KuCoin Review 2026 – The Best Exchange for Altcoins?
700+ coins. 0.1% fees. No KYC required. KuCoin is where you find altcoins before they hit Binance. The catch? It's based in Seychelles, and they got hacked in 2020.
KuCoin overview
Started in 2017, now has 30M+ users. They call themselves "The People's Exchange" - which is marketing speak, but the coin selection is genuinely massive.
Why Choose KuCoin?
What makes this broker stand out
700+ Coins
More than Binance or Kraken
0.1% Fees
0.08% with KCS token
Trading Bots
Built-in, free, no coding
No KYC Option
5 BTC daily limit without ID
Company Overview
Key company and trading information
Open a KuCoin Account
Follow these simple steps
1. Create Account
Sign up with email or phone
2. Secure Account
Enable 2FA and trading password
3. Deposit & Trade
Fund via crypto or P2P and start
KuCoin fees
0.1% base rate. Hold KCS tokens and it drops to 0.08%.
Fee Comparison
Compare features, pricing, or specifications
| Fee Type | KuCoin | Binance | Kraken |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spot (Maker) | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.16% |
| Spot (Taker) | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.26% |
| Futures (Maker) | 0.02% | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Futures (Taker) | 0.06% | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| KCS Fee Discount | 20% off | 25% (BNB) | N/A |
Security and regulation
Based in Seychelles. Got hacked in 2020. Recovered most of it. Make of that what you will.
Safety & Regulation
Licensed across multiple tier-1 jurisdictions with client fund protection
Security Features
Trading bots
Built-in, free to use. No coding required.
🤖 Grid Bot
Profits from price fluctuations by buying low and selling high within a set range. Ideal for sideways markets.
📈 DCA Bot
Dollar-cost averaging strategy that buys at regular intervals. Reduces timing risk for long-term accumulation.
⚖️ Smart Rebalance
Automatically rebalances your portfolio to maintain target allocations. Set and forget portfolio management.
♾️ Infinity Grid
Grid trading without upper limit. Captures profits in trending markets without selling all holdings.
What you can trade
Spot, margin up to 10x, futures up to 100x. 700+ coins.
Trading Instruments
Access global markets with competitive conditions
Trade 700+ cryptocurrencies with 1200+ trading pairs
Trade with up to 10x leverage on spot markets
USDT-M and Coin-M perpetual contracts with up to 100x leverage
Built-in trading bots for automated strategies
Platforms
Web, iOS, Android, and API.
Trading Platforms
Choose from multiple professional trading platforms
KuCoin Web
Full-featured web trading platform
- Spot Trading
- Futures
- Trading Bots
- Lending
KuCoin App
Mobile app with complete functionality
- Trade on the go
- Price Alerts
- Portfolio Tracking
KuCoin API
REST and WebSocket APIs for algorithmic trading
- Full API Access
- WebSocket Streams
- Bot Integration
Deposits and withdrawals
Crypto deposits are free. Card deposits cost 3-5% (not worth it).
Payment Methods
Multiple ways to fund your account and withdraw profits
| Method | Deposit Time | Withdrawal Time | Deposit Fee | Withdrawal Fee | Min/Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Crypto Deposit | Network dependent | Network dependent | Free | Network fee | No minimum / No limit |
 P2P Trading | Varies | Varies | Free | Free | Varies / No limit |
 Credit/Debit Card | Instant | N/A | 3-5% | N/A | $30 / $20,000 |
 Bank Transfer | 1-3 days | 1-3 days | Varies | Varies | Varies / Varies |
KuCoin Pros & Cons
Pros & Cons
Balanced evaluation of advantages and disadvantages
- Pro: Massive altcoin selection (700+ coins)
- Pro: Low trading fees (0.1% spot)
- Pro: KCS token provides 20% fee discount
- Pro: Built-in trading bots (free to use)
- Pro: Lending and earn programs
- Pro: No KYC required for basic trading
- Pro: Good liquidity on major pairs
- Pro: P2P trading available
- Pro: Competitive futures fees
- Pro: Active new coin listings
- Con: Not available to US residents
- Con: Offshore regulation (Seychelles)
- Con: Hacked in 2020 ($285M, funds recovered)
- Con: Customer support can be slow
- Con: Withdrawal limits without KYC
- Con: Complex interface for beginners
Frequently Asked Questions
Is KuCoin safe to use?
Mixed. They got hacked for $285M in 2020 - recovered most of it and made users whole, which is better than most hacks go. But they're based in Seychelles with no real regulation. Use 2FA, set up withdrawal whitelists, and don't keep large amounts there long-term.
Can US residents use KuCoin?
Officially, no. KuCoin blocks US access in their terms of service. Some Americans use VPNs to get around this, but that's risky - if something goes wrong, you have no recourse. US traders are better off with Kraken or Coinbase.
What are KuCoin's trading fees?
0.1% for both maker and taker on spot. Hold KCS tokens to drop that to 0.08%. Futures are 0.02% maker, 0.06% taker. VIP tiers exist for high volume, but the base rate is already competitive.
What is KCS and why should I hold it?
KuCoin's native token. Holding it gets you 20% off trading fees. Hold 6+ KCS and you get daily bonuses from exchange revenue (small but free money). Also gets you into token sales early. The fee discount alone is worth it if you trade regularly.
Does KuCoin require KYC verification?
No, for basic trading. Without KYC you can withdraw up to 5 BTC daily but can't buy crypto with fiat. KYC unlocks higher limits (200+ BTC daily), fiat purchases, and P2P trading. You'll need ID and face verification.
How do KuCoin trading bots work?
They're built into the platform and free. Grid Bot buys low/sells high in a range. DCA Bot does dollar-cost averaging. Smart Rebalance keeps your portfolio at target allocations. No coding needed - you just set parameters and fund it.
Analyst Recommendation
Works well for non-US traders who want early access to altcoins and can handle offshore exchange risk. Not for Americans, beginners, or anyone storing serious money.
Good exchange for finding coins early. Just don't store your retirement there.
Best For
- Altcoin hunters
- Bot traders
- Low-fee seekers
- Non-US traders
- Experienced users
Not Ideal For
- US residents
- Security-focused investors
- Complete beginners
- Large balance holders
*We may receive compensation when you sign up with our partners. This doesn't influence our honest review.
✓ Best For
- Altcoin hunters
- Bot traders
- Low-fee seekers
- Non-US traders
- Experienced users
✗ Not Ideal For
- US residents
- Security-focused investors
- Complete beginners
- Large balance holders
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