KuCoin’s Licensed Thai Debut Sparks Showdown With Bitkub’s $70M Empire

On April 23, KuCoin announced the launch of its fully licensed cryptocurrency exchange platform in Thailand. The move follows the rebranding of ERX Company Limited to KuCoin Thailand.

ERX is Thailand’s first Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)-supervised digital token exchange.

Can KuCoin Challenge Bitkub’s dominance in Thailand?

The rebranding efforts come as part of KuCoin’s shift towards Asia, where regulators, though strict, offer a clearer pathway for licensed crypto operators. The Thai crypto market is crowded but lucrative.

The market is dominated by giants such as Bitkub—currently the largest with a daily volume of $70 million—alongside Gulf Binance, Upbit, WAAN Exchange, and others.

Yet KuCoin sees opportunities.

By acquiring ERX, the exchange gains access to a platform regulated by Thailand’s SEC.

The rebranded platform promises global trading infrastructure with local support, a combination KuCoin hopes will lure users from rivals.

The launch comes amid tightening regulations in the country.

The Thai government banned crypto assets for payments in 2022, while encouraging regulated trading.

The SEC has also intensified its crackdown on foreign peer-to-peer (P2P) crypto platforms to combat scams and money laundering. The exchange is no stranger to regulatory friction. Its app was recently blocked in South Korea, and its U.S. troubles are far from over.

How Will KuCoin Recover from Its Regulatory Battle in the U.S?

KuCoin has been in a legal tussle with U.S. regulators. The company pleaded guilty to operating an unlicensed money transmitting business and has agreed to pay nearly $300 million in fines and forfeitures.

The U.S. Justice Department hammered KuCoin with penalties. The exchange must pay a $112.9 million criminal fine and surrender $184.5 million in forfeitures.

Regulators banned it from U.S. operations for two years—a direct consequence of its failure to implement proper anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) safeguards.

Then came another blow. In December 2023, investigators uncovered billions in suspicious transactions flowing through KuCoin’s platform. Darknet markets, ransomware schemes, and fraud operations all exploited its weak controls.

The fallout forced a swift retreat from New York, where KuCoin paid $22 million to settle separate charges. Even its plea deal stalled. Political shifts under the Trump administration delayed final approval, leaving the exchange in regulatory limbo.

Now, KuCoin scrambles to rebuild. Its founders, Chun Gan and Ke Tang, exited their leadership roles. The company vows to overhaul compliance systems and repair its battered reputation. But trust won’t return overnight—not after this much damage.

How MiCA Licensing Could Unlock Europe for KuCoin

KuCoin is making its European ambitions clear. The crypto exchange has formally applied for a MiCA license, targeting Austria as its gateway to the EU market. This isn’t just expansion—it’s a complete operational overhaul.

If approved, the MiCA license will allow KuCoin EU Exchange GmbH to operate as a regulated crypto-asset service provider within the EU and EEA.

The company has chosen Vienna as its new regional headquarters, citing Austria’s strong regulatory framework and access to talent in the crypto and fintech sectors.

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