KuCoin Review

 

KuCoin is a cryptocurrency exchange that operates in over 200 countries. While experienced traders might appreciate some of this exchange’s features, KuCoin isn’t licensed in the U.S. and has received poor reviews from users.

 

KUCOIN

KuCoin  Reviews

As the most popular centralized cryptocurrency exchange, KuCoin has over 20 million users and over $1.2 trillion in trading volume. 

KuCoin offers one of the largest listings of cryptocurrencies and provides some of the lowest fees across competing exchanges.

Between the powerful trading platform, passive income opportunities, and platform rewards, KuCoin has established a wealth of tools needed to make the most out of crypto.

KuCoin Website (Source: https://www.kucoin.com/about-us)

 

Pros & Highlights

KuCoin is a popular cryptocurrency exchange that offers several advantages to its users. Some of the notable KuCoin pros are:

  1. Wide range of cryptocurrencies: KuCoin supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and many others. Users can access a vast selection of altcoins that may not be available on other exchanges.

  2. Low trading fees: KuCoin charges some of the lowest trading fees in the industry, making it an affordable option for traders of all sizes.

  3. Secure and reliable: KuCoin has a robust security system that includes 2-factor authentication, cold storage, and SSL encryption to ensure the safety of users’ funds and personal information.

  4. User-friendly interface: KuCoin has a simple and intuitive interface that makes it easy for beginners to navigate and trade on the platform.

  5. Advanced trading tools: KuCoin offers several advanced trading tools, such as margin trading, stop-limit orders, and market orders, which are useful for experienced traders.

  6. High liquidity: KuCoin has high liquidity, meaning users can easily buy and sell cryptocurrencies without experiencing significant price fluctuations.

  7. Mobile app: KuCoin has a mobile app that is available for both iOS and Android devices, allowing users to trade on-the-go.

  8. 24/7 customer support: KuCoin has a dedicated support team that is available 24/7 to help users with any issues or questions they may have.

Overall, KuCoin is a reliable and user-friendly platform that offers a wide range of cryptocurrencies and advanced trading tools at a low cost.

 

Cons & Risks

As with any cryptocurrency exchange, there are also some potential KuCoin cons and risks that users should be aware of, including:

  1. Regulatory risks: The cryptocurrency industry is not yet fully regulated in many countries, and KuCoin may be subject to regulatory changes that could affect its operations and user experience.

  2. Security risks: While KuCoin has a robust security system, no exchange is immune to security breaches or hacking attempts. Users’ funds and personal information may be at risk in the event of a security breach.

  3. Limited fiat support: KuCoin has limited support for fiat currencies, which may make it difficult for users to deposit or withdraw funds in their local currency.

  4. Limited customer support: While KuCoin does offer 24/7 customer support, some users have reported slow response times or difficulty reaching a customer support representative.

  5. Limited liquidity: While KuCoin has high liquidity for some cryptocurrencies, other tokens may have lower trading volumes and higher price volatility.

  6. Risk of scams and fraudulent activity: As with any cryptocurrency exchange, users should be aware of the risk of scams and fraudulent activity, including phishing scams and fake KuCoin websites.

  7. Volatility risks: Cryptocurrencies are known for their high price volatility, which means that users may experience significant gains or losses depending on market conditions.

Overall, KuCoin is a reputable and reliable cryptocurrency exchange, but users should be aware of the potential risks and take appropriate precautions to protect their funds and personal information. It is recommended to do your own research and only invest what you can afford to lose.

 

KuCoin Features

KuCoin has succeeded as a cryptocurrency exchange due to its extensive offering of features throughout its platform.

Fiat On-Ramp Options: KuCoin provides multiple options for users to deposit fiat currency onto their platform. Users can deposit assets through credit/debit cards, Apple Pay, ACH transfers, and wire transfers. 

Advanced Trading Tools: The KuCoin trading interface is comprehensive. The spot, margin, and futures trading capabilities are powerful enough for experienced traders, while the intuitive Convert feature and mobile application make trading easy for beginners.

KuCoin Shares Token (KCS): The KuCoin native KuCoin Shares token (KCS) was introduced to provide additional incentives to platform users. Those that hold at least 6 KCS are eligible to earn 50 percent of the platform trading fees as a daily dividend. Holders are also granted trading fee discounts of up to 20 percent. 

Yield Generating Strategies: Trading cryptocurrencies is not the only way to financially capitalize on the platform, as KuCoin has several features that investors can utilize to capture additional yield on their cryptos, such as staking, lending, and mining capabilities. 

KuCoin Wallet: In order to bolster the KuCoin ecosystem and platform offerings, KuCoin designed the KuCoin Wallet for users to manage their digital assets. With a multi-chain aggregated token display, NFT storage, and Hacken audited security infrastructure, the KuCoin Wallet offers a viable solution to the self-custody of digital assets.

 

KuCoin Prices & Withdrawal Fees

KuCoin offers some of the lowest fees in the ecosystem, giving it a major advantage over other centralized exchanges.

Trading fees on the platform are structured such that the fee amount decreases as an individual’s trading volume increases. It is also important to note that fees paid via the Kucoin Shares (KCS) token receive a 20 percent discount.

KuCoin Trading Fee Structure (Source: https://www.kucoin.com/vip/level)

The trading fee level of an individual is determined by either the amount of KCS held in the last 30 days, total spot trading volume (in BTC) in the last 30 days, or total futures trading volume (in BTC) in the last 30 days. 

For example, a user who conducted over 50 BTC in trading volume in the last month will have level one trading fees, equating to a 0.09 percent maker (seller) and 0.1 percent taker (buyer) fee. If those fees are paid in KCS, the fees will be reduced to 0.072 percent maker and 0.08 percent taker fees. 

KuCoin also charges a fee when tokens are withdrawn from the platform. Withdrawal fees vary from token to token, some requiring fixed rates regardless of transaction size and others charging variable rates.

 

Company Background & History

KuCoin is a cryptocurrency exchange that was founded in 2017 by a group of blockchain enthusiasts and industry experts. The company is headquartered in Seychelles and has offices in several other countries, including China and the Philippines.

The founding team of KuCoin includes Michael Gan, a former technical expert at Ant Financial, the financial arm of Alibaba Group, and Eric Don, a veteran in the finance and blockchain industries.

Since its launch, KuCoin has grown to become one of the leading cryptocurrency exchanges in the world, with a focus on providing a secure and user-friendly platform for buying, selling, and trading digital assets.

In 2020, KuCoin was the victim of a security breach in which hackers stole a significant amount of cryptocurrency funds from the exchange. However, KuCoin responded quickly and worked to reimburse affected users, and has since implemented additional security measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

KuCoin has also launched several new products and services, including its own cryptocurrency, KuCoin Shares (KCS), which users can use to access premium features and receive trading fee discounts. The company has also launched a mobile app and a margin trading platform, as well as expanding its range of supported cryptocurrencies.

Overall, KuCoin has established itself as a reputable and reliable cryptocurrency exchange, with a strong focus on security, user experience, and innovation.

 

Trader Tools & Trading Experience

The trader tools offered by KuCoin are comprehensive and are tailored more towards experienced investors, providing access to spot trading, margin trading, and futures trading. 

The desktop trading interface may seem extreme at first glance but is fairly simple to understand after a bit of navigation. Many users may find familiarity with the charting capabilities as they are directly imported from the popular charting platform, TradingView

The mobile-application trading interface is a simplified version of the desktop platform and is much friendlier for beginners. It also delivers an almost gamified experience with offers, rewards, and bonuses exclusive to the app.

KuCoin Trading Interface (Source: https://www.kucoin.com/trade/BTC-USDT)

KuCoin also provides traders the ability to utilize trading bots that automatically execute specific strategies. Users can select from a list of popular trading bots and strategies, or they can implement strategies designed themselves. 

For the beginner trader, KuCoin has introduced the ‘Convert’ feature, which provides a more intuitive trading experience similar to interfaces seen in DeFi exchanges.

KuCoin Convert Trading Feature (Source: https://www.kucoin.com/convert)

Beyond the advanced trading tools on the platform, KuCoin’s Crypto Lending feature provides users the opportunity to lend their crypto to other users at specific term lengths. With annualized returns of up to 10 percent, this feature can provide users additional yield for crypto otherwise sitting idly in their account. 

KuCoin Crypto Lending Interface (Source: https://www.kucoin.com/margin/lend)

KuCoin Earn is a feature unique to KuCoin and is referred to by the team as “a one-stop-shop wealth management service platform”. Through this service, users can subscribe to a variety of different yield-generating strategies across multiple chains and assets. 

For those interested in Proof of Work (PoW) crypto mining, KuCoin Pool offers a low-fee mining pool that miners can join to secure the Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) networks, earning a yield in the process. The KuCoin Pool website provides more information about the required equipment and account setup.

 

What Cryptocurrencies are Available on KuCoin?

KuCoin supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies, including popular coins like Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Litecoin (LTC), and Ripple (XRP), as well as many other altcoins. Some of the other cryptocurrencies that are available on KuCoin include:

  • Chainlink (LINK)
  • Polkadot (DOT)
  • Uniswap (UNI)
  • Aave (AAVE)
  • Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
  • Stellar (XLM)
  • Dogecoin (DOGE)
  • Cardano (ADA)
  • Binance Coin (BNB)

In addition to these coins, KuCoin also supports many other smaller and lesser-known cryptocurrencies, giving users access to a wide range of digital assets. The exchange also regularly adds new cryptocurrencies to its platform, as well as delisting coins that are no longer active or widely used.

Overall, KuCoin provides users with a diverse selection of cryptocurrencies to choose from, making it a popular choice for traders and investors who are looking to buy or sell a variety of digital assets.

 

Security: Is KuCoin Safe & Secure?

KuCoin has implemented several security measures to protect its users’ funds and personal information, and the exchange is generally considered to be safe and secure. Some of the security features of KuCoin include:

  1. Two-factor authentication (2FA): KuCoin offers 2FA, which is a security feature that requires users to enter a second form of authentication (such as a code sent to their phone) in addition to their password when logging in.

  2. Cold storage: The majority of users’ funds on KuCoin are held in cold storage, which means that they are stored offline and are not accessible to hackers or other unauthorized parties.

  3. Anti-phishing measures: KuCoin has implemented anti-phishing measures to prevent users from being tricked by fake websites or phishing scams that attempt to steal their login credentials.

  4. Multi-level security architecture: KuCoin uses a multi-level security architecture, which includes advanced encryption, monitoring, and auditing systems to protect users’ funds and personal information.

  5. Regular security audits: KuCoin regularly performs security audits to identify and fix any vulnerabilities in its system.

However, like any cryptocurrency exchange, KuCoin is not immune to security breaches or hacking attempts, as demonstrated by the 2020 security breach that resulted in the loss of some users’ funds. KuCoin responded quickly to this incident and reimbursed affected users, and has since implemented additional security measures to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

Overall, while no cryptocurrency exchange can guarantee 100% security, KuCoin is considered to be a reputable and secure platform for buying, selling, and trading digital assets, and users can take steps to protect their accounts by using strong passwords, enabling 2FA, and being vigilant for phishing scams and other security threats.

 

Customer Support: Contacts & How to Get Help

The customer support process on the platform can sometimes be a little inefficient. KuCoin claims 24/7 coverage for customer support, but all communications are conducted via support request submittals and email. Currently, users cannot speak with an actual individual regarding complaints, as they do not have phone support. 

Customer support can be reached by email at tech-support@kucoin.com, or a support request can be submitted on the website.

 

KYC, Taxes & IRS Reporting Details

Many cryptocurrency exchanges, especially those operating in the United States, require the completion of Know Your Customer (KYC) verification to begin trading. KuCoin does not require KYC verification to use the platform, but completing the verification process significantly increases daily withdrawal and trading limits and unlocks access to leverage trading.

Level one KYC users are limited to withdrawals of 1 BTC every 24 hours and up to 20x leverage, whereas level two KYC users have withdrawal limits of up to 200 BTC every 24 hours and up to 100x leverage. 

The level one KYC verification process consists of providing your name, country of residence, and an ID number from official identification such as a driver’s license or passport. 

Level two KYC requires users to upload a photo of their official identification and a photo of the user themselves. KuCoin also provides a tutorial video describing the exact steps in detail, with the whole process taking several business days to complete.3

KuCoin does not support KYC verification in the United States. US-based users can still use the platform without KYC, but the experience may be limited. 

KuCoin does not report to the IRS and is, therefore, not required to generate the respective tax forms. Although KuCoin does not provide tax documents directly, they have partnered with Koinly to generate the needed tax information. This is achieved by exporting KuCoin transaction history directly to Koinly via CSV files or using the KuCoin API.

 

Who It’s Best For

KuCoin is a versatile cryptocurrency exchange that is suitable for a wide range of users, including:

  1. Traders: KuCoin offers a variety of trading pairs and low trading fees, making it a popular choice for traders who are looking to buy and sell cryptocurrencies on a regular basis.

  2. Investors: KuCoin supports a wide range of cryptocurrencies, including many smaller and lesser-known coins, giving investors the opportunity to diversify their portfolio and invest in a variety of digital assets.

  3. Security-focused users: KuCoin has implemented several security features to protect users’ funds and personal information, including 2FA, cold storage, anti-phishing measures, and a multi-level security architecture.

  4. Mobile users: KuCoin has a mobile app for iOS and Android devices, making it easy for users to buy, sell, and trade cryptocurrencies on the go.

  5. Those interested in staking and earning rewards: KuCoin offers several ways for users to earn rewards, including staking certain cryptocurrencies and holding KuCoin Shares (KCS), which entitles users to receive a share of the exchange’s trading fees and other benefits.

Overall, KuCoin is a popular and reputable cryptocurrency exchange that offers a range of features and benefits for users who are interested in buying, selling, and trading digital assets.

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