# KuCoin

> Source: https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/kucoin
> research date 2026-05-30 · extracted at 2026-10-07
> Publisher: Barcoder — encyclopedia of QR, barcode and payment-code standards

Specifications:
- [KuCoin — official](https://www.kucoin.com/)

## Overview

**KuCoin** is **a global crypto exchange + Jan 2025 DOJ $297M settlement** + **Mar 2026 CFTC permanent US exit** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [global-cro]</sup>. **2025 baseline**: KuCoin 38M+ connected users worldwide + ~$1.6B daily trading volume + Jan 2025 DOJ guilty plea + $297M penalties + forfeitures ($184.5M criminal forfeiture + $112.9M criminal fine); 1.5M US registered users at time of DOJ settlement + $184.5M+ US-derived fees; founders Chun "Michael" Gan + Ke "Eric" Tang depart company per DOJ settlement terms; **Mar 2026 — CFTC permanent US ban + $500K civil penalty** (CFTC order removed time limit from earlier two-year DOJ-mandated US exit → indefinite ban).

**Distinctive KuCoin positioning** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [3][3], [4][4]</sup>:
- **Global crypto exchange** + **Jan 2025 DOJ $297M settlement** + **Mar 2026 CFTC permanent US exit**
- **KuCoin 38M+ connected users worldwide** + **~$1.6B daily trading volume**
- **Jan 2025 DOJ guilty plea**: $297M penalties + forfeitures ($184.5M criminal forfeiture + $112.9M criminal fine); 1.5M US registered users at time of DOJ settlement + $184.5M+ US-derived fees
- **Founders Chun "Michael" Gan + Ke "Eric" Tang depart company** per DOJ settlement terms
- **Mar 2026 CFTC permanent US ban + $500K civil penalty** (CFTC order removed time limit from earlier two-year DOJ-mandated US exit → indefinite ban) — distinctive KuCoin global crypto exchange permanent US exit
- **Sep 2017 KuCoin founding by Chun "Michael" Gan + Ke "Eric" Tang** in Hong Kong

## History

**Aug 2017 — KuCoin founded by Chun "Michael" Gan + Ke "Eric" Tang** in Hong Kong + later relocated to Seychelles (post-Chinese crypto trading ban).

**Sep 2017 — KuCoin platform launches**.

**Jan 2025 — KuCoin DOJ guilty plea + $297M settlement** ($184.5M criminal forfeiture + $112.9M criminal fine); 1.5M US registered users at time of settlement + $184.5M+ US-derived fees; **founders Chun "Michael" Gan + Ke "Eric" Tang depart company** per DOJ settlement terms; KuCoin agrees to exit US market for at least two years <sup>[2][2], [3][3], [4][4]</sup>.

**Mar 2026 — CFTC permanent US ban + $500K civil penalty** (CFTC order removed time limit from earlier two-year DOJ-mandated US exit → indefinite ban) <sup>[1][1]</sup>.

## Ownership & operator

**Operating entity**: **Mek Global Limited** (Seychelles entity; permanent US exit post-Mar 2026 CFTC order).

**Major shareholders**: **Chun "Michael" Gan (founder; departed post-Jan 2025 DOJ settlement) + Ke "Eric" Tang (founder; departed post-Jan 2025 DOJ settlement) + crypto venture capital + private float**.

**Regulators**: **Seychelles + permanent US exit post-Mar 2026 CFTC order + multi-jurisdiction compliance pursuit (ex-US)**.

## Technical integration

KuCoin mobile app (iOS + Android) + kucoin.com web + KuCoin API (REST + WebSocket + FIX); KuCoin Spot + KuCoin Futures + KuCoin Earn + KuCoin Pool-X + KuCoin Margin + KuCoin Bot + KuCoin Lending + KCS Token (KuCoin native exchange token); USDT + USDC + BTC + ETH funding; cross-chain bridging.

## Users & growth

**2025**: KuCoin 38M+ connected users worldwide + ~$1.6B daily trading volume; **Jan 2025 DOJ settlement context**: 1.5M US registered users at time of settlement + $184.5M+ US-derived fees.

## Use cases

Global (ex-US permanent post-Mar 2026 CFTC order; ex-China) crypto retail + derivatives + spot + on-chain trading via KuCoin mobile + web + API; KuCoin Spot + KuCoin Futures + KuCoin Earn + KuCoin Pool-X + KuCoin Margin + KuCoin Bot + KuCoin Lending + KCS Token (KuCoin native exchange token).

## Implementations & partners

**Operator**: Mek Global Limited (Seychelles entity; permanent US exit post-Mar 2026 CFTC order).

**Subsidiaries**: **KuCoin Spot + KuCoin Futures + KuCoin Earn + KuCoin Pool-X + KuCoin Margin + KuCoin Bot + KuCoin Lending** + **KCS Token (KuCoin native exchange token)**.

**Major global centralized crypto exchange competitors**: [Binance](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/binance) (global #1 by volume; CZ-founded; 2023 US DOJ $4.3B settlement) + [Coinbase](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/coinbase) (US #1; NASDAQ: COIN) + [OKX Wallet](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/okx-wallet) (global top-5; Star Xu-founded) + [Bybit](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/bybit) (global top-5; Ben Zhou-founded; Dubai HQ; 2025 $1.5B hack survival) + [Bitget](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/bitget) (top-4 derivatives; 150M+ users; Universal Exchange UEX) + [MEXC](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/mexc) (#3 global CEX by spot volume Dec 2025) + [HTX (formerly Huobi)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/htx) (formerly Huobi; Sep 2023 Justin Sun rebrand) + [Gemini](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/gemini) (US Winklevoss; Sep 12 2025 NASDAQ IPO at $3.3B) + [Kraken](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/kraken) (US #2).

**Regulators**: Seychelles + permanent US exit post-Mar 2026 CFTC order + multi-jurisdiction compliance pursuit (ex-US).

## Fun facts

- **Global crypto exchange** + **Jan 2025 DOJ $297M settlement** + **Mar 2026 CFTC permanent US exit**.
- **KuCoin 38M+ connected users worldwide** + **~$1.6B daily trading volume**.
- **Jan 2025 DOJ guilty plea**: $297M penalties + forfeitures ($184.5M criminal forfeiture + $112.9M criminal fine); 1.5M US registered users at time of DOJ settlement + $184.5M+ US-derived fees.
- **Founders Chun "Michael" Gan + Ke "Eric" Tang depart company** per DOJ settlement terms.
- **Mar 2026 CFTC permanent US ban + $500K civil penalty** (CFTC order removed time limit from earlier two-year DOJ-mandated US exit → indefinite ban).
- **Aug 2017 KuCoin founding by Chun "Michael" Gan + Ke "Eric" Tang** in Hong Kong + later relocated to Seychelles.

## Comparison

| Feature | KuCoin | [Binance](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/binance) (global #1 by volume + 2023 DOJ $4.3B settlement rival) | [HTX (formerly Huobi)](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/htx) (formerly Huobi + Sep 2023 Justin Sun rebrand + May 2026 UK Russia sanctions rival) | [Bitget](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/bitget) (top-4 derivatives + 150M+ users + Universal Exchange rival) | [MEXC](https://docs.barcoder.ai/docs/wallets/mexc) (#3 global CEX by spot volume Dec 2025 rival) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | **Mek Global Limited (Seychelles entity; permanent US exit post-Mar 2026 CFTC order)** | Binance Holdings Ltd (Cayman Islands) | HTX (Seychelles entity; Justin Sun-controlled post-2022 acquisition) | Bitget Limited (Seychelles) | MEXC Global (Singapore-founded; Seychelles entity) |
| Type | **Global crypto exchange + Jan 2025 DOJ $297M settlement + Mar 2026 CFTC permanent US exit + 38M+ users worldwide + ~$1.6B daily trading volume + founders Gan + Tang departed post-DOJ settlement** | Global #1 by volume + 250M+ users + Binance Smart Chain (BNB Chain) + 2023 US DOJ $4.3B settlement | Justin Sun-controlled global crypto exchange + Sep 2023 HTX rebrand to mark 10-year anniversary + 10M+ users + May 2026 UK Russia sanctions | Top-4 derivatives + 150M+ users + Universal Exchange (UEX) + $8.17T 2025 derivatives volume + 82% institutional spot share | #3 global CEX by spot volume Dec 2025 + 40M+ users in 170+ countries + 2,278 spot pairs (6x competitors) + altcoin trading volume growth leader |
| Country | Seychelles + permanent US exit post-Mar 2026 | Cayman Islands + global (ex-US) | Seychelles + 100+ countries (ex-US; ex-China) | Seychelles + 100+ countries (ex-US) | Seychelles + 170+ countries (ex-US) |
| Distinctive | **Aug 2017 KuCoin founding by Chun "Michael" Gan + Ke "Eric" Tang in Hong Kong; later Seychelles relocation post-Chinese crypto trading ban; Sep 2017 KuCoin platform launch; Jan 2025 DOJ guilty plea + $297M settlement + 1.5M US users + $184.5M US-derived fees + founders departure; Mar 2026 CFTC permanent US ban + $500K civil penalty** | 2017 founding by CZ; 2023 US DOJ $4.3B settlement + CZ 4-month US prison + permanent CEO ban | Sep 2013 Huobi founding by Leon Li in Beijing; 2017 Chinese government crypto trading ban → Huobi international relocation; 2022 Justin Sun acquisition; Sep 2023 HTX rebrand | 2018 founding; 2024 Gracy Chen CEO; 2025 Universal Exchange (UEX) launch | Apr 2018 founding as MXC; 2021 MEXC rename; 2025 #3 global CEX by spot volume Dec 2025 |

## Status

**Active, global crypto exchange + Jan 2025 DOJ $297M settlement + Mar 2026 CFTC permanent US exit** <sup>[1][1], [2][2], [3][3], [4][4]</sup>:
- **Mek Global Limited (Seychelles entity; permanent US exit post-Mar 2026 CFTC order)** since Aug 2017 KuCoin founding by Chun "Michael" Gan + Ke "Eric" Tang in Hong Kong.
- **38M+ connected users worldwide + ~$1.6B daily trading volume**.
- **Jan 2025 DOJ guilty plea + $297M settlement + founders Gan + Tang departed**.
- **Mar 2026 CFTC permanent US ban + $500K civil penalty**.
- **Seychelles + permanent US exit + multi-jurisdiction compliance pursuit (ex-US)**.

## Sources

[1]: https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2026/03/31/kucoin-permanently-barred-from-u-s-after-cftc-order-following-usd297-million-doj-case "KuCoin operator barred from U.S. after CFTC order — CoinDesk"
[2]: https://www.coindesk.com/policy/2025/01/28/kucoin-hit-with-nearly-usd300-million-fine-after-pleading-guilty-to-u-s-doj-charges "Kucoin Will Exit The U.S. for Atleast Two Years as Part of DOJ Settlement — CoinDesk"
[3]: https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/kucoin-announces-settlement-with-the-doj-ushering-in-a-new-chapter-of-compliance-and-growth-302361406.html "KuCoin Announces Settlement with the DOJ, Ushering in a New Chapter of Compliance and Growth — PRNewswire"
[4]: https://invezz.com/news/2025/01/28/kucoin-faces-297-million-settlement-with-doj/ "KuCoin faces $297 million settlement with DOJ — Invezz"

- [1] [KuCoin operator barred from U.S. after CFTC order — CoinDesk][1]
- [2] [Kucoin Will Exit The U.S. for Atleast Two Years as Part of DOJ Settlement — CoinDesk][2]
- [3] [KuCoin Announces Settlement with the DOJ, Ushering in a New Chapter of Compliance and Growth — PRNewswire][3]
- [4] [KuCoin faces $297 million settlement with DOJ — Invezz][4]
- [global-cro] In-corpus: `reports/countries/global.md`

## Source

Biography extracted from [kucoin.md](https://docs.barcoder.ai/source/wallets/kucoin). See `matrix.md` for standards-support matrix if present.