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KuCoin Review

Tuesday, September 17th

2024 Crypto Exchange Reviews

KuCoin Review 3.5 Star Rating

KuCoin

3.5 Star Rating
  • .07%/.1% maker/taker fees
  • 20% discount when fees are paid in KCS
  • Over 700 coins on offer
  • Not licensed in the U.S.: no fiat deposits
  • Social investing
  • Staking, margin, and futures trading
  • No fiat deposit for U.S. users

KuCoin is a prominent cryptocurrency exchange that provides a platform for users to trade a wide range of digital assets. Established in 2017, it has gained a strong reputation for its advanced features, robust security measures, and extensive selection of cryptocurrencies. With its user-friendly interface and commitment to innovation, KuCoin has become a popular choice for both seasoned traders and newcomers in the crypto space.

In the U.S? Then you're unverified

KuCoin is technically not licensed to operate in the U.S. However, you are still able to use Kucoin; you just aren't able to be "verified”, meaning that you are less supported by KuCoin, you receive no fraud or scam protection, and are limited in the amounts you are able to trade and withdraw. KuCoin's withdrawal restrictions are not extensive, and amount to a 5 bitcoin per 24hr withdrawal limit for unverified accounts. The biggest barrier for U.S. users is that depositing fiat currency requires you to be verified. This means that for the U.S. user to purchase crypto on KuCoin, you need to buy your coins on a separate exchange, transfer them to your KuCoin integrated wallet, and then start trading on KuCoin. That's a significant set of steps, and may be daunting for new crypto traders.

Best for altcoin exploration

If you are an experienced trader looking for emerging altcoins, then KuCoin may very well be worth it. With over 700 Cryptocurrencies supported, KuCoin takes the cake in terms of variety. In addition, their maker/taker fees are some of the best out there, at .07% and .1% respectively, with a further 20% discount if you pay the fees with their in-house coin, KCS. This is coupled with some standard withdrawal fees: their bitcoin withdrawal fee stands at about .001, about $27 dollars.

Best Cryptocurrenty Exchanges

Robust earning and trading options... but no support for U.S. traders

KuCoin does offer a set of earning programs such as Crypto staking and crypto lending programs However, considering regulatory pressure from the SEC, and the fact that U.S. users must use the platform unverified, we think it is likely a bad idea to use these programs as a U.S. resident - especially in light of the collapse of Gemini's earn program, and the loss of 340,000 customers' assets.

Futures, margins, and options trading

In the same vein, while KuCoin does offer futures, margins, and options trading, we think it is probably best not to engage in such activities on KuCoin if you live in the U.S. If you do, you will not receive the full support of the KuCoin's customer service should anything go wrong. If you are an experienced, non-U.S. investor however, and have completed KuCoin's Know Your Customer verification process, then KuCoin's robust trading options may very well be a good fit.

A great choice for experienced traders

If you already know the ropes, and are looking to trade alt-coins and other less-common crypto, then by all means, KuCoin is an excellent exchange. However, KuCoin is not a good choice for U.S. investors, as being unverified means less support from the platform in case of hacking or fraud. In short, KuCoin could be great for some, but we do not recommend KuCoin for the general U.S. user - especially when it comes to their KuCoin earn program.

What's the Best Cryptocurrency Exchange?

Are you interested in buying cryptocurrency? Want to know what all the fuss is about? Do you want to make sure you're a part of the next financial craze that sweeps the nation? When it comes to cryptocurrency, there's a lot to know - both good and bad. But it's not rocket science.

Obviously, one of the primary reasons that people to get involved in crypto is the potential for financial gain. Cryptocurrencies have experienced substantial price increases in the past, leading to significant profits for early adopters and investors. Conversely, cryptocurrencies have also experience significant decreases in value. With such a volatile asset, the old adage "buy low, sell high” has never been more true.

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Crypto Exchange FAQ

Cryptocurrency is a method of payment that exists as entries in an immutable online database: the blockchain. The blockchain is "trustless” in that it is not verified by any central authority, but through proof-of-stake or proof-of-work consensus mechanisms; all transactions made in a specific cryptocurrency are immutably recorded in its own blockchain, with each coin competing for a niche use-case in the "Web3” future. But for many, cryptocurrency is a speculative investment, one with infamous volatility, and the ability to make - or lose - fortunes overnight.
Crypto staking is the practice of putting your coins to work in verifying "proof-of-stake” cryptocurrencies and projects. Where "proof of work” coins are verified through huge databases of computers competing to be the first to verify a chain by solving - in essence - a very hard math problem, "proof-of-stake” coins are verified by user's volunteering portions of their coins to help verify the chain. Not only does staking use less processing power, but offers those "staking” rewards for their support. There is risk involved in staking, however, as you cannot sell your staked tokens; if the price plummets, you'll be left holding the bag. As such, do your due diligence before staking, especially for volatile cryptocurrencies.
A "hot” wallet is a wallet on your desktop or phone connected to the internet, one that can send and receive crypto to other wallets or exchanges. A "cold” wallet is not connected to the internet, and is usually located on a flash drive or similar storage device. As such, cold wallets are impervious to the majority of scams in the crypto world (unless you just... hand it to someone you shouldn't. Don't do that!). The safest wallets are cold, so if you plan to own a large sum of crypto (or already do), then do yourself a favor and secure your investments. Have a hot wallet for transactions and integrations with an exchange, and a cold wallet to store your holdings.
Payment for order flow is the practice of a market maker (a large company that provides liquidity to the market) paying a brokerage to route customer orders to them. Some exchanges will do this in lieu of charging transaction fees to their customers - but some still charge those fees anyway. This practice (PFOF) is illegal in many countries, as it encourages brokerages to send customer orders to the highest bidder. It also allows brokerages to harvest data on retail investors, and potentially bet against them en-masse. Many companies accepting PFOF have been fined for their practices, but as the fines are far less than profits, there is little incentive not to behave unethically regarding PFOF.
First, make sure to understand the difference between hot and cold wallets. Second, don't follow links in your email, don't join crypto-pump-and-dump groups in private platforms such as Telegram or Discord. And - in general - assume that anyone trying to get you to perform any specific action through the internet is trying to scam you.
Crypto dusting is the process of placing marginal amounts of cryptocurrencies in a myriad of wallets. When this crypto is spent, attackers can trace transactions and de-anonymize your wallet. Once identified, attackers can engage in phishing attacks and other targeted scams. Most users don't have to worry about Crypto dusting, but if something just appears in your hot-wallet, don't trust it.
It essentially boils down to one question: are crypto-assets a security? While that is far too large a topic to debate here, securities are required to be registered, in order to protect consumers from fraud and misrepresentation. SEC litigation over unregulated securities, then, could either be read as government overreach into a nascent financial system, or as long-overdue consumer protections in an unregulated industry facilitating questionable activities.
A smart contract is essentially a piece of code embedded into a blockchain network. When mutually agreed-upon parameters are met, the smart contract automatically executes. Be careful with smart contracts, as - unless you yourself are able to read and analyze the code - there very well could be malware or unfavorable terms embedded into the contract.
All the exchanges on our list are centralized exchanges (CEX); a centralized exchange acts as an intermediary to connect your buy-and-sell orders to their appropriate buyers/sellers. A decentralized exchange (DEX) has no intermediary, and allows peer-to-peer exchanges via smart contracts. As smart contracts can be dangerous for new investors, or for anyone unfamiliar with the code inside them, it's best for most to stick to CEX before experimenting with DEX.
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Continued from above...

Another reason people have turned to crypto is for financial freedom: Cryptocurrencies offer the possibility of financial freedom by providing an alternative to traditional financial systems. They operate on decentralized networks, which let you have more control over your money and bypasses the need for intermediaries such as banks.

If you want o to buy cryptocurrencies, then you need to open an account with a crypto exchange. Cryptocurrency exchanges are a sort of marketplace where buyers and sellers can connect and transact with various digital assets. Exchanges typically offer a wide range of cryptocurrencies, which can let you diversify your investment portfolio. There are literally hundreds of crypto exchanges available to you - it's enough to make your head swim.

Good crypto exchanges provide a user-friendly and accessible platform for you to trade digital currencies. They can also display real-time price information, which let you monitor market trends and make informed decisions more quickly. The best exchanges implement robust security measures in order to protect your funds and personal information. They will employ encryption, two-factor authentication, and possibly cold storage solutions to safeguard assets from theft or hacking attempts.

So which crypto exchange is the best? That's a tough question to answer, as exchanges - just like cryptocurrency itself - are currently in flux. Whether you're looking at security breaches, lawsuits and regulatory side-stepping, exploitative data harvesting practices, consistently poor customer service, high-profile collapses such as FTX, irresponsible crypto lending like Gemini, or payment-for-order flow profiteering, the crypto-scene is not for the risk averse, and not for those unwilling to do their homework. However, if you are going to be trading crypto, it is well worth your time to do the research to ensure the security of your investments, and the quality of the exchange you choose to utilize.

If that wasn't enough to make you pause, consider that a whole slew of exchanges are being sued by the SEC and the CFTC. Whatever your position, the future of crypto is being actively negotiated in the U.S, as the SEC and CFTC (Commodities and Futures Trade Commision) wage regulatory battles over the status of cryptocurrency as an unregistered security.

In short, there is a lot to consider when choosing a cryptocurrency exchange. By doing some digging on your behalf, we at TopConsumerReviews.com hope to help you find the right exchange in an increasingly volatile landscape.

Before you start with our list, here are some critical points to keep in mind:

  • Maker/Taker fees: In order to run an exchange, someone needs to pay for the transactions. Usually it's you, paying a percentage of the total transaction. An exchange's Maker (selling), and Taker (buying) fees are important to consider, because they can add up if you make frequent trades.
  • Transaction Fees: In addition to maker/taker fees, crypto exchanges will often charge a separate transaction fee to execute your trade. Some exchanges offer a subscription-based program for a nominal fee, and eliminate the transaction fee altogether.
  • Lawsuits: While it seems like most exchanges are getting sued by the SEC, some are also being sued for abusing their customers. Understanding what an exchange has been sued for, and why, can help you gauge whether or not it is safe to use.
  • Payment for order flow: Some exchanges/brokerages on our list accept payment for order flow. This means that market makers pay the brokerage for access to your orders: often leading to questionable, lightly-fined business practices. Many people object to the practice along ideological grounds, as it often strategically takes advantage of retail investors.
  • Not your keys, not your crypto: While not our mnemonic, it's an excellent one to remember. Never leave your crypto sitting in an exchange, unless you have a very good reason to be doing so. Crypto exchanges have just proven to be too volatile. Until your crypto is safely in a wallet on your device (or even better, on a flashdrive), do not consider it yours, and do not be surprised if it is lost.

That might seem like a lot to keep in mind. It's natural to feel some anxiety when choosing an appropriate exchange, but don't let it discourage you! Taking the time to find the right exchange can pay (and protect) your dividends down the line. Here at Top Consumer Reviews, we've waded through the best (and worst) of what's out there, and have found the best exchanges for your consideration.

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