In the second quarter of 2025, the global cryptocurrency market enters a new chapter amidst the intertwining of accelerated regulation and waves of innovation. As a leading global cryptocurrency trading platform, KuCoin adheres to the philosophy of “Compliance is Competitiveness, Safety is the Foundation,” continuously promoting the deep development of global business and the release of ecological value.
This year marks a critical turning point for the global cryptocurrency market with the rapid establishment of regulatory frameworks. According to a report by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), over 80% of countries have introduced or are formulating regulatory policies for cryptocurrency assets, officially ushering the global digital asset market into the era of “compliance-based systems.” In this profound transformation that affects the industry landscape, KuCoin, as a top trading platform with over 41 million registered users, has built a value moat for the digital economy era through three-dimensional empowerment of compliance infrastructure, technological breakthroughs, and ecological collaboration.
As a benchmark in the digital asset trading field, KuCoin is committed to providing efficient, safe, and innovative cryptocurrency trading services to global users. In the first quarter, in the face of a milestone event involving a $297 million settlement agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), KuCoin not only demonstrated the responsibility of an international enterprise but also successfully achieved a counter-cyclical increase in market share through its forward-looking risk isolation mechanisms and ample liquidity reserves. This breakthrough not only highlights KuCoin's resilience but also signifies that the deep integration of the crypto economy with the mainstream financial system has entered a new stage.
In this quarter, the launch of KuCoin Thailand, a compliant platform under the KuCoin brand, marks a significant progress in global layout, trust building, and ecological evolution.
Compliance Strategy: Precise Moves in the Global Chessboard
U.S. Market: Strategic Wisdom in Adapting to Trends
In January 2025, KuCoin reached a comprehensive resolution with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding regulatory disputes, successfully resolving the uncertainties in the U.S. market and the regulatory clouds that loomed before Trump's administration. According to the settlement agreement, KuCoin agreed to pay a $297 million fine and withdraw from the U.S. market for at least two years, in exchange for a systematic resolution of regulatory issues related to licensing access and the U.S. compliance framework. Notably, the settlement agreement states that under certain conditions, all charges against KuCoin founders Chun Gan and Ke Tang will be dismissed by the U.S. Department of Justice.
It is reported that after the settlement news was announced, the price of KuCoin's platform token KCS rose by 13.7% on the same day.
This move not only demonstrates KuCoin's commitment to compliance but also establishes a strategic anchor for building a long-term compliance mechanism across jurisdictions. New CEO BC Wong emphasized, “This resolution marks a new chapter for KuCoin, reaffirming our commitment to compliance, safety, and innovation. We are temporarily exiting the U.S. market while focusing on strengthening global compliance practices and actively exploring opportunities to re-enter the market robustly after obtaining the necessary licenses. KuCoin is always committed to supporting our global community, providing innovative solutions, and promoting the responsible adoption of cryptocurrencies. Together, we will build a stronger and safer future for everyone.”
While strategically exiting the U.S. market, KuCoin's global expansion path is actively progressing. According to the 2024 operational report, KuCoin has seen significant growth in trading volume in the Middle East and North Africa, with a continuous increase in platform users and steady expansion of its global business footprint. This “westward strategy” and focus on emerging markets corroborate KuCoin's forward-looking vision of building a multipolar business ecosystem—maintaining coverage in over 200 countries and regions with 41 million users, even during the most challenging times of global regulation.
Analysts point out that KuCoin's practice of transforming regulatory pressure into an opportunity for strategic upgrade marks a shift where leading platforms in the crypto industry are actively balancing compliance and business. By converting the settlement agreement into an operational system for governance upgrades, the platform not only completes its evolution from a regulatory adapter to a standard setter but also adopts a strategy of retreating to advance, steadily progressing and achieving an upgraded model of global digital asset operations.
European Front: MiCAR License as a Stronghold
In the European market, KuCoin is actively promoting the application for the MiCAR (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation) license to ensure compliant operations within the European Economic Area (EEA). KuCoin's EU branch is applying for the MiCAR license in Austria, aiming to become a fully compliant crypto asset service provider. Once the MiCAR license is obtained, KuCoin EU will be able to provide services in all 30 EU and EEA member countries, ensuring users can access crypto products and services under the EU regulatory framework.
This move marks another significant milestone in KuCoin's global compliance strategy—future European users will enjoy one-stop crypto services that meet EU standards through KuCoin EU Exchange.
In addition to the U.S. and Europe, KuCoin is also actively promoting compliance strategies in Asia and the Middle East to ensure the provision of legal and secure crypto trading services in these regions. KuCoin has already obtained crypto licenses in several jurisdictions, including Australia and India, laying a stronger compliance foundation for its global operations.
Launch of Thailand Station: A New Milestone in Southeast Asia's Compliance Strategy
In June 2025, KuCoin announced the completion of its acquisition of the licensed exchange ERX, which holds a license from the Thai SEC, and officially rebranded it as KuCoin Thailand, achieving compliance in the Thai market. This is the first independently operated compliant station under the KuCoin brand, marking a solid step forward in its compliance expansion strategy in Southeast Asia.
KuCoin Thailand completed its registration process by the end of April and officially opened to the public in June. The platform supports Thai Baht fiat channels, allowing users to deposit and withdraw directly in Thai Baht and participate in KuCoin's complete ecosystem of products, including spot trading, OTC, and more. In the first week of launch, a “Welcome to KuCoin Thailand” event was held, with a total prize pool of up to 1 million Thai Baht to encourage local compliant users to quickly engage in ecological construction.
KuCoin CEO BC Wong stated, “Thailand has a clear regulatory framework and is an important stronghold in the emerging digital economy market. We are excited to officially launch KuCoin Thailand, which not only strengthens KuCoin's strategic presence in Southeast Asia but also serves as an important node in our global compliance journey and a pilot for our innovative digital finance strategy.”
Safety Assurance: A Dual Moat of Technological Rigor and Institutional Innovation
On April 30, 2025, at the global crypto event TOKEN2049 in Dubai, KuCoin officially launched its major strategy—the “Trust Plan,” announcing an investment of $2 billion in the future to enhance platform security, transparency, compliance system strengthening, and KCS ecosystem development, propelling KuCoin into a new stage of high-quality, sustainable development. This was the first public appearance of KuCoin's new CEO BC Wong since taking office. Addressing over 15,000 industry leaders, regulatory representatives, and crypto innovators from around the world, BC elaborated on KuCoin's long-term vision and systematic layout regarding the core industry proposition of “trust.”
The “Trust Plan” is not only a significant financial commitment but also a comprehensive implementation of KuCoin's core values. In the coming years, KuCoin will continue to strengthen platform security infrastructure, promote on-chain transparency mechanisms, deepen collaboration with global regulatory agencies, and increase investment in user education and ecological health, fully constructing a more trustworthy digital asset trading environment.
Among these, KCS (KuCoin's platform token) serves as a core connecting asset between the platform and users, playing a crucial role in the “Trust Plan.” KuCoin will further optimize KCS's incentive mechanisms, governance rights, and ecological applications, enhancing its strategic position in improving user engagement, participating in governance, and promoting community co-construction.
Through this plan, KuCoin not only reaffirms its “user-centered” mission but also demonstrates its determination and responsibility as a global platform in the long-term construction of the industry and the rebuilding of trust.
In April 2025, KuCoin successfully passed the SOC 2 Type II audit, obtaining this globally recognized certification, further strengthening its compliance in data security, privacy protection, and system reliability. The SOC 2 certification evaluates how a company protects customer data and ensures system reliability, validating the stability of KuCoin's security control system in ongoing operational scenarios and marking a paradigm-level breakthrough in its strategic construction of a digital trust foundation.
It is reported that SOC 2 is an internationally recognized audit standard that assesses how companies protect customer data and ensure system reliability through strict internal control measures. Type II certification particularly focuses on the effectiveness of a company's internal controls over a specific period. This comprehensive audit was conducted by Decrypt Compliance over the course of a year, evaluating KuCoin's policies, procedures, and systems to ensure they meet industry-standard trust service criteria. Independent reviews confirmed that KuCoin's security practices are robust and reliable.
KuCoin has been committed to enhancing the platform's security and compliance, implementing strict KYC policies to ensure all user identity verifications meet international anti-money laundering (AML) standards. Additionally, the platform actively invests in advanced risk monitoring systems, combining multi-factor authentication, AI monitoring, and other technological measures to significantly enhance anti-fraud capabilities and ensure the safety of user funds. These comprehensive measures not only improve the platform's security level but also provide a more robust and secure trading environment for global users, further consolidating KuCoin's trust foundation in the cryptocurrency industry.
In May, KuCoin obtained ISO 27001:2022 certification, further demonstrating its commitment to user security, data protection, and compliance; in June, KuCoin received AAA certification from CER.live, ranking among the top six safest cryptocurrency exchanges globally alongside Coinbase and OKX. Its 90% security score excelled in server security, user protection, and penetration testing. All security technology investments showcase the platform's commitment to users and its steady and solid investments and implementations.
User Growth and Ecological Evolution: A Gold Mine for 41 Million People
Currently, KuCoin's registered user count has surpassed 41 million, confirming the global radiating effect of its compliance and technology strategies. This growth is attributed to KuCoin's continuously optimized compliance measures, innovative products, and high-quality user experience; especially against the backdrop of increasingly stringent compliance environments, KuCoin has gained widespread trust from users through its comprehensive compliance layout and global service network.
As a strategic pivot for ecological value release, KuCoin officially launched the KCS Loyalty Level Program in March 2025: this new initiative aims to introduce a loyalty level system that rewards users based on the amount of KCS they stake. This transformation from a traffic entry point to a digital economy operating system not only further consolidates the KCS ecosystem but also provides users with more ways to benefit from the platform.
Corporate Social Responsibility: Crypto for New, Business for Good
In March 2025, KuCoin was awarded the “2025 Corporate Social Responsibility Award” by the United Nations World Women Organization (UNWWO). This honor is not only a high recognition of KuCoin's contributions to empowering women and children globally but also reflects its corporate commitment to the global sustainable development agenda. By collaborating with leaders from various industries and international organizations, KuCoin closely integrates its corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy with the platform's core technological innovations, making positive contributions to global social welfare, promoting economic inclusivity, and enhancing sustainability.
As a key component of the company's sustainable development strategy, KuCoin launched three impactful social responsibility projects in 2024, namely “Light Up Africa” solar lamps for children, menstrual equality solutions, and climate change relief packages:
The “Light Up Africa” project aims to provide solar lamps to school-age children in rural Africa, helping them continue their studies at night and overcome the limitations of traditional educational resources. Throughout 2024, KuCoin donated over 9,000 solar lamps, which were sent to multiple communities in Sierra Leone, Nigeria, and Ghana, benefiting tens of thousands of local students. Sandra Edidion, a student at Afaha Okonkwo Nwafor College in Nigeria, stated, “With these solar lamps, I believe I can do it; we can study at night now.”
The “Menstrual Equality” project provides sustainable menstrual health solutions for vulnerable women globally, especially targeting young girls who face significant difficulties in accessing sanitary products. In March 2024, KuCoin donated 1,000 sets of reusable menstrual products to Suriname, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and several domestic violence shelters in the U.S. The distribution of these supplies not only provided women with essential hygiene protection but also enhanced their confidence and dignity in continuing their education and lives. By December 2024, a second batch of aid supplies was sent to the Bahamas, benefiting 4,000 local women.
Climate change poses a significant challenge globally, particularly threatening the living conditions of pregnant women, infants, and children. In response, KuCoin launched the “Climate Change Relief Package” project, aimed at providing necessary health protections for these high-risk groups, helping them cope with threats posed by extreme weather and environmental pollution. Her Excellency Ann Marie Davis, First Lady of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, expressed high appreciation for the project: “These relief packages will help women and girls in communities facing climate change challenges, improving their living conditions.”
These projects cover multiple countries and regions, benefiting nearly 50,000 women and children, providing much-needed support to vulnerable groups worldwide, reflecting KuCoin's sense of responsibility in promoting social welfare and sustainable development globally, and bringing positive changes to the world through innovation and technology.
Conclusion: The Crypto Ark to the Future
In the grand narrative of the global digital asset industry transitioning from the “Wild West” to maturity, KuCoin has always centered on user trust, deeply integrating compliance, safety, and innovation to continuously solidify its industry leadership. Through the application for the MiCAR license, the implementation of SOC 2 Type II certification, the AAA ranking from the global top exchange security ranking agency Cer.live, and the launch of the KCS loyalty program, KuCoin has not only built a more reliable investment environment for users but also set a practical benchmark for the industry with the principle that “compliance is competitiveness.”
In the future, with the in-depth exploration of the European market, the iterative upgrade of security technologies, and the continued implementation of social responsibility projects, KuCoin will continue to promote the integration of the crypto economy with the mainstream financial system. This journey may be long, but KuCoin has proven with solid compliance layouts and technological innovations that—only by being grounded can one reach the future.
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