KuCoin Eyes EU Market with MiCA License as User Base Hits 34 million
@Roy, this matter is related to regulation and compliance licenses, particularly the MiCA framework, so I’m assigning it to you.
Key Event:
KuCoin, a prominent South Korean crypto exchange, reported exceptional H1 performance driven by domestic demand and global expansion. The exchange secured an EU MiCA license, enabling it to operate freely across Europe, and opened a fully regulated branch in Thailand. KuCoin also bolstered its derivative market, added advanced trading features, attained top-tier security certifications, and expanded its fintech services, including KuCoin Pay and KuCard, to penetrate new markets and meet evolving user needs.
KuCoin's Impressive H1 2025 Performance Fueled by Global Expansion and Regulatory Strides
Seychelles-based cryptocurrency exchange KuCoin has reported a robust first half of 2025, marked by significant user growth, strategic global expansion, and key regulatory advancements. The exchange surpassed 41 million registered users, driven by both domestic interest and a targeted international strategy. This period of strong performance was highlighted by the company's application for a Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license in the European Union and the launch of a fully regulated branch in Thailand.
A major step in KuCoin's global compliance efforts is its application for a MiCA license, which would grant it operational freedom across the EU. While some reports indicate the exchange has "registered a license under MiCA," the consensus points to an application submission, a critical distinction in the regulatory process. This move signals KuCoin's commitment to aligning with global regulatory frameworks.
Furthering its expansion in Asia, KuCoin officially launched a fully regulated local exchange in Thailand, licensed by the Thai Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This establishes a significant foothold for the exchange in the growing Southeast Asian market.
Contrary to the initial description of being a South Korean exchange, KuCoin is headquartered in Seychelles. The company was originally founded in China and has since moved its headquarters. Recent reports indicate KuCoin's interest in re-entering the South Korean market after facing regulatory hurdles.
In the derivatives market, KuCoin Futures has solidified its position, ranking fourth globally according to the crypto derivatives analytics platform CoinGlass. This achievement is attributed to the addition of advanced trading features and a significant increase in demand. The first half of 2025 saw the addition of 106 new futures markets.
The exchange also bolstered its spot trading offerings by listing over 170 new tokens, bringing its total listed assets to over 1,000. This expansion caters to the high demand for trending assets, including meme tokens and real-world assets (RWA).
Underscoring its commitment to security, KuCoin obtained top-tier certifications, including SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001:2022. The exchange also received an AAA security rating from CER.live, placing it among the top four most secure exchanges globally. This is further supported by a $250 million insurance fund through a partnership with BitGo and the overarching $2 Billion Trust Project aimed at ensuring community safety.
KuCoin's fintech services have also seen substantial growth. KuCoin Pay expanded its global footprint, partnering with regional fintech apps in Southeast Asia, such as enabling payments through AEON's VietQR and QR Ph codes. The KuCard, a crypto debit card, experienced a more than 30% increase in transaction volume and now offers up to 8.5% cashback for high-tier users. The card also supports major payment platforms like Apple Pay and Google Pay.
The platform's automated trading solutions have also gained traction, with the KuCoin Trading Bot platform seeing the creation of 8.9 million bots and a 40% growth in trading volumes. This growth was fueled by AI enhancements and the addition of numerous new tokens and futures markets for automated trading strategies.
@Roy, focus on delivering a clear account of KuCoin's significant achievements in the first half of 2025 while avoiding filler details. Prioritize the key milestones: global expansion, user growth, regulatory progress (MiCA license and Thai SEC compliance), and its performance in spot and derivatives trading. Emphasize what happened—KuCoin's strategic moves to strengthen its global presence and security, like adding 106 futures markets, obtaining top-tier certifications, and enhancing fintech services like KuCoin Pay and the KuCard. Keep the language precise and avoid overloading with minor stats unless directly relevant to the main narrative. Highlight the company's role in advancing compliance and innovation in the crypto sector.
KuCoin Eyes EU Market with MiCA License as User Base Hits 41M
- KuCoin achieves pivotal global expansion with regulatory strides in the EU and Thailand.
- The exchange enhances its trading platform, security, and fintech services to meet rising user demand.
On July 16, 2025, CoinDesk reported that Seychelles-based cryptocurrency exchange KuCoin attained remarkable growth and crucial regulatory milestones during the first half of the year. The platform applied for the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license, signaling compliance with stringent EU regulations and operational readiness to expand within Europe. During this period, KuCoin also launched a fully regulated subsidiary in Thailand under the supervision of the Thai Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), marking its significant entry into the Southeast Asian market.
On a global scale, KuCoin's user base surged past 41 million as domestic interest and international outreach strategies bolstered its ecosystem. Despite earlier mischaracterizations as a South Korean company, KuCoin continues to be headquartered in Seychelles, moving its focus toward re-entering the South Korean market with a compliance-first approach after facing previous regulatory hurdles.
KuCoin’s derivatives platform also shone in H1 2025. As per CoinGlass, KuCoin Futures ranked fourth globally, driven by cutting-edge trading features and the inclusion of 106 new futures markets. Spot trading witnessed similar expansion with over 170 new tokens listed, pushing total assets on the platform above 1,000. This catered to growing demand for popular digital assets, ranging from meme tokens to real-world assets (RWAs).
Security remains a cornerstone of KuCoin's operations, achieving SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001:2022 certifications. This aligns with KuCoin's security-first policy and strategic commitment to its users. Additionally, the company received an AAA security rating from CER.live, situating it among the top four secure crypto exchanges worldwide. These robust security measures are reinforced by a $250 million insurance fund through a partnership with BitGo, as well as the broader $2 Billion Trust Project aimed at community safety.
In fintech, KuCoin Pay expanded its Southeast Asian footprint by integrating partnerships to support regional QR-based payment systems, including AEON’s VietQR and QR Ph codes. Meanwhile, the KuCard crypto debit card observed a 30% increase in transaction volume and introduced competitive rewards, such as up to 8.5% cashback for high-tier users, in addition to Apple Pay and Google Pay integration.
KuCoin's automated trading services also grew significantly. The KuCoin Trading Bot platform hosted 8.9 million new bots in H1 2025, with a 40% rise in trading volumes, enhanced by AI-driven improvements and the addition of new tokens and futures offerings.
As of July 16, 2025, at 16:09 UTC, KuCoin Token (KCS) is trading at $11.687, with a 1.034% increase in 24-hour trading volume, according to CoinMarketCap. These figures underscore the platform's continued growth and adaptability in a rapidly evolving market.
