Kucoin vs Bitget: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Kucoin and Bitget This side-by-side comparison reveals total cost (fees + spreads), security & licenses, coins/derivatives, deposits/withdrawals, and app quality. In 2 minutes you’ll see who wins for beginners, active traders, and long-term holders. Clear pros/cons, a quick verdict, and safe links to get started.

Last updated on August 16, 2025

Kucoin

Bitget

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United States

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

Yes

China

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

Yes

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

China

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

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Kucoin is ideal if:

Bitget is ideal if:

Versatile trading options – Combines spot, futures, margin, and copy trading along with automated tools to suit both beginners and advanced users
Built for trust and security – Emphasizes safety with cold/hot wallet separation, Proof of Reserves, real-time risk monitoring, and a sizable protection fund
Seamless, accessible experience – Boasts an intuitive interface across web and mobile, supported by global partnerships and strong user support networks

Kucoin isn’t ideal if:

If you're looking for full fiat on-ramp flexibility, you may find KuCoin lacking due to limited direct deposit and withdrawal options.
If you're just starting in crypto trading, KuCoin's advanced interface and tools could feel overwhelming rather than beginner-friendly.
If you're in a highly regulated market or prioritize strict compliance, KuCoin may fall short due to its offshore structure and past legal challenges.

Bitget isn’t ideal if:

If you prefer direct fiat deposits – Bitget emphasizes crypto-to-crypto trading and may not suit users wanting seamless fiat-to-crypto onboarding.
If you're regulatory-risk averse – It lacks top-tier regulatory oversight in some jurisdictions, which could concern users seeking high-level financial protection.
If you're uncomfortable with complex tools – Advanced features like futures and leverage could overwhelm inexperienced traders who prefer simpler platforms.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

KuCoin applies a standard maker/taker model where both roles initially face the same base percentage; however, as your trading volume increases or you hold more of the native KCS token, your fees can drop significantly—especially if you pay with KCS, which unlocks a built-in discount on those trading costs.

Bitget applies a standard spot trading fee of 0.1% for both makers and takers, with a 20% discount available if you choose to pay using the native BGB token. VIP tiers, determined by trading volume and BGB holdings, offer further tiered reductions.

Futures/Derivatives

Futures trading follows a similar tiered fee structure, with makers generally enjoying lower rates than takers, and additional savings possible through higher VIP levels or KCS usage; funding fees are applied to perpetual contracts at regular intervals, aligning the futures price with the spot market.

For perpetual futures, the maker fee is 0.02% and the taker fee is 0.06%, with potential discounts through the VIP program or BGB holdings; funding fees are not collected by Bitget but exchanged directly between traders every 8 hours.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

On very liquid pairs like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT, the typical bid-ask spread is extremely tight—often imperceptible to most users—making execution costs minimal for high-liquidity trades.

Bitget does not publish fixed spread data; spread tends to mirror tight market conditions on major liquid pairs, consistent with other active spot platforms—though slight variations may occur depending on real-time order book depth.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

Depositing fiat is supported through various channels (such as bank transfers, P2P, or third-party services), often with modest charges and varying settlement times; withdrawals follow a similar pattern, with costs and processing durations depending on the chosen method and currency.

Users can deposit fiat via credit/debit cards or third-party services; fees and processing times vary depending on the provider, while deposits may have third-party charges but no platform fee listed.

On-chain Withdrawals

Withdrawal costs depend on the coin and blockchain network you choose

Withdrawal fees are dynamically adjusted based on network congestion; there’s no flat-rate model—actual costs vary by blockchain and are shown during withdrawal.

Hidden Costs

While KuCoin operates transparently, you may encounter additional indirect costs like currency conversion spreads, potential inactivity fees, or expedited KYC processing—so it’s wise to review their service terms for any such ancillary charges.

Bitget maintains transparency around fees—there are no inactivity fees, currency conversion happens at prevailing market rate (with no added margin), KYC is standard and fee-free, and other charges like copy-trading profit shares are openly disclosed.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

If you use €500 to purchase BTC, your total cost includes the base trading fee, the difference between buy and sell price embedded in the execution price, and any eventual withdrawal costs—so the actual amount delivered to your wallet will be slightly less than €500 worth of BTC.

If you bought €500 of BTC via the spot market, you’d pay roughly 0.1% in fee (or about €0.50, less with BGB), plus a minimal spread typically embedded in execution price, and then pay a network-based withdrawal fee when moving the BTC on-chain. Let me know if you’d like a deeper dive into any of these!

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

KuCoin lists well over 900 cryptocurrencies—pushing close to or beyond the 1,000-mark—covering approximately 1,200+ trading pairs, with the top 20 dominated by high-volume staples like BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT.

Bitget offers hundreds of cryptocurrencies across spot and derivatives, with the top 20 liquid pairs by volume including BTC/USDT, ETH/USDT, XRP/USDT, SOL/USDT, BGB/USDT, USDC/USDT, among others, reflecting a broad but curated selection.

Product Range

The platform supports a comprehensive range including spot, margin, futures (perpetuals), options, staking and lending (via Earn), copy trading, automated grid bots, and DCA tools, positioning itself as a multi-product hub for diverse trading styles.

The platform supports spot, margin (both cross and isolated), perpetual futures, and copy trading, and also extends offering grid and DCA bots; additional services include staking/earn and flexible savings, though options, crypto ETFs, and loans are not core features.

Liquidity

With daily trading volumes typically exceeding $1.5 billion and strong order book depth in major pairs such as BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT, KuCoin delivers robust liquidity suitable for both strategic executions and large-volume limit orders.

Bitget consistently ranks among the top global cryptocurrency exchanges for liquidity depth in BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT, ensuring efficient execution even for large orders; real-time 24-hour volume is high and competitive among major platforms.

Tools

Users have access to advanced order types (limit, stop, OCO), price alerts, rich charting tools, native TradingView integration, and both REST API and WebSocket endpoints for seamless automation and real-time data feed.

Users can access a full range of order types—limit, stop, OCO—and enjoy advanced charting tools, TradingView integration, price alerts, and a robust API/WebSocket for automation.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

While KuCoin serves a global user base, it restricts access to certain products like derivatives in highly regulated jurisdictions such as the United States, limiting some trading features for residents in those regions.

Derivatives and leveraged products are restricted or unavailable in certain regions due to compliance requirements—users should check local eligibility as access may vary by jurisdiction.

Innovation

The exchange continuously rolls out innovative features including token launch initiatives like Launchpad/Launchpool, and diversified Earn options with both flexible and locked staking products to suit different investor appetites.

Bitget provides launchpad-like activities via its Web3 Launchhub, along with flexible earning (zero-lock staking) and competitive yield programs that encourage ongoing user engagement.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

KuCoin is run by PhoenixFin Pte. Ltd., a company incorporated in Singapore, with its founding roots tracing back to 2017 and its current operational base in Seychelles—positioning it as a globally-focused exchange governed under offshore legal structures.

Bitget is legally registered in Seychelles under Bitget Holdings Pte Ltd, founded in 2018, and maintains additional operational offices in the UAE and Bahrain to support regional growth and compliance.

Licenses/Registration

The platform is actively pursuing regulatory compliance, including a recent MiCA license application in Europe, having also secured VASP recognition in regions like India, while still operating without licensing in highly regulated markets such as the United States.

The platform holds multiple regulatory registrations including MSB in the U.S., VASP in Poland, crypto licensing in Lithuania, and approvals in markets like Australia, Italy, the UK, and El Salvador—all supporting its pursuit of broader MiCA and regional compliance.

Custody

KuCoin maintains full custody of user funds, combining its own wallets with institutional-grade infrastructure like BitGo; it publishes independent monthly Proof of Reserves audits—over 32 consecutive reports—consistently showing reserve ratios above 100%, ensuring all user assets are fully backed.

Bitget uses self-custody solutions, regularly conducts Merkle-tree audits to maintain over 100% proof of reserves, and incorporates cold storage for a significant portion of user funds to ensure full backing and transparency.

Insurance & Protection Funds

While not publicly detailing a dedicated insurance fund, KuCoin has relied on insurance coverage and recovery mechanisms in past incidents, signaling that asset protection tools are in place though not deeply specified for public reference.

A multi-million-dollar Protection Fund serves as a safety net alongside security standards such as ISO 27001

Incident History

The platform suffered a significant security breach in 2020, losing around $281 million; users recovered approximately 94% of assets through a mix of platform reserves, law enforcement aid, and insurance; more recently, KuCoin settled legal matters in the U.S. with sizable fines and market exit agreements.

Since its launch, Bitget has maintained an incident-free track record with no major hacks, enforcement suspensions, or regulatory penalties publicly reported, demonstrating consistent platform resilience.

Risk Controls

Security measures include mandatory two-factor authentication, email/domain whitelisting, real-time anti-phishing alerts, granular API permissions, and support for sub-accounts—all designed to help users control access and minimize threats.

Users benefit from robust protections like 2FA (via apps or passkeys), anti-phishing codes, PIN/fund codes, withdrawal address whitelists, sub-accounts, granular API permissions, and “cancel withdrawal” functionality to mitigate unauthorized activity.

Transparency

KuCoin delivers high transparency via monthly PoR reporting, real-time reserve verification tools, and meets enterprise security standards such as SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001; it also provides a law-enforcement request framework, strengthening its operational accountability.

Bitget delivers transparency through monthly audit-backed reserve disclosures, compliance reporting, and operations conducive to regulatory inquiries—though it doesn’t offer publicly viewable wallet addresses or formal SLA documentation.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

You can top up your KuCoin account using bank transfers (e.g., SEPA, PIX), credit/debit cards via the Fiat Account interface, or e-wallet services; transaction limits and processing times vary by method, with same-day or instant options available alongside longer-bank-transfer alternatives.

Bitget supports bank transfers (e.g., SEPA), credit/debit cards, P2P, and third-party e-wallets—each method has varying minimums, limits, and processing times that are displayed during the transaction.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

KuCoin enforces a tiered identification system—ranging from basic registration to full verification (including photo ID and selfie)—each unlocking broader functionality and higher daily limits for withdrawals, fiat interactions, and product access.

Users must complete identity verification to enable fiat services; verification lifts default crypto withdrawal caps (e.g., from ~20,000 USDT/day to millions depending on VIP tier), while sub-accounts inherit verification from the main account.

Withdrawals

Crypto withdrawals are available across major networks like ERC-20, TRC-20, and BEP-20, each with distinct processing speeds; withdrawal limits scale with KYC level, with fully verified users able to move very large sums daily.

Fiat withdrawals use bank transfers (e.g., SEPA for EUR) with limits and processing times shown during execution; crypto withdrawals support major networks (e.g., TRC20, ERC20) and show exact time estimates and fees at withdrawal.

Customer Support

KuCoin offers round-the-clock support via live chat and email, backed by a comprehensive help center and FAQs; typical response times are swift, and resources are regularly updated to guide users through common issues.

Bitget provides 24/7 live chat, email support, and a resource-rich help center; response times may vary, but guidance through chat is generally prompt, supplemented by a detailed knowledge base.

Languages & Localization

The platform supports multiple language interfaces—including native Spanish—with local display of amounts (e.g., in €), although deeper regulatory tailoring depends on region and may affect product availability.

The platform is fully translated into major languages including English; fiat balances and fees are displayed in users’ preferred currencies, aligning with local regulatory and payment frameworks.

App Quality & Stability

KuCoin’s mobile app is actively maintained with frequent updates; it’s generally reliable and user-friendly, with minimal stability issues reported—ensuring a smooth on-the-go trading experience.

Bitget’s app is designed for stability, regularly updated to address bugs and performance; while exact crash statistics are not provided, user reviews indicate smooth usability across iOS and Android platforms.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

KuCoin’s interface balances flexibility and ease with its dual modes—“Lite” offers a streamlined, intuitive view that’s ideal for casual or first-time users, while “Pro” unlocks advanced charts, controls, and insights for more seasoned traders looking for precision and customization.

Bitget features a dual-mode interface—’Lite’ for easy entry with a clean, beginner-friendly layout, and ‘Pro’ for advanced traders with full access to order books, indicators, and tools—making the platform adaptable to both novices and experienced users.

Performance

The platform typically delivers swift order execution with low latency, though in extreme volatility spikes there have been isolated slowdowns; KYC verification tends to scale reasonably well, but during surges in trader interest (e.g., bull markets) processing times may stretch longer before full access is granted.

Bitget’s infrastructure ensures rapid order execution with low latency and reliable uptime even during volatile market peaks, and while KYC volume may rise in bull markets, the process typically remains smooth with few delays reported on the platform.

Education

KuCoin provides a rich learning ecosystem via its KuCoin Learn portal—packed with crash courses, tutorials, and guides in multiple languages, including Spanish—and also offers a demo trading environment (paper trading) to help users gain hands-on practice risk-free before diving into live markets

The Bitget Academy offers comprehensive learning content—ranging from market guides to strategy deep-dives—and includes a futures demo simulator for real-time practice, with many resources also available in Spanish to support diverse learner needs

Community

A strong global community supports KuCoin users through official channels like Telegram and Discord, complemented by discussion forums and a referral program that rewards both new and existing users for spreading the word.

Bitget maintains an active online presence with official communities across Telegram and Discord, a structured referral program rewarding both referrers and referees, and engagement via academy and social channels rather than open public forums.

Integrations

KuCoin integrates seamlessly with tools like TradingView for advanced charting, supports external bot connections and offers an SDK for developers, and is compatible with various third-party tax and accounting services to simplify portfolio tracking and financial reporting

The platform integrates natively with TradingView for enhanced charting and supports external bot automation via its API, which connects seamlessly with third-party portfolio trackers and tax reporting tools for workflow efficiency

Who Each One Is Best For

This platform shines for intermediate to advanced traders who value diversity of products, automation, integrated trading tools, and flexible educational options—but beginners may find the initial interface a bit overwhelming without spending time in Lite mode or reviewing the learning materials first.

Bitget best suits traders who appreciate a polished interface with adjustable complexity, access to demo trading and smart automation tools, and seamless integration with external platforms—making it particularly friendly for both savvy beginners and algorithmic/institutional users.