What is KuCoin and is it available in the US?

KuCoin is a centralized crypto exchange that lets users buy, sell and trade crypto from an account the exchange holds for them. It has been operated since at least 2019 by Peken Global Limited, a Seychelles-based company, according to the US Justice Department. It is not available to US residents as of October 2026.

Is KuCoin legal and available in the US?

No. On January 27, 2025, Peken Global pleaded guilty to one count of operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. It agreed to penalties of more than $297 million, made up of $184.5 million in forfeiture and a criminal fine of about $112.9 million, and to exit the US market for at least two years. Prosecutors said KuCoin had served about 1.5 million registered US users between 2017 and 2024. Its founders, Chun Gan and Ke Tang, agreed to step away from managing the exchange under a deferred prosecution deal.

KuCoin had already told US users that it would close their accounts on January 23, 2025, and block US IP addresses. People who still hold assets there must go through customer service, which charges a one-time fee of 30 USDT. Earlier, in December 2023, KuCoin settled with the New York Attorney General for more than $22 million and agreed to stop serving New Yorkers. Our guide on who regulates crypto in the US explains why exchanges need these licences.

Is KuCoin KYC required?

Today, yes, for active trading. According to the Justice Department, KuCoin did not require customers to provide identity information until at least July 2023. In August 2023 it made KYC mandatory for new customers and for existing customers who wanted to keep trading, while users who only wanted to withdraw were exempt. Our guide on what KYC is covers how these checks work.

Is KuCoin MiCA compliant?

KuCoin EU received a MiCA licence from Austria's Financial Market Authority, Cointelegraph reported in November 2025. The licence covers the European Economic Area except Malta. In February 2026, the same regulator barred KuCoin EU from taking on new customers until it properly filled its anti-money laundering and sanctions officer roles, according to Trending Topics. Check the regulator's current register for the latest status, since this can change. Our guide on MiCA explains what the licence means.

Is KuCoin safe?

Safety depends on custody and regulation where you live. KuCoin holds customer crypto in its own wallets, so the risks in our guide on what happens if a crypto exchange goes bankrupt apply. Its regulatory record includes a US criminal plea, a New York settlement and an EU onboarding restriction, all listed above with their dates.