KuCoin Fees Explained
What is KuCoin?
The KuCoin crypto exchange is an excellent platform designed for the trading of crypto specifically, as well as spots, futures, and margins. The platform offers dozens of top-notch cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Just as well, KuCoin is extremely user-friendly and offers a top-notch mobile.
It’s worth noting that KuCoin is constantly looking for new crypto to add to their exchange.
As it stands now, the platform supports the following crypto:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Bitcoin Cash (BCH)
-
Tether (USDT)
-
Internet Computer (ICP)
-
Ethereum Classic (ETC)
-
Filecoin (FIL)
-
Chainlink (LINK)
-
Polygon (MATIC)
-
Theta (THETA)
-
Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC)
-
USD Coin (USDC)
But what does KuCoin’s fee structure look like? When it comes down to it, the KuCoin cryptocurrency exchange has a very low commission rate. But what other fees should traders keep an eye on?
KuCoin’s main fees
| Type of fee | Size |
|---|---|
Fiat deposits |
3-12% |
Bitcoin withdrawal fee |
0.0005 BTC |
Ethereum withdrawal fee |
0.004 ETH |
Tether withdrawal fee |
1-10 USDT |
Cardano withdrawal fee |
1 ADA |
KuCoin Fees vs Coinbase Fees
Here, we have prepared a review of the main KuCoin commissions and compared those fees with Coinbase.
| Type of Fee | KuCoin | Coinbase |
|---|---|---|
Fiat deposits |
3-12% |
$0-10 |
Trading fee |
0.1% with discounts |
0.50% spread plus a flat fee of $0.99 to $2.99 |
Fiat withdrawals |
Unsupported |
€0.15 or $25 USD |
Clearly, both platforms have their own pros and cons. KuCoin’s high fiat deposit fee and lack of fiat withdrawal support are downsides, but the opportunity to save so much on trading fees is quite attractive.
KuCoin Trading Fees Explained
Spot trading is the most common feature on the KuCoin platform. KuCoin does not charge secondary fees for takers or makers, but will instead charge a flat fee at a set cost of 0.1% for each trading transaction. This is the lowest in the industry, and quite attractive for crypto traders.
Crypto Trading Fees
The only crypto trading fee that traders will need to worry about is that 0.1% spot trading fee. However, if you want to get into margin trading, you might want to consider the margin trading pairs fee that KuCoin charges of about 0.1%. Those who want to trade futures will have to consider the perpetual futures funding rate, which ranges from 0.03% and 0% depending on the market.
For cryptocurrency traders who are looking to buy crypto using fiat currencies, KuCoin offers different options for doing this, including their Fast Buy feature, P2P, and interoperability with Simplex, and a wide range of similar services. The fees for these transactions will vary significantly, all depending on the form of fiat payment used. 7% is the maximum in most cases.
Fees for a specific altcoin will also change on a regular basis depending on overall network usage. Simplex tends to charge a 3.5% fee, while Baxa charges fees in the range of 4% to 6%. Transactions conducted on KuCoin’s P2P marketplace will result in different charges depending on the specific payment method and coin processor rates. Because of this, clients who could become P2P users should consider this when purchasing or selling digital assets on KuCoin.
KuCoin Vs Coinbase Trading Fees
For each transaction, Coinbase will charge a 0.50% spread fee, plus a flat fee of $0.99 to $2.99, depending on the size of the trade itself. This is quite a bit of money, especially when compared to KuCoin’s 0.1% spot trading fee that really appeals to cryptocurrency traders.
KuCoin Non-Trading Fees
Does KuCoin Charge Withdrawal Fee?
Unfortunately, there are various charges for withdrawing crypto from KuCoin. However, these fees are mostly just the result of the network fees that are levied by different types of cryptocurrencies out there. This happens because the different types of crypto on the KuCoin website determine the actual withdrawal charges. It’s worth noting, however, that NEO and GAS are free to withdrawal on the platform.
Withdrawal fees are tethered to network fees, so clients will find that KuCoin’s varying and ever-changing withdrawal fees will be similar to that of Binance or another trading exchange. That being said, KuCoin has some of the lowest withdrawal costs in the market. Bitcoin only costs 0.0005 BTC, which will be hard to find anywhere else.
Does KuCoin have a conversion fee?
KuCoin does not charge a conversion fee to convert from one cryptocurrency to another.
Other non-trading fees
It’s worth noting that KuCoin does not charge deposit fees, meaning that deposits are completely free for their clients regardless of the specific currency they choose.
KuCoin vs Coinbase – Non-trading Fees Comparison
KuCoin does not support fiat withdrawals. Just as well, there is a wide range of withdrawal fees for crypto withdrawals, though many of these are quite low when compared to other platforms. These fees change depending on the ebb and flow of the market.
Coinbase, on the other hand, accepts fiat withdrawals and has a withdrawal fee system in place that varies depending on the location and payment method of the user. Bank transfers and wire transfers are the most popular, which cost €0.15 and $25 respectively. It’s also worth noting that Coinbase does not support withdrawals of fiat in Singapore and Australia.
Likewise, KuCoin does not charge deposit fees for crypto. Because the platform does not support fiat deposits, they will charge a fee of 3% to 12%, depending on your chosen payment method, to fund with fiat and convert your funds. For Coinbase, ACH transfers are free with wire transfer are $10.
It’s also worth noting that KuCoin offers a VIP program that can cut down trading costs by 20% when fees are paid with KCS coin, or KuCoin’s unique crypto token. Coinbase does not offer such a discount.
KuCoin Interest Rates
KuCoin’s savings interest rates aren’t the best, but they are quite a bit better than Coinbase’s current offering, which is nothing. Coinbase was planning on offering Coinbase Earn USD Coin at 4% APY with no minimum deposit. Unfortunately, the USDC APY program was scrapped in September of 2023.
Currently, KuCoin offers quite a few different types of savings programs. Their most popular program with the best review is KuCoin Earn Waves, which offers 2.8% APY and the ability to earn 0.980049 WAVES.
How to Reduce KuCoin Trading Fees?
There are a number of ways to cut down on your KuCoin trading fees. The platform offers its users a wide range of exclusive fee rates for futures trading and 0% or low interest on margin loans via various VIP levels. You’ll see offerings like this with platforms like Binance that specialize in cryptocurrency specifically.
Basically, the larger your trading volume on the platform is and the more KuCoin Crypto you buy, the greater your discounts on the trading, maker, and taker fees will be. These fees must be paid with KCS coin. Currently, there are about twelve different levels that traders can aim for.
Just as well, if your total assets exceed $1 million USD, you will be able to access the special VIP for “whales”. With this level, you can qualify for a 0% maker fee among other fantastic benefits.
Currently, the KuCoin VIP program looks like this:
VIP Level - KuCoin Trading Volume - Minimum KCS Holding - Maker - Taker - KCS Maker Fee - KCS Taker Fee
-
VIP 0 < 50 BTC - 0 KCS - 0.100% - 0.100% - 0.080% - 0.080%
-
VIP 1 >=50 BTC - 1000 KCS - 0.090% - 0.100% - 0.072% - 0.080%
-
VIP 2 >=200 BTC - 10,000 KCS - 0.070% - 0.090% - 0.056% - 0.072%
-
VIP 3 >=500 BTC - 20,000 KCS - 0.050% - 0.080% - 0.040% - 0.064%
-
VIP 4 >=1000 BTC - 30,000 KCS - 0.030% - 0.070% - 0.024% - 0.056%
-
VIP 5 >=2000 BTC - 40,000 KCS - 0.000% - 0.070% - 0.000% - 0.056%
-
VIP 6 >=4000 BTC - 50,000 KCS - 0.000% - 0.060% - 0.000% - 0.048%
-
VIP 7 >=8000 BTC - 60,000 KCS - 0.000% - 0.050% - 0.000% - 0.040%
-
VIP 8 >=15,000 BTC - 70,000 KCS - -0.005% - 0.045% - -0.005% - 0.036%
-
VIP 9 >=25,000 BTC - 80,000 KCS - -0.005% - 0.040% - -0.005% - 0.032%
-
VIP 10 >=40,000 BTC - 90,000 KCS - -0.005% - 0.035% - -0.005% - 0.028%
-
VIP 11 >=60,000 BTC - 100,000 KCS - -0.005% - 0.030% - -0.005% - 0.024%
-
VIP 12 >=80,000 BTC - 150,000 KCS - -0.005% - 0.025% - -0.005% - 0.020%
Traders Union Rebate and Discount Programs
While the VIP program can be quite lucrative, there are other, more easier ways to save money trading on KuCoin. Even though KuCoin has very low fees all around, traders might still want to cut as many costs as popular. One potential option is to register on the crypto exchange website via Traders Union. In order to enter this rebate program, simply navigate to the Traders Union website and register. From there, go to KuCoin’s website using Traders Union’s affiliate link. Use this page to register on KuCoin.
By entering this rebate program, KuCoin will pay Traders Union 60% of your trading fees for each transaction. Traders Union will then take 80% of this amount and pay it back to you, the trader. It’s like making money for doing nothing. What do you have to lose?
FAQs
Does KuCoin have high fees?
KuCoin's fees are generally considered to be competitive with other cryptocurrency exchanges. However, like other exchanges, they do charge fees for various services, including trading fees, deposit fees, and withdrawal fees.
Should I use Coinbase or KuCoin?
The choice between Coinbase and KuCoin will depend on your specific needs and preferences. Coinbase is generally considered to be a more user-friendly and beginner-friendly option, while KuCoin may be a better choice for more experienced traders or those looking for a wider range of cryptocurrencies.
What is the difference between KuCoin and Coinbase?
KuCoin and Coinbase are both cryptocurrency exchanges, but there are some key differences between them. KuCoin offers a wider range of cryptocurrencies and trading pairs, while Coinbase is more focused on a smaller selection of popular cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin.
Can I buy crypto directly with my cash?
On the KuCoin platform, they offer BTC, ETH, NEO, USDT, BCH, KCS, and many other cryptocurrency markets. Traders can buy tokens in these markets specifically. Unfortunately, KuCoin does not support cash or credit card purchase to buy tokens directly, as the platform does not support fiat currencies. We recommend buying some coins from another trading exchange like Binance with your cash or credit card and then transferring those assets to KuCoin’s exchange to trade them for other cryptocurrencies.
How long does it take to complete an order on KuCoin?
This depends on your trading habits. On the KuCoin exchange, the bid price and the ask price are based on the individual user’s unique input. The best possible price shown should only be seen as a reference price. If a trader wants to make a very fast deal, they can choose to enter in the best possible price and make their purchase. They can also choose to sell orders and purchase orders that are below order book.
Just as well, withdrawals on the platform can take a little while despite being on blockchain technology. Two or three hours is the standard wait time. Anything longer should result in a help request to KuCoin to figure out what technical issue occured.
Where are trade fees deducted on KuCoin?
Trade fees on KuCoin are deducted from the token that a trader purchased or sold. Consider an example: If one person sells about 100 ETH, the KuCoin exchange will take 1 ETH as a spot trading fee. Thus, you only really sold 99 ETH. If you purchased 100 ETH, the platform will take 1 ETH as the trade fee, thus you will only receive 99 ETH. It’s quite a simple formula that is easy to predict.
Team that worked on the article
Mikhail Vnuchkov joined Traders Union as an author in 2020. He began his professional career as a journalist-observer at a small online financial publication, where he covered global economic events and discussed their impact on the segment of financial investment, including investor income. With five years of experience in finance, Mikhail joined Traders Union team, where he is in charge of forming the pool of latest news for traders, who trade stocks, cryptocurrencies, Forex instruments and fixed income.
The area of responsibility of Mikhail includes covering the news of currency and stock markets, fact checking, updating and editing the content published on the Traders Union website. He successfully analyzes complex financial issues and explains their meaning in simple and understandable language for ordinary people. Mikhail generates content that provides full contact with the readers.
Mikhail’s motto: Learn something new and share your experience – never stop!
Olga Shendetskaya has been a part of the Traders Union team as an author, editor and proofreader since 2017. Since 2020, Shendetskaya has been the assistant chief editor of the website of Traders Union, an international association of traders. She has over 10 years of experience of working with economic and financial texts. In the period of 2017-2020, Olga has worked as a journalist and editor of laftNews news agency, economic and financial news sections. At the moment, Olga is a part of the team of top industry experts involved in creation of educational articles in finance and investment, overseeing their writing and publication on the Traders Union website.
Olga has extensive experience in writing and editing articles about the specifics of working in the Forex market, cryptocurrency market, stock exchanges and also in the segment of financial investment in general. This level of expertise allows Olga to create unique and comprehensive articles, describing complex investment mechanisms in a simple and accessible way for traders of any level.
Olga’s motto: Do well and you’ll be well!