suite alongside spot.

The honest read: KuCoin offers cheap fees and an enormous catalogue, now on a firmer compliance footing, but it carries a recent regulatory scar and does not serve US customers. For non-US traders who want altcoin depth at low cost, it is a strong option with eyes open.