KuCoin Suspends Operations for Two Years After $300M Settlement

KuCoin has agreed to a $300 million settlement with U.S. authorities for operating without a license, marking a major shake-up for the exchange.

As part of the deal, the company will forfeit $184.5 million, pay $112.9 million in fines, and suspend U.S. operations for two years.

Its founders, Michael Gan and Eric Tang, will resign and forfeit $2.7 million in assets, with BC Wong stepping in as CEO.

The settlement follows allegations that KuCoin failed to implement required AML and KYC protocols and did not register with FinCEN.

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Despite the setback, KuCoin assured users that its global operations remain unaffected and emphasized recent compliance and security improvements.

This action is part of a broader regulatory crackdown on the crypto industry, with U.S. regulators collecting over $19 billion in settlements from crypto firms in 2024. KuCoin’s case highlights the increasing focus on compliance and accountability in the cryptocurrency sector.

Alexander Stefanov