KuCoin
Centralized exchangeA global exchange with a large token catalogue; its operator pleaded guilty in the US in January 2025.
- Spot fee
- 0.1%
- 0.08% paying in KCS
- Coins with a halal verdict
- 0
- of those listed here
- Available in
- 13 of 20
- countries we track
- Checked
- Sep 27, 2026
Reliability
5.6/ 10
Monthly Hacken-verified proof of reserves, but the global entity is largely unlicensed.
Score updated
- Proof of reserves8.0
- Licences5.0
- Incident history4.0
- Segregation of funds4.0
- Insurance fund4.0
- Security practices8.0
Liberandum halal verdict
Suitable with care
Spot trading is possible with care; avoid leveraged and Earn products and keep balances small.
Use
- Spot trading, coin by coin
Avoid
- Margin, futures, leverage
- Earn and yield products
More details
KuCoin offers spot trading with immediate settlement and publishes monthly proof of reserves, but its global entity is largely unlicensed and pleaded guilty in the US in January 2025 to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business. It has no Shariah-certified product and no coin screening, so use spot only, avoid its many leveraged and Earn products, and keep balances small. Spot purchases on KuCoin settle immediately, which meets the requirement of immediate exchange (qabd) under AAOIFI Shariah Standard 1 and Standard 20. Margin, Futures, leveraged tokens, and copy trading or trading bots built on derivatives involve interest-bearing borrowing or deferred settlement and should be avoided. Earn products that pay a fixed or promised yield on deposited coins or stablecoins are structured like interest-bearing loans (riba) and are not reviewed by a Shariah board. KuCoin has no Islamic account and no Shariah-certified product, and its listing review is not a Shariah screen, so each coin must be checked on Liberandum before buying. Reliability is moderate (5.6/10). Strengths: monthly Merkle-tree proof of reserves verified by Hacken (snapshot 31 August 2026: BTC 107 %, ETH 117 %, USDT 111 %, USDC 123 %), SOC 2 Type II (April 2025) and ISO 27001:2022. Weaknesses: on 27 January 2025 Peken Global Limited, the operator of KuCoin, pleaded guilty in the Southern District of New York to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business and agreed to pay about USD 297 million; in March 2026 a CFTC order (USD 500,000 penalty) barred it from serving US users unless it registers as a foreign board of trade. Canada's FINTRAC imposed a C$19.6 million penalty (announced September 2025, under appeal) and the Ontario regulator fined and banned it in 2022. These were AML and registration failures, not misuse of client funds. A 2020 hot-wallet hack of more than USD 280 million was covered by KuCoin's insurance fund, with a large part recovered. Licensed activity is limited to local entities: KuCoin EU (MiCA, Austria, November 2025), AUSTRAC registration in Australia (November 2025), FIU-IND registration in India (2024) and a reported Thai SEC licence for KuCoin Thailand. Availability: the global platform excludes the US, Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Singapore, mainland China and Hong Kong, France, the Netherlands and parts of Canada. Most Gulf, North African and South Asian countries are served without a local licence.
How to use KuCoin the halal way
What is allowed and what to avoid on this exchange
- Allowed
Spot
Settles immediately in Spot market
- Allowed
Convert
Instant swap, settles like spot
- With care
Staking
No Shariah-certified staking
- Avoid
Savings and Earn
Earn yield treated as riba
- Avoid
Margin
Trading with borrowed money
- Avoid
Futures and options
Futures, leveraged tokens, bots
- Avoid
Loans
Borrowing on interest
- Avoid
Structured products
Fixed return, not certified
No dedicated halal product
KuCoin offers no Islamic (swap-free) account and no Shariah-certified earn or staking product as of September 2026. Its Earn products are not reviewed by a Shariah board.
No token screening
KuCoin does not screen listed coins for Shariah compliance. It lists a very large catalogue of tokens, including many speculative and gambling-related assets, so each coin must be checked separately.
Step by step
How to trade halal on KuCoin
Create an account and pass verification
Sign up on kucoin.com or in the KuCoin app and complete identity verification (ID and selfie). Turn on Google 2FA, the trading password and an anti-phishing code in Account Security. EEA users are onboarded by KuCoin EU.
Fund the account without using Earn
Deposit coins to your Funding account or buy through Buy Crypto. Do not move idle balances into Earn or other products that promise a yield on deposits; that yield is treated as riba.
Check each coin on Liberandum first
KuCoin lists a very large catalogue and does not screen coins for Shariah compliance. Confirm the coin's halal status on Liberandum before buying.
Trade only on the Spot market
Transfer funds to the Trading account and buy under Trade > Spot with a market or limit order, which settles immediately. Do not use Margin, Futures, leveraged tokens, or copy trading and trading bots that use derivatives.
Keep balances small and withdraw to self-custody
Given the operator's 2025 US guilty plea and limited licensing, do not store savings on KuCoin. Withdraw purchased coins to a wallet you control and check the network fee before confirming.
Availability
Where KuCoin serves users and under which licence
Your country:Choose your country
- Bahrain
- Bangladesh
- Egypt
- European Union
- Indonesia
- Jordan
- Kazakhstan
- Kuwait
- Malaysia
- Morocco
- Nigeria
- Oman
- Pakistan
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Türkiye
- United Arab Emirates
- United Kingdom
- United States
- Uzbekistan
- Afghanistanno data
- Åland Islandsno data
- Albaniano data
- Algeriano data
- American Samoano data
- Andorrano data
- Angolano data
- Anguillano data
- Antarcticano data
- Antigua & Barbudano data
- Argentinano data
- Armeniano data
- Arubano data
- Australiano data
- Austriano data
- Azerbaijanno data
- Bahamasno data
- Barbadosno data
- Belarusno data
- Belgiumno data
- Belizeno data
- Beninno data
- Bermudano data
- Bhutanno data
- Boliviano data
- Bosnia & Herzegovinano data
- Botswanano data
- Bouvet Islandno data
- Brazilno data
- British Indian Ocean Territoryno data
- British Virgin Islandsno data
- Bruneino data
- Bulgariano data
- Burkina Fasono data
- Burundino data
- Cambodiano data
- Cameroonno data
- Canadano data
- Cape Verdeno data
- Caribbean Netherlandsno data
- Cayman Islandsno data
- Central African Republicno data
- Chadno data
- Chileno data
- Chinano data
- Christmas Islandno data
- Cocos (Keeling) Islandsno data
- Colombiano data
- Comorosno data
- Congo - Brazzavilleno data
- Congo - Kinshasano data
- Cook Islandsno data
- Costa Ricano data
- Côte d’Ivoireno data
- Croatiano data
- Cubano data
- Curaçaono data
- Cyprusno data
- Czechiano data
- Denmarkno data
- Djiboutino data
- Dominicano data
- Dominican Republicno data
- Ecuadorno data
- El Salvadorno data
- Equatorial Guineano data
- Eritreano data
- Estoniano data
- Eswatinino data
- Ethiopiano data
- Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)no data
- Faroe Islandsno data
- Fijino data
- Finlandno data
- Franceno data
- French Guianano data
- French Polynesiano data
- French Southern Territoriesno data
- Gabonno data
- Gambiano data
- Georgiano data
- Germanyno data
- Ghanano data
- Gibraltarno data
- Greeceno data
- Greenlandno data
- Grenadano data
- Guadeloupeno data
- Guamno data
- Guatemalano data
- Guernseyno data
- Guineano data
- Guinea-Bissauno data
- Guyanano data
- Haitino data
- Heard & McDonald Islandsno data
- Hondurasno data
- Hong Kongno data
- Hungaryno data
- Icelandno data
- Indiano data
- Iranno data
- Iraqno data
- Irelandno data
- Isle of Manno data
- Israelno data
- Italyno data
- Jamaicano data
- Japanno data
- Jerseyno data
- Kenyano data
- Kiribatino data
- Kyrgyzstanno data
- Laosno data
- Latviano data
- Lebanonno data
- Lesothono data
- Liberiano data
- Libyano data
- Liechtensteinno data
- Lithuaniano data
- Luxembourgno data
- Macaono data
- Madagascarno data
- Malawino data
- Maldivesno data
- Malino data
- Maltano data
- Marshall Islandsno data
- Martiniqueno data
- Mauritaniano data
- Mauritiusno data
- Mayotteno data
- Mexicono data
- Micronesiano data
- Moldovano data
- Monacono data
- Mongoliano data
- Montenegrono data
- Montserratno data
- Mozambiqueno data
- Myanmar (Burma)no data
- Namibiano data
- Nauruno data
- Nepalno data
- Netherlandsno data
- New Caledoniano data
- New Zealandno data
- Nicaraguano data
- Nigerno data
- Niueno data
- Norfolk Islandno data
- North Koreano data
- North Macedoniano data
- Northern Mariana Islandsno data
- Norwayno data
- Palauno data
- Palestineno data
- Panamano data
- Papua New Guineano data
- Paraguayno data
- Peruno data
- Philippinesno data
- Pitcairn Islandsno data
- Polandno data
- Portugalno data
- Puerto Ricono data
- Réunionno data
- Romaniano data
- Russiano data
- Rwandano data
- Samoano data
- San Marinono data
- São Tomé & Príncipeno data
- Senegalno data
- Serbiano data
- Seychellesno data
- Sierra Leoneno data
- Singaporeno data
- Sint Maartenno data
- Slovakiano data
- Sloveniano data
- Solomon Islandsno data
- Somaliano data
- South Africano data
- South Georgia & South Sandwich Islandsno data
- South Koreano data
- South Sudanno data
- Spainno data
- Sri Lankano data
- St. Barthélemyno data
- St. Helenano data
- St. Kitts & Nevisno data
- St. Luciano data
- St. Martinno data
- St. Pierre & Miquelonno data
- St. Vincent & Grenadinesno data
- Sudanno data
- Surinameno data
- Svalbard & Jan Mayenno data
- Swedenno data
- Switzerlandno data
- Syriano data
- Taiwanno data
- Tajikistanno data
- Tanzaniano data
- Thailandno data
- Timor-Lesteno data
- Togono data
- Tokelauno data
- Tongano data
- Trinidad & Tobagono data
- Tunisiano data
- Turkmenistanno data
- Turks & Caicos Islandsno data
- Tuvaluno data
- U.S. Outlying Islandsno data
- U.S. Virgin Islandsno data
- Ugandano data
- Ukraineno data
- Uruguayno data
- Vanuatuno data
- Vatican Cityno data
- Venezuelano data
- Vietnamno data
- Wallis & Futunano data
- Western Saharano data
- Yemenno data
- Zambiano data
- Zimbabweno data
- Country not found
Choose your country to see availability
Available in United Arab Emirates
- Licence
- No local licence found; served by the global platform
- KYC
- Full KYC (ID + selfie) required before trading
Available in Saudi Arabia
- Licence
- No local licence; served by the global platform
- KYC
- Full KYC (ID + selfie) required before trading
Available in Qatar
- Licence
- No local licence; served by the global platform
- KYC
- Full KYC (ID + selfie) required before trading
Available in Kuwait
- Licence
- No local licence; served by the global platform
- KYC
- Full KYC (ID + selfie) required before trading
Available in Bahrain
- Licence
- No local licence; served by the global platform
- KYC
- Full KYC (ID + selfie) required before trading
Available in Oman
- Licence
- No local licence; served by the global platform
- KYC
- Full KYC (ID + selfie) required before trading
Available in Jordan
- Licence
- No local licence; served by the global platform
- KYC
- Full KYC (ID + selfie) required before trading
Available in Egypt
- Licence
- No local licence; served by the global platform. Local rules on crypto use should be checked.
- KYC
- Full KYC (ID + selfie) required before trading
Available in Morocco
- Licence
- No local licence; served by the global platform. Local rules on crypto use should be checked.
- KYC
- Full KYC (ID + selfie) required before trading
Restricted in Türkiye
- Licence
- KuCoin TR applied to the Capital Markets Board (SPK) for a crypto-asset service provider licence in August 2025; grant of the licence not confirmed
- KYC
- Full KYC (ID + selfie) required before trading
Available in Indonesia
- Licence
- No local licence found; served by the global platform
- KYC
- Full KYC (ID + selfie) required before trading
Not available in Malaysia
- Licence
- Malaysia is a Restricted Location in KuCoin's Terms of Use
- KYC
- Not applicable
Available in Pakistan
- Licence
- No local licence; served by the global platform
- KYC
- Full KYC (ID + selfie) required before trading
Available in Bangladesh
- Licence
- No local licence; served by the global platform. Local rules on crypto use should be checked.
- KYC
- Full KYC (ID + selfie) required before trading
Not available in Kazakhstan
- Licence
- Kazakhstan is a Restricted Location in KuCoin's Terms of Use
- KYC
- Not applicable
Not available in Uzbekistan
- Licence
- Uzbekistan is a Restricted Location in KuCoin's Terms of Use
- KYC
- Not applicable
Available in Nigeria
- Licence
- No local licence; served by the global platform
- KYC
- Full KYC (ID + selfie) required before trading
Restricted in United Kingdom
- Licence
- No FCA registration found; the UK is not a Restricted Location, but use by UK residents is not covered by a local licence.
- KYC
- Full KYC (ID + selfie) required before trading
Not available in United States
- Licence
- US is a Restricted Location; KuCoin exited the US under the January 2025 DOJ plea and a March 2026 CFTC order bars US access
- KYC
- Not applicable
Restricted in European Union
- Licence
- KuCoin EU Exchange GmbH, MiCA CASP authorised by the Austrian FMA (November 2025), for 29 EEA countries excluding Malta; France and the Netherlands are Restricted Locations for the global platform
- KYC
- Full KYC (ID + selfie) required before trading
- United Arab EmiratesAvailable
No local licence found; served by the global platform
- Saudi ArabiaAvailable
No local licence; served by the global platform
- QatarAvailable
No local licence; served by the global platform
- KuwaitAvailable
No local licence; served by the global platform
- BahrainAvailable
No local licence; served by the global platform
- OmanAvailable
No local licence; served by the global platform
- JordanAvailable
No local licence; served by the global platform
- EgyptAvailable
No local licence; served by the global platform. Local rules on crypto use should be checked.
- MoroccoAvailable
No local licence; served by the global platform. Local rules on crypto use should be checked.
- TürkiyeRestricted
KuCoin TR applied to the Capital Markets Board (SPK) for a crypto-asset service provider licence in August 2025; grant of the licence not confirmed
- IndonesiaAvailable
No local licence found; served by the global platform
- MalaysiaUnavailable
Malaysia is a Restricted Location in KuCoin's Terms of Use
- PakistanAvailable
No local licence; served by the global platform
- BangladeshAvailable
No local licence; served by the global platform. Local rules on crypto use should be checked.
- KazakhstanUnavailable
Kazakhstan is a Restricted Location in KuCoin's Terms of Use
- UzbekistanUnavailable
Uzbekistan is a Restricted Location in KuCoin's Terms of Use
- NigeriaAvailable
No local licence; served by the global platform
- United KingdomRestricted
No FCA registration found; the UK is not a Restricted Location, but use by UK residents is not covered by a local licence.
- United StatesUnavailable
US is a Restricted Location; KuCoin exited the US under the January 2025 DOJ plea and a March 2026 CFTC order bars US access
- European UnionRestricted
KuCoin EU Exchange GmbH, MiCA CASP authorised by the Austrian FMA (November 2025), for 29 EEA countries excluding Malta; France and the Netherlands are Restricted Locations for the global platform
Presence by country
- United Arab EmiratesServed by the global platform; no VARA or ADGM licence foundAvailable
- Saudi ArabiaServed by the global platform without a local licenceAvailable
- QatarServed by the global platform without a local licenceAvailable
- KuwaitServed by the global platform without a local licenceAvailable
- BahrainServed by the global platform without a local licenceAvailable
- OmanServed by the global platform without a local licenceAvailable
- JordanServed by the global platform without a local licenceAvailable
- EgyptServed by the global platform without a local licenceAvailable
Show 9 more
- MoroccoServed by the global platform without a local licenceAvailable
- TürkiyeKuCoin TR applied to the SPK for a CASP licence in August 2025; licence grant not confirmedRestricted
- IndonesiaServed by the global platform; no local licence foundAvailable
- MalaysiaRestricted Location in KuCoin's Terms of UseUnavailable
- PakistanServed by the global platform without a local licenceAvailable
- BangladeshServed by the global platform without a local licenceAvailable
- KazakhstanRestricted Location in KuCoin's Terms of UseUnavailable
- UzbekistanRestricted Location in KuCoin's Terms of UseUnavailable
- NigeriaServed by the global platform without a local licenceAvailable
Reliability in detail
Overall 5.6 of 10
Proof of reserves
8.0Monthly Merkle-tree proof of reserves with user self-verification, verified by Hacken (a security firm, not an accounting firm). 32 consecutive monthly reports by July 2025. Snapshot 31 August 2026: BTC 107 %, ETH 117 %, USDT 111 %, USDC 123 %.
Licences
5.0Local entities only: KuCoin EU (MiCA CASP, Austrian FMA, November 2025), AUSTRAC registration in Australia (November 2025), FIU-IND registration in India (May 2024) and KuCoin Thailand (Thai SEC licence, 2025, reported by secondary media). The global operator Peken Global Limited holds no major licence.
Incident history
4.0US guilty plea on 27 January 2025 for unlicensed money transmission and AML failures (about USD 297 million); CFTC order March 2026 (USD 500,000); FINTRAC penalty C$19.6 million (September 2025, under appeal); Ontario fine and ban (2022). 2020 hot-wallet hack of over USD 280 million covered by the insurance fund. No misuse of client funds found.
Segregation of funds
4.0Proof of reserves shows 1:1 backing of in-scope assets, and KuCoin EU is subject to MiCA custody rules. For the global platform, no audit or legal structure confirming segregation of client assets was found.
Insurance fund
4.0KuCoin used an insurance fund to cover the 2020 hack, but no current size, addresses or rules of a user-protection fund were found in primary sources as of September 2026.
Security practices
8.0SOC 2 Type II, ISO/IEC 27001:2022, ISO 27701, ISO 22301, ISO 42001 and CCSS Level 3 (September 2026). Most assets reported to be held in multi-signature cold wallets (third-party review); 2FA, trading password, anti-phishing code and API IP whitelists. Hot-wallet breach in 2020.
Fees
Spot trading, deposits and withdrawals
Spot trading
0.1% maker · 0.1% taker
LV0, Class A pairs; Class B and C pairs cost more. Paying fees in KCS gives a 20 % discount (0.08 %). VIP tiers lower fees further.
Deposits
Crypto deposits are free apart from network costs. Fiat purchases through Buy Crypto and third-party providers carry provider fees; these were not confirmed for individual countries.
Withdrawals
Crypto withdrawal fees are set per coin and network and shown before confirming.
Halal coins you can buy on KuCoin
Coins with a halal verdict listed on this exchange
No coins with a halal verdict on this exchange yet
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