KuCoin has strengthened its foothold in Australia after its local subsidiary gained official Digital Currency Exchange (DCE) registration with AUSTRAC. The registration brings KuCoin’s Australian operations under the formal oversight of the country’s financial intelligence agency and signals the exchange’s intent to deepen its regulated footprint in one of the world’s more exacting digital-asset jurisdictions.
As part of a broader compliance push, KuCoin said it will seek approval for additional designated services with AUSTRAC and has struck a partnership with Echuca Trading, a financial services provider that holds an Australian Financial Services Licence (AFSL) from ASIC. That collaboration is designed to place KuCoin’s crypto futures business into a regulated structure tailored to Australian rules, a move the company says will bring its derivatives offering in line with local expectations.
Strengthening Compliance and Fiat Access
Alongside its regulatory updates, KuCoin said it has activated local fiat on-ramp support for Australian users, making it easier for customers to deposit Australian dollars and access the platform’s suite of digital asset products. The company framed the change as both a convenience and a compliance enhancement, intended to give Australians a smoother, more locally attuned route into crypto markets.
BC Wong, KuCoin’s Global CEO, described the AUSTRAC registration as “a key milestone in strengthening KuCoin’s global compliance architecture,” saying Australia’s regulatory standards are among the highest and that the registration reflects the exchange’s long-term commitment to operating “transparently and responsibly.”
James Pinch, KuCoin’s Australian managing director, added that pairing AUSTRAC registration with AFSL-backed regulatory support “raises the bar” for how exchanges serve local customers, enabling safer, smoother fiat access and product offerings that meet both user and regulator expectations.
KuCoin, founded in 2017, points to a global user base of more than 40 million across 200+ countries and regions and highlights a product portfolio spanning spot and futures trading, institutional services, Web3 wallets and payments. The firm touts security credentials such as SOC 2 Type II and several ISO certifications, using those badges to show it takes protection and regulatory compliance seriously as it moves into new markets.
KuCoin’s registration comes at a time when Australia has been tightening oversight of offshore crypto platforms and encouraging clearer onshore regulatory relationships. For KuCoin, which has in recent months signalled a stronger focus on compliance and local investment in Australia, the AUSTRAC registration and the Echuca Trading tie-up represent concrete steps towards aligning its services with domestic rules and user expectations. The decision to add fiat rails and move futures into AFSL-supported arrangements is especially notable right now, as regulators ratchet up oversight.
KuCoin’s step fits a broader pattern of international exchanges aligning global offerings with domestic regulations. For Australian users, the exchange says the combination of AUSTRAC oversight, AFSL-backed structures for certain products, and local fiat on-ramps should mean easier access to digital assets within a clearer compliance framework, a message KuCoin hopes will cultivate trust as the industry continues to mature.
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