Dubai Regulator Orders the Halt of KuCoin’s Unlicensed Operations
Dubai’s digital asset regulator has instructed KuCoin and all entities associated with the exchange to cease their crypto operations in the Emirates, stating that the platform operated an illegal, unlicensed virtual asset service.
In a recent news alert, the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), Dubai’s digital assets regulator, warned residents about the unlicensed crypto operations of KuCoin and its affiliated entities: Phoenixfin Pte Ltd, MEK Global Limited, Peken Global Limited, and KuCoin EU GmbH.
Image credit: VARA
According to VARA, KuCoin and its entities lacked the necessary regulatory approvals to operate in the region and that they misled the public about their licensing status.
"In accordance with Dubai Law No. (4) of 2022 and Cabinet Resolution No. 111/2022, all virtual asset service providers must be licensed to operate legally in this jurisdiction. KuCoin does not meet these legal requirements and is not authorised to provide any virtual asset services in or from Dubai," the regulator said.
Since KuCoin lacked the regulatory approval required to operate in the United Arab Emirates, the regulator clarified that any promotion, advertising, or solicitation related to the exchange and its virtual asset products was illegal.
Thus, KuCoin has been instructed to cease and desist from all unlicensed virtual asset activities in the region. The regulator also urged Dubai residents and investors to consult its public register of licensed and approved VASPs before engaging with any platform.
Kucoin’s Rough Edge With Regulatory Compliance
KuCoin has had its own battles with regulatory compliance in recent years. In February 2024, Austria’s Financial Market Authority temporarily restricted the exchange from onboarding new customers to its platform.
According to the regulator, KuCoin lacked key compliance personnel responsible for anti-money laundering (AML), counter-terrorist financing (CTF), and sanctions monitoring. The exchange was therefore found to be non-compliant with regulatory obligations under the EU crypto framework. As a result, KuCoin had to temporarily halt its operations until full compliance was achieved.
In 2025, Canada’s Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre (FINTRAC) imposed a $19.6 million fine on KuCoin, accusing the exchange of serious anti-money laundering (AML) violations and failing to register as a money services business. The fine came three years after the exchange was permanently banned in Ontario.
KuCoin also had to exit the U.S. market in 2025 after being accused of operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business and other anti-money-laundering violations. It paid a $300 million fine and agreed to remain out of the U.S. market for at least two years.