Exchange Comparison · Updated 2026-07-30
BitMart vs KuCoin: Exchange Comparison
KuCoin used to be the default answer to "where else can I trade small-caps?" — the people's exchange, altcoin heaven, all of that. In 2026 the honest framing is narrower: a solid, mature platform with ~855 coins and fair 0.1% fees, carrying more regulatory scar tissue than any other exchange in our table. It's a reasonable BitMart replacement for maybe half of BitMart's audience, and exactly the wrong one for the other half. Which half you're in depends on your passport.
The Short Version
~855 spot coins · 0.10%/0.10% base fees (0.08% paying in KCS) · KYC mandatory since 2023 · US blocked (DOJ settlement) · UK on the FCA warning list · EU: existing customers only · mature apps, bots, and mobile experience.
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Status and Access
| BitMart | KuCoin | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Shutting down — trading ends 26 Aug 2026 | Operating |
| Spot coins (CoinGecko) | ~1,078 at shutdown (1,700+ claimed) | 855 |
| Spot fees, maker / taker | n/a — sell-side only until the halt | 0.10% / 0.10% |
| KYC | Required for wind-down withdrawals in many cases | Mandatory since Aug 2023 |
| United States | Withdrawals only | Blocked |
| United Kingdom | Withdrawals only | Unclear On the FCA warning list; not registered |
| EU / EEA | Withdrawals only | Partial MiCA-licensed (Austria) but barred from onboarding new EU users since Feb 2026 |
| Canada | Withdrawals only | Blocked |
| USDT withdrawal (TRC-20) | per current fee page | 1 USDT |
| Main trade-off | It's closing. | $297M DOJ settlement (Jan 2025) and a 2-year US exit; $281M hack in 2020 (users made whole) |
Base-tier figures, no token discounts. Verified 2026-07-30 against official pages, CoinGecko, and regulator registers — "—" means we couldn't confirm a number and won't guess.
Fees, Line by Line
| What It Costs | BitMart (Pre-Shutdown) | KuCoin |
|---|---|---|
| Spot Maker Fee | 0.10–0.25% (tier-dependent) | 0.10% base |
| Spot Taker Fee | 0.10–0.25% (tier-dependent) | 0.10% base |
| Native-Token Discount | BMX deduction | 0.08% paying fees in KCS |
| USDT Withdrawal, TRC-20 | per fee page | 1 USDT |
| USDT Withdrawal, ERC-20 | per fee page | variable (gas-based) |
| Verified Withdrawal Limit | — | up to 999,999 USDT / day (L3) |
Listings and Products
| BitMart (Pre-Shutdown) | KuCoin | |
|---|---|---|
| Spot Coins (CoinGecko) | ~1,078 | 855 |
| Spot Pairs (CoinGecko) | ~1,121 | 1,024 |
| Long-Tail Coverage | The point of the platform | Mid-caps strong; ~800 BitMart listings missing |
| Trading Bots | Discontinued Jul 26 | Grid, DCA, and copy bots — among the best in class |
| Earn / Staking | Winding down in phases | Full product line |
Security and Trust
| BitMart | KuCoin | |
|---|---|---|
| Operating Since | 2018 | 2017 |
| Hack History | Dec 2021, ~$196M (reimbursement pledged) | Sep 2020, $281M — ~84% recovered, rest insured, users made whole |
| Regulatory Record | FTC probe (dismissed 2023) | DOJ guilty plea Jan 2025, ~$297M; founders resigned; MiCA license (Austria) with EU onboarding bar since Feb 2026 |
| Current Status | Shutting down | Operating |
Sentiment check: in the big r/CryptoCurrency thread about BitMart's closure, one of the more upvoted takes was blunt — "MexC, KuCoin, Gate... all their days are numbered" (source). Against that: KuCoin already paid its US bill in court, holds an actual EU license (frozen onboarding notwithstanding), and rebuilt compliance under new management. That's a materially different position from an exchange that answered pressure by announcing a wind-down.
Who Should Switch to KuCoin
Non-US, non-UK traders with mid-cap-weighted portfolios who value platform polish — the bots, the app, the order types — over raw listing count. Existing KuCoin users in the EU keep full access, which makes it an easy consolidation target if you already have a verified account. Wrong fit: Americans (blocked), Brits (FCA warning list), new EU customers (onboarding bar), and long-tail hunters — roughly 800 of BitMart's listings simply aren't here, so pair this move with the delisted-tokens playbook.
Migrating from BitMart to KuCoin
- Confirm KuCoin actually onboards your country this month — its situation changes faster than any list stays current. The signup flow tells you immediately.
- Export BitMart history, then clear KuCoin KYC before moving anything.
- Check your tokens against KuCoin's markets — expect the long tail to be missing, and route it via the delisted-tokens playbook.
- USDT moves cheapest over TRC-20 (~1 USDT); match networks and test send per the withdraw guide.
BitMart vs KuCoin FAQ
Can Americans Use KuCoin?
No. KuCoin exited the US under its January 2025 DOJ settlement — a guilty plea, ~$297M in penalties, and a two-year market exit that the CFTC made effectively indefinite in March 2026. US users should read the US guide instead.
Can New EU Customers Join KuCoin?
Not at the moment. KuCoin received a MiCA license from Austria's FMA in November 2025, but in February 2026 the regulator barred it from onboarding new EU customers over compliance staffing. Existing verified EU users keep trading; a BitMart refugee opening a fresh account today is exactly who the bar applies to.
Is KuCoin Safe After the 2020 Hack?
The $281M hack in September 2020 was handled about as well as these things go — roughly 84% of funds were recovered and the rest covered by insurance, with users made whole. There has been no comparable breach since. The bigger 2026 risks are regulatory access ones, not custody ones.
KuCoin or MEXC for Small-Caps?
For pure catalog width, MEXC — nearly double the listings, lower fees. KuCoin wins on platform maturity (better bots, better app) and on having already survived its worst headlines, which counts for something when you've just watched an exchange fold.
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