KuCoin vs MEXC
Side-by-side comparison from our sourced exchange data. A dash means we haven't verified that fact — we don't fill gaps with guesses.
| KuCoin | MEXC | |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial score | — | — |
| Founded | 2017 | 2018 |
| Headquarters | Seychelles (founded in China, later relocated via Singapore to the Seychelles); terms governed by Turks and Caicos Islands law | Victoria, Seychelles per third-party company profiles; MEXC's own site states no headquarters. |
| Spot maker (base) | 0.1% | 0% |
| Spot taker (base) | 0.1% | 0% |
| Listed assets | ~1,000 | ~3,000 |
| KYC | Required | Required |
| Notably unavailable | United States (incl. territories), Singapore, Mainland China and Hong Kong, Malaysia | United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Singapore |
How they differ
KuCoin, founded in 2017, is based in Seychelles with terms governed by Turks and Caicos Islands law and states roughly 1,000 listed assets across spot, margin, futures and copy trading. MEXC, founded in 2018, states about 3,000 listed assets; third-party profiles place it in Victoria, Seychelles while its own site says it has no headquarters. Both are long-tail listing venues, MEXC the broader of the two.
Fees start at different points. KuCoin's LV0 base rate is 0.1% maker and taker on Class A pairs, cut 20% when fees are paid in KCS, with higher rates on less liquid Class B and C pairs. MEXC states in an official announcement that all spot pairs carry zero trading fees without volume limits, excluding market makers and project teams, and notes that rates may vary by region or event. A zero base rate with those carve-outs is a promotion, so check what applies in your region.
Verification is stricter at KuCoin, which made KYC compulsory on 15 July 2023, after which unverified legacy accounts lost deposit and most trading access. MEXC says KYC is required for most features but that basic trading remains accessible with limited verification, with Primary and Advanced tiers unlocking higher withdrawal limits. Both bar the United States, Singapore, Hong Kong, mainland China and Russian-controlled regions of Ukraine; KuCoin also bars Malaysia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Ontario and British Columbia, France and the Netherlands, while MEXC also bars the United Kingdom, Canada, North Korea, Cuba, Sudan and Iran.
The regulatory and incident records point in opposite directions. KuCoin holds a MiCAR authorisation through the Austrian FMA from November 2025 but carries a September 2020 hot wallet compromise of about $281M and a January 2025 US guilty plea over unlicensed money transmission, with about $297M in forfeiture and fines and an agreed US exit of at least two years. MEXC's profile records no licences and no security incidents.