crypto.com vs KuCoin Comparison

Crypto.com is especially valued for its own Visa card with cashback program, which is considered a unique selling point in the crypto market. With more than 400 tradable cryptocurrencies, savings plans, and staking, the platform, active since 2016, offers a broad range of services. The minimum investment starting at €3 is seen as particularly beginner-friendly.

In Germany, Crypto.com operates under the MiCA licence that the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) granted to Foris DAX MT Limited on 27 January 2025 and which applies across the EU, so no separate BaFin licence is required. According to Crypto.com, a purchase in the app costs 0.80%, up to 4% by card, and a EUR withdrawal via SEPA costs EUR 1. Users occasionally criticise the limited cost transparency.

The card terms changed in 2026: cashback is only paid on the paid tiers, with Level Up Plus at €3.99 a month earning 1.5% on up to US$750 of card spending a month and the top tiers up to 4.5%; the free Midnight card earns 0%. Since 1 October 2026, Ruby, Jade and Indigo also pay a 2% foreign transaction fee outside the EU and UK above a monthly allowance of €400 or €800, and a card without spending costs €6 a month after twelve months.

Crypto.com is mainly considered suitable for users who want to actively use the Visa card with cashback and are prepared to pay for a Level Up tier.

In short: KuCoin is popular with altcoin traders: more than 800 coins worldwide, spot trading from 0.1%, plus futures, trading bots and earn products. For investors in the EU, KuCoin EU is responsible, the European company with a MiCA licence from Austria. Trading and deposits there have been paused since 4 February 2026. If you are looking for an account to trade today, choose an exchange that is fully operating.

Is KuCoin safe and licensed in the EU?

The licence is in place, trading at KuCoin EU is paused. KuCoin EU Exchange GmbH, based in Vienna, has been authorised as a crypto-asset service provider under Article 63 of MiCA since 27 November 2025, granted by Austria's Financial Market Authority (FMA). Through the EU passport the licence covers 29 EEA countries, including Germany, France and Spain (ESMA register, file of 30 October 2026). It covers custody, exchanging crypto-assets for funds and for other crypto-assets, placing and transfers.

Why trading is paused: On its website, KuCoin EU states that trading and deposits have been suspended since 4 February 2026 (as of 1 November 2026). The FMA ordered a ban on new business on 19 February 2026 because the money laundering and sanctions officer posts were no longer filled, and lifted it on 18 May 2026. Under a decision of 18 February 2026, however, KuCoin EU may only start operating once all supervisory requirements are met, in particular on governance and on filling further key positions in management (FMA notice). The FMA had not published any newer decision by 1 November 2026.

Track record: In January 2025, KuCoin's parent company Peken Global pleaded guilty in the US to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business, paid $297 million and withdrew from the US for at least two years (our report). In October 2026 South Korea blocked access to KuCoin because the exchange is not registered there (South Korea blocks 27 exchanges).

What you can do yourself: if you still hold funds at KuCoin, read the notices in your account, turn on two-factor authentication and a withdrawal address whitelist, and keep larger amounts in your own wallet, for example a hardware wallet.

Who is KuCoin for?

KuCoin suits experienced altcoin traders who want a very large choice of small coins and who live in a country where KuCoin accepts customers. For trading from the EU, exchanges with a MiCA licence and full operations are the better fit, such as Bybit EU, OKX, Kraken or Bitvavo. All licensed providers are listed in our comparison of regulated crypto exchanges.