KuCoin Alternatives for US, EU and Global Crypto Traders

KuCoin is a Seychelles-registered crypto exchange known for listing small altcoins early. It still runs worldwide, but not in the United States. On January 27, 2025, its operator Peken Global Limited pleaded guilty to running an unlicensed money transmitting business and agreed to pay more than $297 million, per the US Attorney's Office in Manhattan. It also agreed to exit the US market for at least two years. Prosecutors said KuCoin had served about 1.5 million registered US users from 2017 to March 2024.

The US is not the only gap. KuCoin's terms of use, last updated October 29, 2026, list Singapore, mainland China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Russia, France, the Netherlands, Ontario and British Columbia as restricted locations. In the EU, Austria authorised KuCoin EU Exchange GmbH under MiCA on November 27, 2025, then barred it from new business from February to May 2026 over vacant AML and sanctions-compliance roles; it still may not start operations.

The six exchanges below are sorted by who can actually open an account. None of this is investment advice, and an exchange balance is not a bank deposit.

Prices below are as of November 8, 2026. Our method is on How we review tools.

Quick comparison

Kraken

Kraken is the pick that works for the widest set of former KuCoin users. It serves US customers, holds a MiCA licence from the Central Bank of Ireland covering the EU, and runs Kraken Pro for limit orders, charts and an API, which is the part KuCoin traders will miss most.

The coin list is shorter than KuCoin's, by design: Kraken lists fewer micro-cap tokens. Futures and margin depend on your country. A standard verified individual can deposit up to $100,000 in fiat a day, with the exact limits set by residency and verification level.

Best for: Traders in the US or EU who want one licensed account with a proper order book.

Pricing:

• Kraken Pro: 0.40% maker, 0.80% taker at the entry tier, lower with 30-day volume
• Instant Buy: 1% (1.5% on custom orders) plus a spread
• Kraken+: no trading fees on up to $10,000 of volume a month; spreads still apply

Watch out for:

• The simple buy screen costs more than Pro for the same coin, per the Kraken fee schedule, so place orders from Pro.

Official site: Kraken. Our listing: Kraken.

Coinbase

For a US reader who left KuCoin in 2025, Coinbase is the safest-feeling default: a Nasdaq-listed US company with state licences and a simple app. Advanced Trade sits inside the same account with maker and taker tiers, so moving off the simple screen does not need a new sign-up.

Coinbase lists far fewer small-cap tokens than KuCoin did. US readers comparing more domestic options, including Gemini and Robinhood, can use our CoinZoom alternatives page.

Best for: US residents who want a large, listed exchange and fees shown before each order.

Pricing:

• Simple trades: Coinbase fee plus spread, both shown in the order preview
• Advanced Trade: maker and taker tiers by 30-day volume
• Coinbase One subscription: zero Coinbase trading fees up to a cap; spread still applies; monthly subscription, price varies by country

Watch out for:

• In May 2025 Coinbase disclosed that bribed overseas support agents had leaked customer data; TechCrunch reported at least 69,000 people were affected, and the stolen details were used in phishing calls.

Official site: Coinbase.

OKX

OKX is the closest in spirit to KuCoin: a large global exchange with hundreds of tokens, perpetual futures, copy trading and a self-custody Web3 wallet in the same app. Its base spot fee is 0.08% maker and 0.10% taker.

US visitors land on OKX United States, a separate service whose site lists an NMLS licence number (1767779) and a San Francisco address. Its coin list and products are set separately from the global app.

Best for: Altcoin and derivatives traders outside the US, and US users who want the OKX brand on a licensed service.

Pricing:

• Spot, regular tier: 0.08% maker, 0.10% taker
• Lower rates with OKB holdings or 30-day volume

Watch out for:

• Its operator, Aux Cayes FinTech, pleaded guilty in February 2025 to serving US clients without a money transmitter licence and paid more than $504 million, Finance Magnates reported, the same kind of charge KuCoin admitted.

Official site: OKX.

Bybit

KuCoin Futures users will find Bybit the most familiar. Its derivatives screen is the core product, and non-VIP perpetual fees are 0.02% maker and 0.055% taker. Spot trading starts at 0.1% on both sides, and copy trading and trading bots sit in the same account.

Bybit's restricted-countries page is long: it lists the United States, Canada, mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore and several sanctioned countries. Rates and products can differ by region, so the fee page you see after sign-up is the one that applies.

Best for: Futures traders outside the US and Canada who want low perp fees.

Pricing:

• Spot, non-VIP: 0.1000% maker, 0.1000% taker
• Perpetuals and futures, non-VIP: 0.0200% maker, 0.0550% taker
• Rates can vary by region

Watch out for:

• In February 2025 attackers stole about $1.5 billion in crypto from Bybit, which the FBI attributed to North Korea's TraderTraitor group; it is one of the largest exchange thefts recorded.

Official site: Bybit.

Bitget

Bitget has built its name on copy trading: you pick a lead trader and mirror their spot or futures positions, paying them a share of any profit. It also lists new tokens quickly, which is what many people used KuCoin for.

Spot fees are 0.1% maker and taker, cut by 20% if you pay them in BGB, Bitget's own token. Holding an exchange token to save on fees ties part of your balance to one company's fortunes, so weigh that against the saving.

Best for: Non-US traders who want copy trading and quick altcoin listings.

Pricing:

• Spot: 0.1% maker, 0.1% taker
• 20% discount when fees are paid in BGB
• Copy trading: lead traders take a profit share, set per trader

Watch out for:

• The Bitget terms, updated November 4, 2026, bar a long list of places, including the US, Canada, France and Singapore, plus several KuCoin accepts, such as Germany, Austria, Japan, Thailand and the UAE.

Official site: Bitget.

Binance

Binance lists hundreds of trading pairs, and its global order books are deep, which matters if you trade size. Regular spot fees are 0.100% maker and taker, or 0.075% when paid in BNB.

Binance.com does not serve US residents. Americans are pointed to Binance.US, a separate company with a much smaller token list and no access to the global order book. Other countries run local Binance entities with their own rules.

Best for: High-volume traders outside the US who need deep liquidity on many pairs.

Pricing:

• Spot, regular user: 0.100% maker, 0.100% taker
• Paid in BNB: 0.075% maker, 0.075% taker

Watch out for:

• Binance and its founder pleaded guilty to US federal charges in November 2023 in a resolution worth more than $4 billion, per the IRS Criminal Investigation release.

Official site: Binance.

How to choose

When to stay with KuCoin

If you live outside every restricted location in KuCoin's terms and trade tokens the larger exchanges do not list, KuCoin remains open to you. Keep only what you trade on the exchange, and check the restricted list after each update, since it can change at KuCoin's discretion.

Frequently asked questions