📖 KuCoin: Real Trader Feedback and Common Issues
KuCoin is one of the most discussed crypto exchanges among retail traders: some praise its vast coin selection and low fees, while others complain about account freezes, withdrawals, and support. We analyzed feedback published over the past year on Trustpilot and TradingView and compiled a structured overview of the topics users discuss most.
The goal of this piece is to present an objective picture of KuCoin’s user experience over the last 12 months: to show what users praise and what causes issues, include representative quotes (original spelling and language preserved), and, finally, provide practical checklists and a playbook to reduce risks when using the exchange.
📘 General Information About the Exchange
Context at a glance: KuCoin is a major crypto exchange known for broad altcoin listings and advanced products (margin/futures trading, bots, Earn). We skip marketing claims and look at the platform through users’ eyes—via recent reviews and real‑world experience.
| 🔁 Trading | 🧩 Products | 🪙 Coins | 🛡️ Risk Control | 👥 Support | ⚠️ Regulation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spot, margin, futures chart integration | Bots, Earn, Dual Investment IEO/Spotlight | Extensive listing many “gems” | “Risk Control” verifications/KYC | Tickets, email, social channels slow complaint handling | Offshore registration country restrictions |
🔎 Methodology: What We Analyzed and How
Transparency of approach: to avoid bias, we considered only reviews published in the last 12 months and grouped them by topic. Below is a concise glossary and a frequency map.
KYC: identity verification on the exchange (passport/ID, selfie, supporting documents). Without full KYC, some features and limits are unavailable.
Risk Control: the exchange’s internal checks for suspicious activity. Withdrawals can be temporarily blocked until the review is complete.
P2P: buying/selling with a counterparty through the platform. Risk—disputes and scams; always check ratings and keep receipts.
Delisting: removal of a coin from trading/withdrawals. Requires manual withdrawal to a wallet before the deadline.
Maker/Taker: fee types for adding/removing liquidity. KuCoin’s base rate is low, with KCS discounts available.
Dual Investment: a yield product with conditional price fixation and payouts in the asset. Risk—the outcome depends on market direction.
Frequent: withdrawals and freezes; support; P2P disputes; interface complexity for beginners.
Medium: fees/hidden costs; bots/complex products; delistings.
Rare: strictly technical spot‑trading failures; site outages.
📊 KuCoin Review Distribution: Ratings and Reasons
1–2 stars
- 🚫 Withdrawal issues: request marked “completed,” but funds don’t arrive or remain “under review” for a long time.
- 🚫 Account/funds frozen due to “Risk Control” and prolonged KYC re‑verification.
- 🚫 Support responds slowly or with scripted replies; escalations without clear timelines.
- 🚫 P2P disputes and complaints about moderation; delistings of rare tokens with strict withdrawal deadlines.
3 stars
- 😐 Users appreciate the interface and fees but are dissatisfied with reliability.
- 😐 Deposits/withdrawals: sometimes fast; other times delayed or repeatedly reviewed.
- 😐 Complex products (bots, Earn/Dual) yield unexpected outcomes without a full grasp of the terms.
- 😐 Communication on delistings and restrictions is not always timely.
4–5 stars
- 👍 Convenient interface with TradingView charts and multiple trading modes.
- 👍 Low fees, KCS discounts, and reasonable spreads on top pairs.
- 👍 Large selection of coins, early listings, and IEO Spotlight.
- 👍 Smooth trading and withdrawals with full KYC and adherence to platform rules.
| ⭐ Rating | 📊 Share of Reviews | 💬 Main Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 1–2 stars | ~70% | 🚫 Withdrawals/freezes (Risk Control), weak support, P2P disputes, stress around delistings |
| 3 stars | ~12% | 😐 Mixed experience: favorable terms and interface, but unreliable service and delays |
| 4–5 stars | ~18% | 👍 Low fees, broad listing, solid charts, stable withdrawals when following the rules |
📱 Interface & Usability
What the debate is about: experienced traders praise the rich feature set, while beginners report overload and a lack of clarity around basic operations (especially deposits and withdrawals).
“This app is not user friendly. You cannot withdraw cash to your bank – you need to send crypto to an exchange first THEN sell the coin there to withdraw cash. It's so complicated on the security set up as well...”
“KuCoin has gained my trust through a few years... Maybe bad reports are from people not understanding the platform.”
✅ Pros
- Charting and indicators comparable to professional terminals.
- Multiple modes—from “simple” to a full “pro” interface with detailed order forms.
- Flexible security settings (trading password, anti‑phishing phrase).
❌ Cons
- Challenging onboarding: many screens and unintuitive first steps.
- Limited guidance when setting up 2FA/KYC and making initial withdrawals.
📈 Trading & Tools
A mixed picture: advanced users value futures, margin, and bots; some reviews cite untriggered stops/outages and starting “in the red” due to spreads and fees.
“What a scam, I've been using the Futures trading bot... I set three stop/loss trigger points and only one of them triggered... As soon as you enter a trade, you're about 2 USDT down before you start.”
“KuCoin has become one of the most popular exchanges, with many 'gems' to be found.”
✅ Pros
- Comprehensive suite of instruments (spot/margin/futures/bots) in one interface.
- Abundant low‑ and mid‑cap altcoins for hunting “gems.”
- Order books update quickly on popular pairs.
❌ Cons
- Complex products (Dual Investment, etc.) can lead to unexpected outcomes.
- Individual complaints about bots/orders (missed stops, slippage).
💰 Fees & Hidden Costs
What users report: base fees are low, but the all‑in cost can rise due to spreads, bot/futures fees, and network fees on withdrawals.
✅ Pros
- Low base fees compared with most exchanges.
- Discounts when paying with KCS; robust multi‑tier VIP schedule.
- Crypto deposits typically have no exchange fee (network fees apply on withdrawal).
❌ Cons
- Spreads on illiquid pairs effectively raise the cost of entry/exit.
- Minimum deposit/withdrawal thresholds—amounts below the threshold may not be credited.
💳 Deposits & Withdrawals
The most contentious topic in reviews: some users withdraw quickly without issues; others report delays, re‑verifications, hangs, and freezes until Risk Control is resolved.
“I opened a ticket and my withdrawal issue was resolved within 24 hours. Thank you support!”
“I was trying to withdraw part of my funds for 3 days... re‑verification more than 30 times within 3 days...”
- Make a test withdrawal of a small amount to your wallet.
- Enable and verify 2FA and your trading password; add the address to your whitelist.
- Check the network/tag (memo, destination tag) and limits.
- Only after a successful test should you withdraw the main amount.
You submitted a request; several hours have passed—no status update. The ticket reply says “operation under review.”
🎧 Support
Overall sentiment skews negative: long response times, templated replies, and lengthy escalations. Occasionally users report quick, high‑quality resolutions.
“Customer service is the worst... they have done everything they can possibly do to avoid talking to customers.”
“Only bright light — the last CS agent tried to help and hear my frustration.”
🔐 Security & Risk Control
Key points: following past incidents, the platform has strengthened protections and monitoring. When suspicious activity is detected, operations/accounts may be frozen pending investigation—reviews often interpret this as “funds seizure.”
“This company is pure scam! They have completely made it impossible for me to log into my account! When I try, there comes ‘intelligent verification’...”
“2FA doesn't work at all, always expires.”
✅ Pros
- Robust toolkit: 2FA, anti‑phishing phrase, trading password, whitelists.
- Proactive monitoring of suspicious activity.
❌ Cons
- Strict risk control can freeze funds for extended periods with limited detail.
- Occasional 2FA/login issues reported by some users.
📝 Listings & Delistings
A strength—and a source of risk: KuCoin lists many “gems,” but tokens are periodically removed from trading/withdrawals; users worry about tight deadlines and the difficulty of withdrawing thinly traded assets.
“They list your investment and then months later delist assets... I couldn't withdraw easily, looks like a scam.”
🚫 Account Locks & Freezes
Common complaints in reviews: sudden blocks due to risk control and prolonged reviews with few details—especially in P2P and cross‑jurisdiction transfers.
“Account suddenly frozen, they asked to contact a police officer by email... no clear explanation for weeks.”
“When they pulled out of the US, they essentially locked me out and made it very difficult to return my assets.”
🆔 KYC & Re‑verifications
Trend over the last year: tighter KYC/AML requirements. Hence frequent re‑verifications on withdrawals and long pending reviews.
“Re‑verification for the WD process more than 30 times within 3 days...”
🎁 Bonuses, KCS & Earn
How users see it: KCS holders note discounts and daily bonuses; experienced traders use Earn/bots, while beginners sometimes misunderstand the mechanics—which leads to disappointment.
“KCS bonus is one of the best ways to get passive income.”
“I took their Dual Investment... XRP has risen and I ended with a loss — financial theft!”
🤝 P2P Trades & Disputes
The riskiest area for beginners: fraud cases and protracted disputes occur. Many reviews allege incorrect moderation decisions.
“After I paid €3350, the seller provided fake evidence... the moderator sided with him. Later he bragged he ‘shares profit with moderators’...”
✅ How to Reduce Risk
- Choose counterparties with strong history and verified payment methods.
- Use only official chats/forms; do not move to external messengers.
- Keep payment receipts and screenshots of every step.
❌ What to Avoid
- Transfers “on trust” and prohibited comments in payment notes.
- Confirming receipt before funds actually arrive.
- Off‑escrow deals and rates that are “too good to be true.”
🧭 Safe Withdrawal Playbook
A step‑by‑step workflow that saves nerves: start with a small amount to test all “fragile spots,” then proceed with the main withdrawal.
- Test transaction: send a small amount to your wallet and wait for confirmations.
- Whitelists: add the recipient address to your whitelist and observe any cool‑down period.
- 2FA and trading password: ensure codes are accepted correctly on both the exchange and the app.
- Network/tag: carefully verify the network, memo/tag, and min/max limits.
- Document package: prepare screenshots/statements in advance—if the review drags on, you’re ready.
- Main withdrawal: only after a successful test send the main amount.
You need to withdraw 3,000 USDT. First send 10 USDT to your main wallet (to confirm the network/tag), then make a single operation for 2,990 USDT.
🧩 Who KuCoin Is For (and Who It’s Not)
Three typical profiles: different experience levels mean different expectations and risk sets. Match the recommendations to your situation.
Beginner
Seeks basic trading and convenience. The main risk is confusion around the interface and P2P/withdrawals.
- 🔹 Start with spot and popular pairs; avoid complex products.
- 🔹 Make test withdrawals and keep most funds off‑exchange.
- 🔹 Complete full KYC in advance to avoid hitting limits.
Main point: KuCoin can work, but only with a safety parachute: tests, whitelists, and minimizing balances kept on the exchange.
Alt‑Hunter
Looks for “gems” at early listings. Main risk—delistings and illiquidity.
- 🔹 Take profits in tranches and move proceeds to your wallet.
- 🔹 Track delisting announcements and withdrawal deadlines.
- 🔹 Account for spreads and slippage with larger sizes.
Main point: KuCoin is a convenient showcase for new tokens, but disciplined profit‑taking and withdrawals are mandatory.
KCS Holder/Passive Earner
Focused on KCS discounts/bonuses and Earn products.
- 🔹 Calculate real yield, factoring in product risks and lockups.
- 🔹 Split funds across terms and products to avoid a single exit window.
- 🔹 Keep a liquidity cushion off‑exchange.
Main point: bonuses are a useful plus, but they do not replace core custody safety.
⚖️ Pros & Cons of KuCoin (Summary)
✅ Pros
- Very wide selection of coins and early listings—a boon for alt‑hunters.
- Low base fees, discounts via KCS, and robust VIP tiers.
- Advanced tools (futures, margin, bots) and integrated charts.
❌ Cons
- Strict risk control, with complaints about freezes and lengthy reviews.
- Slow support on complex cases; templated replies.
- P2P and delisting risks; interface complexity for beginners.
❓ Questions & Answers (FAQ)
Is KuCoin reliable?
Is it safe to store funds on KuCoin?
Is verification (KYC) required?
Why can a withdrawal get stuck?
How can I reduce risk in P2P?
Are KuCoin’s fees really low?
What should I do when a coin is delisted?
How can I work with support more effectively?
✅ Conclusion
KuCoin offers robust functionality and one of the broadest listings on the market. For experienced traders it’s a convenient all‑in‑one venue: spot, derivatives, bots, and early tokens. Low base fees and KCS incentives are clear advantages.
However, over the last year reviews have been dominated by complaints about withdrawals, risk‑control freezes, complex P2P disputes, and slow or scripted support. For beginners, the combination of rich functionality and limited guidance often results in stress.
Main point: KuCoin suits users who understand the risks of exchange custody and operate with discipline: complete KYC, perform test withdrawals, use whitelists, and minimize balances kept on‑exchange. If you prioritize simplicity and service guarantees, consider alternatives—or use KuCoin primarily to discover and initially trade altcoins.
🧭 Practical Recommendations Before You Start
Pre‑deposit checklist
If something goes wrong