KuCoin alternatives
Ranked by the reason you are leaving. Every list below is computed from the same published sub-scores as the rest of the site, with KuCoin removed.
KuCoin has two serious events on the record — a 2020 hot-wallet breach of roughly $280 million and a 2024 US enforcement action that ended with the platform restricting US access and settling — and readers searching for a KuCoin alternative are usually reacting to one of them. Users were made whole in 2020, and the 2024 action was about compliance rather than custody, but two entries in the incident column is two more than Kraken, OKX or Bitget carry.
Beyond the record, the case for leaving is thinner than the headlines suggest. KuCoin's fees are standard for an offshore venue, it lists around 900 assets, and the KCS discount is real. What it lacks is US and Canadian access, consistent support, and a reason to be anyone's primary account rather than a place to reach mid-cap listings that Binance has not picked up.
- KuCoin spot taker
- 0.1%
- KuCoin futures taker
- 0.06%
- Blocked in
- the United States, Canada
- Incidents on record
- 2
If the incident history is why you are here
Ranked on security track record and reputation. Weighting: security.
| Exchange | Score | Spot taker | Futures taker | Best for | Open account |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1KrakenThe security-first veteran, and the safest on-ramp for large fiat amounts. | 9.0 | 0.8% | 0.05% | beginners, security | Open account |
2CoinbaseThe most regulated, most beginner-friendly and most expensive way in. | 8.8 | 1.2% | 0.05% | beginners, usa | Open account |
3BinanceThe deepest order books in crypto, with the widest product range. | 8.3 | 0.075%after discount | 0.05% | altcoins, futures | Open account |
4OKXA trading platform and a self-custody wallet in one product. | 8.3 | 0.1% | 0.05% | futures, defi | Open account |
If you are in the US or Canada
KuCoin blocks both; filtered to venues that serve US residents. Filtered to exchanges that serve the United States. Weighting: overall.
| Exchange | Score | Spot taker | Futures taker | Best for | Open account |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1KrakenThe security-first veteran, and the safest on-ramp for large fiat amounts. | 8.4 | 0.8% | 0.05% | beginners, security | Open account |
2CoinbaseThe most regulated, most beginner-friendly and most expensive way in. | 8.2 | 1.2% | 0.05% | beginners, usa | Open account |
If you came for altcoin breadth
Ranked on the altcoin profile — listings, liquidity and fees weighted together. Weighting: altcoins.
| Exchange | Score | Spot taker | Futures taker | Best for | Open account |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1BinanceThe deepest order books in crypto, with the widest product range. | 8.7 | 0.075%after discount | 0.05% | altcoins, futures | Open account |
2OKXA trading platform and a self-custody wallet in one product. | 8.6 | 0.1% | 0.05% | futures, defi | Open account |
3BybitA derivatives-first exchange that grew into a full-service platform. | 8.4 | 0.1% | 0.055% | futures, copy-trading | Open account |
4KrakenThe security-first veteran, and the safest on-ramp for large fiat amounts. | 8.2 | 0.8% | 0.05% | beginners, security | Open account |
If you want KuCoin-level fees with a cleaner record
Fees at 4× weight, security and reputation still counted. Weighting: low fees.
| Exchange | Score | Spot taker | Futures taker | Best for | Open account |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1BinanceThe deepest order books in crypto, with the widest product range. | 8.7 | 0.075%after discount | 0.05% | altcoins, futures | Open account |
2OKXA trading platform and a self-custody wallet in one product. | 8.6 | 0.1% | 0.05% | futures, defi | Open account |
3BybitA derivatives-first exchange that grew into a full-service platform. | 8.4 | 0.1% | 0.055% | futures, copy-trading | Open account |
4MEXCThe cheapest fees and the longest listing tail, with the trade-offs that implies. | 8.1 | 0.05% | 0.02% | low-fees, altcoins | Open account |
When you should stay on KuCoin
You use KuCoin as a second venue for listings you cannot get elsewhere, you keep the balance there small, and you are outside North America. On those terms the incident history is a reason for caution, not a reason to close the account.
Frequently asked questions
Did KuCoin users lose money in 2020?
The great majority of the roughly $280 million taken was recovered or covered by KuCoin, and users were made whole. It remains on the record because a breach of that size says something about controls at the time.
Which alternative has the most altcoins without the incident history?
Bitget lists around 800 assets and carries no breach on our record; Bybit lists around 600 with one covered incident. The altcoin shortlist above ranks them on the altcoin weighting.
Can US residents use KuCoin at all now?
No. Following the 2024 enforcement action KuCoin restricted US retail access. The US shortlist above is computed from venues that do serve US residents.
Keep researching
About KuCoin
- KuCoin review
The altcoin exchange that grew up, slowly.
- KuCoin fees, features and availability
Head-to-head
- KuCoin vs MEXC
Which long-tail venue actually fills your order.
Other alternatives pages
Where KuCoin is blocked
- Best exchanges in the United States
KuCoin does not serve the United States
- Best exchanges in Canada
KuCoin does not serve Canada