KuCoin review
Last reviewed:
FlixoCrypt rating
Rating breakdown
How we score →Fees (20% weight)
Standard 0.10%/0.10% spot fee in line with peers, with meaningful value from its unusually broad asset list rather than the headline rate.
Security (25% weight)
95%+ cold storage and published Proof of Reserves are strong, offset by the 2020 breach and 2024-25 US compliance settlement.
Asset Range (15% weight)
700+ supported assets is among the broadest of any major exchange reviewed here.
Ease of Use (15% weight)
Functional and full-featured, though the scale of the asset/product list adds density versus a beginner-first app.
Regulation & Trust (15% weight)
Select international registrations only; the 2024-25 US settlement and now-mandatory KYC reflect a real, recent compliance history.
Customer Support (10% weight)
24/7 live chat handles routine issues promptly; funds and verification disputes take longer.
Key facts
| Type | CEX (Exchanges (CEX)) |
|---|---|
| Trading fees | Maker 0.10% spot · Taker 0.10% spot |
| Withdrawal | Varies by asset |
| Free to use | Yes |
| KYC required | Yes |
| Regulated | No / limited |
| Supported assets | 700+ assets |
| Country availability | Global (many) |
| Restricted regions | United States (restricted) |
| Affiliate commission | revenue_share · up to 40% revenue share (PLACEHOLDER — pending affiliate approval) |
| FlixoCrypt rating | 3.9 / 5 |
| Best for | Altcoin hunters seeking broad token selection |
| Last verified | 2026-06-29 |
Overview
KuCoin is a global exchange known for an exceptionally broad altcoin selection (700+ assets) and low fees. It suffered a major hot-wallet hack in 2020 (largely recovered) and settled with US authorities in 2024–25, after which KYC became mandatory. US access is restricted. It remains popular for discovering smaller-cap tokens not listed elsewhere.
Availability
KuCoin is available in: Global (many). Restricted or excluded: United States (restricted). Always confirm availability for your country on the official site, as regional support changes. Availability, regulation and tax treatment vary by country. Check your local laws before trading, and confirm current details on the official site. Regional note — India: Indian residents face 30% tax on crypto gains and 1% TDS on transactions above ₹50,000 per the Finance Act 2022.
Fees deep-dive
KuCoin's standard spot fee is 0.10% maker / 0.10% taker, broadly in line with Binance, Bybit and OKX, with further discounts available for holding or paying fees in KuCoin's native token and for higher 30-day trading volume tiers. Withdrawal fees are set per asset/network and track the underlying chain's real cost rather than a large flat markup. KuCoin's principal cost-related differentiator isn't its headline fee — which is unremarkable versus peers — but its breadth of listed assets: with 700+ supported cryptocurrencies, it is one of the few large exchanges where a long tail of smaller-cap tokens can be bought directly rather than routed through a DEX, which matters to a trader whose real cost concern is avoiding a swap-fee and slippage round trip rather than shaving basis points off a BTC/ETH trade. Against Binance and OKX, KuCoin's fee schedule is essentially comparable for major pairs; the practical choice between them for a cost-conscious trader usually comes down to which platform lists the specific asset wanted and which discount programme (native token, VIP tier) the trader can realistically reach, rather than a structural fee advantage on either side.
Security architecture
KuCoin reports over 95% of user assets held in offline cold storage, with multi-signature control and geographic distribution of key material. Since 2022 it has published proof-of-reserves data using Merkle-tree verification, with monthly figures and periodic third-party audit involvement; recent disclosures have shown reserve coverage above 100% — reported north of 105% — for major assets including Bitcoin and Ethereum. The material historical event on KuCoin's record is a September 2020 hot-wallet breach in which attackers took roughly $280 million in assorted tokens; KuCoin subsequently recovered the large majority of the stolen funds (roughly 84%) through exchange partners freezing/blacklisting stolen tokens and law-enforcement cooperation, and covered the remaining shortfall itself through its own funds and insurance arrangements, so no customer lost funds as a result. Separately, KuCoin reached a settlement with US authorities in 2024–25 over historical compliance gaps, after which KYC — previously optional for many users — became mandatory across the platform. Standard account protections (2FA, withdrawal whitelisting, anti-phishing codes) are present. Taken together: real incident history, but a strong published cold-storage ratio and a fully-covered resolution to the 2020 breach.
KYC & verification
KYC is now mandatory on KuCoin for all users following its 2024–25 regulatory settlement, a change from KuCoin's earlier, more permissive stance. Standard verification requires a government-issued photo ID and a selfie/liveness check; a higher tier for increased withdrawal limits may additionally require proof of address. Verification is typically processed within a similar timeframe to peer exchanges (minutes to a few hours for standard tiers). Because KuCoin's compliance posture has shifted materially in the past two years, users who held an older, lightly-verified account should expect to be asked to complete full verification to retain access to withdrawals and full functionality; exact current requirements should be confirmed on KuCoin's own verification page.
Mobile app
Independent, current app-store rating figures for the KuCoin app were not confidently verifiable at the time of this review — check the current Google Play/App Store listing directly for an up-to-date figure rather than relying on a fixed number here. Functionally, the app mirrors the desktop platform's breadth: spot and derivatives trading, an unusually large tradeable-asset list, staking/earn products and copy-trading tools. The scale of the asset list is the app's clearest differentiator versus Coinbase or Kraken's mobile apps, useful for a trader specifically hunting smaller-cap tokens, though it makes the interface denser than a beginner-first app. Biometric login and standard 2FA options are supported.
Customer support
KuCoin offers 24/7 live chat and a ticket-based support system through its help centre, plus active social-media presence. As with most large offshore exchanges, routine account and trading questions are generally handled promptly through live chat, while funds-related disputes and post-2024 verification-related account issues have been the more common source of user complaints in public discussion. There is no phone support.
Pros
- Very wide selection of altcoins
- Low fees
- Active earn and trading-bot features
Cons
- 2020 hack and 2024 US settlement history
- KYC now required (previously optional)
- US access restricted
Who it is for
- Best for: Altcoin hunters seeking broad token selection.
- Avoid if: You want a regulated onshore exchange.
Verdict
The go-to for altcoin breadth; weigh its incident history and tightened compliance.
Alternatives
- Binance — Similarly broad asset range with deeper liquidity and a larger compliance footprint.
- MEXC — Another altcoin-heavy exchange with a lighter verification history, at the cost of similarly limited regulatory oversight.
- OKX — Narrower asset list but stronger published Proof of Reserves cadence and an integrated Web3 wallet.
User reviews
Real reader reviews — separate from FlixoCrypt's own editorial rating above. Every submission is moderated before it appears here.
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KuCoin FAQ
What is KuCoin? +
KuCoin is a global exchange known for an exceptionally broad altcoin selection (700+ assets) and low fees. It suffered a major hot-wallet hack in 2020 (largely recovered) and settled with US authorities in 2024–25, after which KYC became mandatory. US access is restricted. It remains popular for discovering smaller-cap tokens not listed elsewhere.
Is KuCoin safe? +
KuCoin is lightly regulated or non-custodial. 2020 hot-wallet hack (~$280M, largely recovered/reimbursed); 2024–25 US DOJ settlement, KYC now mandatory. As with any platform, use strong security and only hold what you need on it.
Does KuCoin require KYC? +
Yes — identity verification (KYC) is required for most features.
What are KuCoin's fees? +
KuCoin fees: maker 0.10% spot, taker 0.10% spot; withdrawals: Varies by asset. Always confirm current fees on the official site, as crypto fees change often.
Is KuCoin available in my country? +
Available globally, with some regional restrictions. Restricted/excluded: United States (restricted). Availability, regulation and tax treatment vary by country. Check your local laws before trading, and confirm current details on the official site. Regional note — India: Indian residents face 30% tax on crypto gains and 1% TDS on transactions above ₹50,000 per the Finance Act 2022.
What is KuCoin best for? +
Altcoin hunters seeking broad token selection.
When should you avoid KuCoin? +
Avoid KuCoin if: You want a regulated onshore exchange.
What are the main pros and cons of KuCoin? +
Pros: Very wide selection of altcoins; Low fees; Active earn and trading-bot features. Cons: 2020 hack and 2024 US settlement history; KYC now required (previously optional); US access restricted.
Is KuCoin regulated? +
No / limited. Select international registrations
When was this KuCoin review last verified? +
This review was last verified on 2026-06-29 against the official site.
Reviewed by Arjun Mehta
Editorial lead overseeing FlixoCrypt's research, sourcing and verification process
Last verified:
Sources
- KuCoin — official site — verified