KuCoin review: fees, KYC tiers, and verified features

This KuCoin review uses only what KuCoin publishes on kucoin.com, opened on 23 September 2026. VIP 0 accounts pay 0.1% maker and taker on Class A spot pairs, and a verified VIP 0 account can withdraw 1,000,000 USDT per 24 hours.

Every new user since 31 August 2023 must pass ID plus face verification before trading anything.

The catch is geography. KuCoin’s Terms of Use list the United States, France, the Netherlands, Singapore, mainland China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ontario and British Columbia as Restricted Locations.

Who KuCoin will and will not onboard

US users are not a grey area. KuCoin’s 16 January 2025 announcement closed all US accounts on 23 January 2025 and blocked US IP addresses. Anyone who left assets behind withdraws through customer service and pays a one-time 30 USDT fee.

The Terms of Use were last updated on 29 July 2026 and the list changes at KuCoin’s discretion. If you live in France or the Netherlands, the Bitpanda vs Coinbase comparison for EU users covers two platforms that do take those countries.

Video: The Checklist Review

KuCoin fees at VIP 0

KuCoin’s VIP Levels and Fees page sorts spot pairs into Class A, B and C. At VIP 0 you pay 0.1% on Class A, 0.2% on Class B and 0.3% on Class C, maker and taker alike. Futures cost 0.02% maker and 0.06% taker.

Paying fees in KCS, KuCoin’s exchange token, takes 20% off spot fees at every level.

One warning: the help-centre article “KuCoin VIP Fee Structure” (updated 7 May 2026) and the live fee page disagree on the VIP 4 futures taker and VIP 6 spot rates. The VIP 0 row matches on both, so this review uses it.

Kraken and Gemini entry tiers sit well above 0.1%; the Kraken vs Gemini fee breakdown has those figures.

KYC tiers and what each one allows

KuCoin has required identity verification since 1 November 2018. Since 31 August 2023 new users cannot use any product until they pass it. You submit an ID card, driving licence, passport or residence permit, then a face check; KuCoin says the result normally takes about a minute.

The “About Identity Verification” page (updated 14 August 2026) says to “refer to the table below” for withdrawal limits, but has no such table. The limits live in the last column of the VIP fee page.

Sources: KuCoin “About Identity Verification” and “VIP Levels and Fees” pages, opened 23 September 2026.

The Uphold vs Coinbase limits comparison shows the opposite trade-off: far lower limits, but both platforms accept US customers.

Licensing footprint by region

KuCoin’s regulated entities are recent. KuCoin EU Exchange GmbH received a MiCAR crypto-asset service provider authorisation from Austria’s Financial Market Authority, announced 28 November 2025, covering 29 EEA countries for custody, placing and transfer services.

In Australia, Axis One Markets Pty Ltd is registered with AUSTRAC as a digital currency exchange (announced 25 November 2025). Elsewhere, KuCoin.com operates without a comparable licence and relies on the restricted-locations list.

KuCoin’s proof-of-reserves page showed BTC at 107%, ETH 117%, USDT 111% and USDC 123% of user balances (audit report dated 9 September 2026), by KuCoin’s own count.

Who KuCoin fits, and who should skip it

KuCoin suits a verified trader outside the restricted list who wants 0.1% spot fees on major pairs and accepts sharing an ID and a face scan. The 1,000,000 USDT daily ceiling at VIP 0 is more than most retail users will ever touch.

Skip it if you live in a restricted location, or if you want a home regulator supervising the global exchange rather than a regional subsidiary. Nothing here is financial advice, and fee tables change without notice.

Frequently asked questions

Does KuCoin still allow trading without KYC?

Not for anyone who registered after 31 August 2023. Older unverified accounts can only sell, close margin and futures positions, and redeem from KuCoin Earn.

What is the KuCoin withdrawal limit for a verified account?

1,000,000 USDT per rolling 24 hours at VIP 0, rising to 60,000,000 USDT at VIP 12, according to KuCoin’s VIP fee page.

Is KuCoin licensed in the EU?

KuCoin EU Exchange GmbH holds a MiCAR authorisation from Austria’s FMA, announced 28 November 2025. The Terms of Use still list France and the Netherlands as Restricted Locations.