Bithumb vs Kuna: Fees, Security, Features & Which to Choose (2025)

Trying to choose between Bithumb and Kuna 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

Bithumb

Kuna

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United States

Europe

Yes

Latin America

Yes

India

Yes

China

Yes

Canada

United Kingdom

Yes

United States

Yes

Europe

Latin America

India

China

Yes

Canada

Yes

United Kingdom

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Bithumb is ideal if:

Perfect for KRW-centric traders: If you prefer trading with South Korean Won as your base currency, Bithumb offers seamless fiat integration, high liquidity, and a smooth experience for KRW-based spot trading.
Great for beginners and hands-off traders: Its clear, user-friendly interface plus built-in features like staking and bot trading make it accessible and appealing to those starting out or seeking passive strategies.
Best for users prioritizing credibility and safety: With strong security certifications (like ISMS, ISO27001), full separation of client assets, and external audits, Bithumb focuses on institutional-level protection and transparency.

Kuna is ideal if:

Effortless Quick Buys – If you prefer rapid purchases without account creation, Kuna’s “5-click” system lets you buy Bitcoin, Ethereum, or Tether in around 30 seconds directly to your wallet.
Straightforward and Friendly UI – Kuna offers a clean, intuitive interface (web and mobile) that’s especially suitable for newcomers and those who value simplicity and smooth navigation.
Regional Fiat Flexibility – If you're in supported areas, Kuna enables seamless fiat-to-crypto trades using local methods in UAH, USD, or RUB, plus tools like cash codes—making funding your trades frictionless.

Bithumb isn’t ideal if:

You need global fiat flexibility: If you want to deposit with non-KRW currencies, Bithumb’s fiat support is limited, which may not suit you.
You're an advanced trader seeking leverage: Those looking for margin or futures trading won’t find these tools available on Bithumb.
You prefer seamless international onboarding: Verification hurdles, language barriers, and slow KYC in non-Korean languages can slow down global users.

Kuna isn’t ideal if:

Limited Asset Variety – If you're looking to trade a wide range of cryptocurrencies or exotic altcoins, Kuna offers only a modest selection that may feel restrictive.
Basic Trading Tools Only – For those seeking advanced charting, technical indicators, or professional-grade trading features, Kuna’s platform remains quite simplistic.
No PayPal or Wallet Options – If you prefer funding your account with PayPal, Skrill, or Neteller, or need live chat or phone support, you’ll find those options aren’t available here.

Fees & Total Costs

Spot Maker/Take

In KRW markets, maker and taker fees typically range from roughly 0.04% to 0.25%, with better rates unlocked through tiered trading coupons based on volume (discounts apply via native coupons, not necessarily token-based discounts).

Kuna applies a flat 0.25 % trading fee for both makers and takers, without tiered volumes—though holding at least 100 KUN tokens grants VIP status, which waives maker fees entirely.

Futures/Derivatives

Bithumb does not currently offer any futures or derivatives markets, so there are no associated maker, taker, or funding fees to consider.

Kuna does not offer futures or other derivative trading instruments; therefore, there are no associated maker, taker, or funding fees.

Average Spreads on Liquid Pairs

Precise spread data is not publicly provided, but given Bithumb’s strong liquidity in major markets, spreads on BTC/USDT and ETH/USDT pairs are generally tight—typically consistent with reputable high-volume exchanges.

Kuna does not publicly disclose spread data, and their simplified fee model suggests minimal hidden spread, though precise average figures for these pairs are not available.

Fiat Deposits & Withdrawals

Fiat operations center on KRW only, with deposits via bank transfer or card usually fee-free (unless below minimum thresholds) and withdrawals processed via Korean banking channels with typical processing times, without showing fixed fees.

Fiat deposits are accepted (e.g., via credit card for Ukrainian-issued Visa/Mastercard or via methods like Perfect Money, Payeer, Advanced Cash, or Kuna Code), with variable fees depending on the method—withdrawals mirror those deposit options, again with method-dependent fees and typical processing within short timeframes.

On-chain Withdrawals

Withdrawal costs depend on the blockchain

Crypto withdrawal fees are based on asset and network; for example, withdrawing BTC incurs a fixed fee of approximately 0.0005 BTC. Other assets like ETH or TRX may have different dynamic fees, though Kuna doesn’t specify those publicly across all networks.

Hidden Costs

Some indirect costs may arise from currency conversion if funding in non-KRW, and there are no inactivity fees; extra-fast verification services may not be standard or may carry internal pricing, though not explicitly detailed.

There’s no explicit information about inactivity fees or express KYC charges; however, currency conversion may incur a flat percent fee embedded in the exchange rate, depending on your selected method.

Real-World Cost Example: “€500 BTC

If you were to buy €500 worth of BTC, you’d first face a regular spot trading fee (within 0.04–0.25%) plus a small spread in execution, then a withdrawal fee in BTC (e.g., 0.0005 BTC)—that combined cost reflects the total out-of-pocket expense.

Buying €500 worth of BTC would incur the standard 0.25 % trading fee and any minor spread embedded by the platform, plus the fixed withdrawal cost of ~0.0005 BTC when sending the funds on-chain—exact totals depend on BTC’s live price at the time.

Crypto Offering & Trading Features

Number of Coins & Pairs

Bithumb lists approximately 170–180 cryptocurrencies across roughly 400 trading pairs, with the top 20 by volume dominated by KRW-based pairs like BTC/KRW, ETH/KRW, XRP/KRW, USDT/KRW, and others in similar high-turnover positions.

Kuna lists approximately 22 to 40 cryptocurrencies and supports around 40 trading pairs, with the most active ones being BTC/UAH, ETH/BTC, ZEC/UAH, DAI/UAH, ZEC/USDT, KUN/USDT, BTC/USDC, and ETH/UAH.

Product Range

The exchange supports spot trading, margin trading, staking, crypto lending, and bot/automated trading, but does not offer perpetual futures, options, ETFs, copy trading, or built-in DCA features.

Kuna’s product suite is straightforward—spot trading only (crypto–crypto and crypto–fiat), no margin, derivatives, ETFs, lending, copy trading, grid bots, automatic DCA, or options; however, it does offer staking rewards through holding certain assets.

Liquidity

Bithumb handles daily spot volumes in the high hundreds of millions to over a billion USD, ensuring deep order books—particularly for BTC/KRW and ETH/KRW—offering robust liquidity and execution.

Kuna’s 24-hour volume is modest (several million USD equivalent), with BTC/USDT and ETH markets showing some activity; however, order-book depth is not publicly detailed, suggesting liquidity is appropriate for medium-sized trades but not high-frequency institutional-level operations.

Tools

Traders have access to basic orders (limit and market), stop orders, and coupon-driven fee tools; there are also alerts and API access (including WebSocket), though there’s no native TradingView integration.

Kuna supports basic order types like limit, market, and stop orders, features standard trading charts (not TradingView-native), and provides API access; it doesn’t offer advanced charting tools, OCO orders, price alerts, or built-in TradingView integration.

Geographic Restrictions by Product

Derivatives and margin features are not globally available, with access mainly focused on South Korean users; many international regions, notably US and EU, face limitations or lack derivative access.

While spot trading is broadly available, Kuna does not provide derivatives or advanced products in any region, and its services are restricted for U.S. users; features like staking may also be limited depending on local regulations.

Innovation

Bithumb offers staking services and crypto lending along with occasional airdrop or DeFi/NFT promotions, but lacks formal launchpad or launchpool platforms and doesn’t separate between flexible vs locked earn products.

Kuna’s innovation footprint includes unique tools like Kuna Code (transfer via code), Kuna Pay (payment processing), and browser extensions from the community, but it currently lacks features such as a launchpad, launchpool, or differentiated flexible vs locked earning programs.

Security, Regulation & Custody

Operating Entity & Jurisdiction

Bithumb is operated by BTC Korea.com Co., Ltd, founded in 2014 and based in Seoul, South Korea. It is one of the country’s major crypto exchanges firmly entrenched in Korean financial infrastructure.

Kuna was founded in 2014 in Ukraine and maintained operations through regional entities—including those in the UK and Lithuania—but as of March 2025, the platform has fully ceased operations and is no longer active.

Licenses/Registration

As a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) in South Korea, Bithumb is subject to oversight under local regulations, and as of mid-2025 it was designated a “conglomerate,” meaning it must adhere to heightened compliance and public disclosure rules.

Kuna did not hold formal VASP licenses under European frameworks like MiCA, nor did it register under equivalent regimes; current regulatory programs such as those in the Cayman Islands or EU never applied to Kuna due to its closure prior to implementation of those licensing regimes.

Custody

A significant portion of user assets is held in cold storage, meeting at least 80% reserve requirements; the exchange has also set aside a substantial protection reserve fund (worth over KRW 100 billion) as a buffer in case of operational risk.

Kuna undertook what it called “the largest Proof of Reserves in history” to demonstrate backing of user funds, though there is no evidence of third-party audits, formal PoR implementation, or specified cold storage reserve ratios.

Insurance & Protection Funds

It maintains robust cyber insurance coverage, with multi-billion won policies through top Korean insurers, designed to help cover losses from cyber incidents and personal data breaches.

No formal insurance products or customer protection funds were publicly offered or advertised by Kuna at any point during its operation.

Incident History

Bithumb has endured several hacks and investigations, including major cryptocurrency thefts in 2017 and 2018, a large insider-related loss in 2019, and multiple regulatory probes since then, though it has taken steps to strengthen its security posture.

Kuna maintained a calm incident history, with no publicly documented hacks, platform outages, account freezes, or regulatory fines reported prior to its closure.

Risk Controls

The platform employs industry-standard security measures—such as two-factor authentication, withdrawal whitelists, IP restrictions, anti-phishing controls, and regular external audits—to offer layered protection for user accounts and funds.

Kuna offered basic security features such as two-factor authentication (2FA) and email confirmations, though advanced tools like withdrawal whitelists, anti-phishing measures, tiered sub-accounting, or granular API permission controls were not prominently supported.

Transparency

It has enhanced disclosure practices, driven by its conglomerate status, though real-time proof-of-reserve reporting is not publicly available; ongoing regulatory scrutiny is pushing it toward greater transparency in operations.

There were no monthly transparency reports, public audit statements, or disclosed service-level agreements. While the platform shared its initiative around reserves, ongoing financial transparency metrics or operational dashboards were not made available.

Deposits, Withdrawals, KYC & Support

Fiat Deposit Methods

Fiat deposits are exclusively in Korean Won (KRW) and handled via local bank transfers—debit/credit options or e-wallets aren’t supported—amount thresholds vary and processing is typically completed within the same day for local transfers.

Fiat deposit options on Kuna include credit cards (limited to Ukrainian-issued Visa/MasterCard) and payment services like Advanced Cash, Perfect Money, Payeer, or Kuna Code; there’s no publicly stated minimum or maximum, and processing times vary—card payments can be nearly instant, while some transfer methods may take several minutes to days depending on method and region.

Supported Fiat Currencies & Conversion

KYC (Verification Levels)

Bithumb enforces tiered identity verification—basic phone/email for browsing, but Level 2 KYC is required to activate withdrawals, with higher limits tied to full verification.

Kuna requires identity verification to unlock full functionality—basic account creation has limited access, and submitting documents (ID, proof of address) elevates you to a fully verified level, with no public breakdown of tiered access or trading limits, but verification is mandatory for fiat operations.

Withdrawals

Crypto withdrawals require KYC Level 2, lower minimums for verified accounts, and are processed within hours (first withdrawal may take longer for security); supported networks include standard chains like ERC-20 and TRC-20, with fees varying by asset.

Cryptocurrency withdrawals on Kuna support networks like ERC-20, TRC-20, BTC (native), and others; BTC withdrawals, for example, incur a 0.0005 BTC fee and typically process within 10 minutes after email and 2FA confirmation—limits are set internally and not publicly disclosed.

Customer Support

Support is reachable via live chat (available 24/7), email, and a regional phone line; response quality varies, backed by an FAQ and help center to assist common issues.

Kuna offers multilingual support via the help center and ticketing system (English, Ukrainian, Russian), with an extensive FAQ and tutorial base—while there’s no 24/7 live chat, support is accessible through email or tickets, and response times are generally prompt but unspecified.

Languages & Localization

The interface supports multiple languages including English, with prices shown in KRW—there’s no automatic display in USD or EUR, and localization is limited for non-Korean regulatory zones.

The platform supports English (as well as Ukrainian and Russian), displays prices and fees in common fiat currencies like €/USD, and reflects some local regulatory positioning (e.g., awareness of Lithuanian VASP licensing), although it remains primarily headquartered in Ukraine.

App Quality & Stability

The mobile app delivers a smooth trading interface with real-time data and strong security features (biometric login, 2FA), though user reports cite occasional crashes or slow performance during high-traffic periods.

Kuna offers a mobile app for both iOS and Android that integrates core features like deposits and withdrawals; while there’s no public data on crash rates or update frequency, documentation includes instructions for confirming withdrawals via the app—suggesting a maintained and functional experience.

Experience, Performance & Ecosystem

UX/UI

The platform strikes a balance between newcomer friendliness and advanced functionality, offering a clean interface with clear labels and comprehensive charting tools, though it doesn’t explicitly offer separate “Lite” or “Pro” modes.

Kuna’s design is widely praised for being intuitive and accessible to beginners, with no separate “Lite” or “Pro” modes—just a unified interface that blends simplicity with functionality to help new traders start quickly while still serving seasoned users.

Performance

Order execution is generally fast thanks to high liquidity, though peak volatility can bring some delays or gateway slowdowns, and KYC may slow onboarding during intense market rallies.

Users report that orders on Kuna process nearly instantly under normal conditions; while data on crashes during volatile markets or extended KYC backlogs is limited, the lightweight design and responsiveness suggest generally stable performance even under pressure.

Education

Bithumb provides a dedicated academy and tutorial content via its official channels to help users learn, but it does not currently offer demo accounts or Spanish-language learning resources.

Kuna currently offers limited educational materials and lacks demo or simulator tools; content is primarily in English, Ukrainian, and Russian, with no dedicated academy or learning hub in Spanish available at this time.

Community

The platform encourages engagement through referral incentives and publishes on Medium, but it lacks officially managed forums, Discord, or Telegram communities for user interaction.

Kuna fosters an active user community via its official Telegram and social media channels, alongside a generous affiliate/referral program (up to ~75% commission), though it doesn’t operate its own dedicated forums or Discord server.

Integrations

Bithumb supports external tools like TradingView for charting and provides API/WebSocket access for automation, but lacks built-in tax tools or direct accounting integrations.

The platform doesn’t natively integrate with TradingView or third-party trading bots; there are no built-in tax reporting or accounting tools, making it more suited to straightforward trading rather than advanced automation or reporting workflows.

Who Each One Is Best For

It’s ideal for traders seeking a high-liquidity, reliability-focused exchange that caters to a mix of moderate experience levels, whereas those needing demo tools, Spanish-language education, or a vibrant community may look elsewhere.

Kuna shines for casual traders, especially in Eastern Europe, who want a no-frills, easy-to-navigate platform for basic spot trading in fiat and crypto—making it a solid fit for those seeking simplicity and regional accessibility rather than advanced trading features.