KuCoin Secures MiCA License in Austria, Expands to 29 EEA Countries

KuCoin has finally obtained a Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license in Austria through its European subsidiary, KuCoin EU Exchange...

Quick overview

  • KuCoin has obtained a MiCA license in Austria, allowing it to operate a regulated digital asset business across 29 EEA member states.
  • The MiCA framework, effective December 2024, establishes strict rules for crypto providers, enhancing trust and compliance in the EU crypto market.
  • KuCoin's CEO emphasizes that compliance is foundational to their operations, aiming to provide secure and innovative digital asset services.
  • This license is part of KuCoin's broader '2 Billion Trust Project' and aligns them with other compliant exchanges in the EU.

KuCoin has finally obtained a Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license in Austria through its European subsidiary, KuCoin EU Exchange GmbH. This approval lets them operate a fully regulated digital asset business across 29 European Economic Area (EEA) member states. The new MiCA framework, which came into effect in December 2024, brings much-needed order to the EU crypto world by establishing a set of rules for crypto providers to follow.

BC Wong, KuCoins CEO, isn’t holding back when it comes to the importance of this license: “Getting our Austrian entity the MiCA license is a pretty massive milestone for our long term plans for trust and compliance – Europe’s MiCA framework is one of the toughest regulatory benchmarks out there, and I’m proud to say we’ve managed to meet it”

Services and Compliance Standards Under MiCA

Getting the MiCA license lets KuCoin EU offer a full spread of crypto services – trading, custody, and all the other digital asset operations under one roof. To comply with the new rules, they have to meet some pretty tough requirements, including

  • Ensuring they’ve got enough cash to keep going in a financial crisis
  • Knowing where everyone’s money is at all times so it can’t get pinched
  • Being totally transparent about what they do and any money they’ve got
  • Getting approval from the relevant authorities in each country

KuCoin hashas also gone the extra mile with its security by obtaining SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001:2022, ISO 27701, and the Cryptocurrency Security Standard certifications. And they’re not just making it up as they go along – all their financial holdings are audited regularly by independent experts to ensure users can trust them.

Expanding into New Markets and Industry Trends

Getting the Austrian MiCA licence is just the latest move in KuCoin’s “2 Billion Trust Project,” following its registration with Australia’s AUSTRAC last November. By getting MiCA approved, KuCoin is joining a growing list of exchanges (Coinbase, Kraken, Bitstamp,, to name a few) that have already lined up to follow the new EU rules before they came into effect in in December 2024.

This move is not just about getting a foothold in the European market;; it also helps investors know that KuCoin is sticking to the book and playing by the rules. With MiCA in place, a crypto business licensed in one EU country can now simply ‘export’ its services to the other 27 EEA countries, creating a single, unified market for digital assets.

KuCoin’s CEO Wong is clear on the reasoning behind this move: “Compliance is not just something we have to do to keep the authorities happy, it’s the foundation of everything we do here. We want to provide secure & innovative digital asset services that people feel safe using.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR See More
Arslan Butt
Lead Markets Analyst – Multi-Asset (FX, Commodities, Crypto)
Arslan Butt serves as the Lead Commodities and Indices Analyst, bringing a wealth of expertise to the field. With an MBA in Behavioral Finance and active progress towards a Ph.D., Arslan possesses a deep understanding of market dynamics. His professional journey includes a significant role as a senior analyst at a leading brokerage firm, complementing his extensive experience as a market analyst and day trader. Adept in educating others, Arslan has a commendable track record as an instructor and public speaker. His incisive analyses, particularly within the realms of cryptocurrency and forex markets, are showcased across esteemed financial publications such as ForexCrunch, InsideBitcoins, and EconomyWatch, solidifying his reputation in the financial community.

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