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Important: US Residents Cannot Use These Exchanges

Neither KuCoin nor Binance (global) is available to US residents. Both platforms explicitly prohibit US users in their terms of service. Using a VPN to bypass these restrictions puts your funds at risk of being frozen.

US Alternatives: See Kraken, Coinbase, Gemini, or Binance.US for legal options.

Comparison December 2025

KuCoin vs Binance: Which Has Lower Fees?

Both exchanges charge 0.10% base fees, but the real savings come from token discounts. We break down KCS vs BNB, volume tiers, and which exchange actually costs less.

Quick Verdict

Binance wins on fees with deeper BNB discounts (25% off), higher liquidity, and more aggressive volume tiers. KuCoin wins on altcoin selection—if you're trading obscure tokens, KuCoin often lists them first. For mainstream trading, Binance's fee structure is slightly better.

Lower Fees: Binance
More Coins: KuCoin
Best Liquidity: Binance

KuCoin vs Binance: Fee Structure

Fee Type KuCoin Binance
Base Maker Fee 0.10% 0.10%
Base Taker Fee 0.10% 0.10%
Token Discount 20% (KCS) 25% (BNB)
With Token Discount 0.08% 0.075%
VIP/Volume Minimum 0.005% at $400M+ 0.01% at $1B+
Futures Maker 0.02% 0.02%
Futures Taker 0.06% 0.05%

Token Discounts: KCS vs BNB

Both exchanges offer discounts when you pay fees using their native token. This is where the real savings happen for regular traders.

Binance Coin (BNB) — 25% Discount

Holding and using BNB to pay trading fees gets you a 25% discount on all spot trading fees. Your effective rate drops from 0.10% to 0.075%—the lowest of any major exchange at the base tier.

Additional BNB benefits:

  • Higher discounts at VIP tiers (up to 40% off with VIP 9)
  • Required for some Launchpad token sales
  • Can be staked for additional yield

KuCoin Token (KCS) — 20% Discount

KCS provides a 20% trading fee discount, bringing your effective rate from 0.10% to 0.08%. While slightly less generous than BNB, KCS has some unique advantages:

  • KCS holders receive daily trading fee dividends (50% of platform fees distributed)
  • Holding KCS unlocks lower withdrawal fees
  • Additional airdrops and promotional benefits

Real Cost: $10,000 in Trading Volume

Base Rate (No Token)

$10.00

Both exchanges

With KCS (KuCoin)

$8.00

20% discount

With BNB (Binance)

$7.50

25% discount

Binance saves you $0.50 per $10,000 traded. At $100K/month volume, that's $60/year in savings.

Liquidity: Binance Dominates

This is where Binance has a massive advantage. With approximately $15+ billion in daily volume, Binance is the largest crypto exchange in the world. KuCoin handles roughly $1-2 billion daily—still significant, but an order of magnitude smaller.

Why liquidity matters:

  • Tighter spreads: The bid-ask spread on BTC/USDT is typically 0.01% on Binance vs 0.02-0.03% on KuCoin
  • Less slippage: Large orders fill at better prices
  • Better execution: Orders fill faster with less partial fills

For mainstream pairs (BTC, ETH, major alts), Binance's liquidity advantage can save you more than the fee difference. For obscure altcoins, KuCoin may actually have better liquidity on certain pairs.

Coin Selection: KuCoin Wins

KuCoin is known for listing new tokens faster and maintaining a larger selection of altcoins:

🥝

KuCoin

700+ Cryptocurrencies

  • ✓ Early listings for new projects
  • ✓ "Hidden gem" focus
  • ✓ KuCoin Spotlight for launches
  • ✓ More meme coins
🔶

Binance

400+ Cryptocurrencies

  • ✓ Deep liquidity on major pairs
  • ✓ Binance Launchpad exclusives
  • ✓ More selective listing process
  • ✓ Better due diligence

Additional Features Comparison

Trading Features

Binance offers:

  • Futures (up to 125x leverage)
  • Options trading
  • Margin trading
  • Advanced order types
  • Copy trading

KuCoin offers:

  • Futures (up to 100x leverage)
  • Margin trading
  • Trading bots (built-in)
  • Lending/borrowing
  • KuCoin Earn (staking)

Both platforms are feature-complete for most traders. Binance has a slight edge in derivatives, while KuCoin's built-in trading bots are more accessible for automation.

Security

Both exchanges have experienced security incidents:

  • KuCoin (2020): $280M hack, but all users were reimbursed
  • Binance (2019): $40M hack, covered by SAFU fund

Both have since improved security measures and maintain insurance funds. Neither exchange has had major incidents in 2024-2025.

🇺🇸 For US Residents: Legal Alternatives

Since KuCoin and Binance (global) aren't available in the US, here are your best legal options:

Kraken Pro

0.16% maker / 0.26% taker. Best fee structure for US traders.

Coinbase Advanced

0.40% maker / 0.60% taker. Highest liquidity for US market.

Binance.US

0.10% fees. Similar to Binance global but lower liquidity, limited states.

Gemini ActiveTrader

0.20% maker / 0.40% taker. Only option for New York residents.

Final Verdict: Which Should You Choose?

Choose Binance If:

  • • You want the absolute lowest fees (0.075% with BNB)
  • • You're trading mainstream pairs (BTC, ETH, etc.)
  • • Liquidity and execution speed matter
  • • You want options and advanced derivatives
  • • You trade high volume ($100K+/month)

Choose KuCoin If:

  • • You want access to more altcoins (700+ vs 400+)
  • • You're hunting for newly listed tokens
  • • You want built-in trading bots
  • • KCS dividend sharing appeals to you
  • • You're trading smaller-cap coins

Frequently Asked Questions

Can US residents use KuCoin or Binance?
No. Both KuCoin and Binance (global) explicitly prohibit US residents in their terms of service. US users should use Kraken, Coinbase, Gemini, or Binance.US instead. Using a VPN to bypass restrictions risks having your account frozen and funds seized.
Which has lower fees: KuCoin or Binance?
Binance has slightly lower fees when using token discounts. With BNB, you pay 0.075% vs 0.08% with KCS on KuCoin. The difference is small—$0.50 per $10,000 traded—but adds up for high-volume traders.
Is KuCoin safe to use?
KuCoin was hacked in 2020 for $280M but reimbursed all users. Since then, they've improved security measures. However, KuCoin is not regulated in most jurisdictions, which creates risk. Always withdraw funds to your own wallet for significant holdings.
Why does KuCoin have more coins than Binance?
KuCoin has a less stringent listing process and actively seeks to list new projects early. Binance is more selective due to regulatory concerns and brand protection. This means KuCoin gets "hidden gems" first but also lists more projects that may fail.
What is Binance.US vs Binance?
Binance.US is a separate entity licensed to operate in the United States. It has different (lower) liquidity, fewer coins, and some US-specific restrictions. Binance (global) is the main platform but is not available to US residents.

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