Hassan Maishera
Cryptocurrency exchange KuCoin has surpassed 45 million registered users worldwide as it celebrates its ninth anniversary with the release of Beyond the Signal, a special edition of its 2026 first-half review.
In a press release shared with Cryptowisser, KuCoin said the report outlines the company's progress across security, artificial intelligence, digital payments, institutional infrastructure and Web3 services while detailing its long-term strategy for expanding crypto adoption.
As digital assets continue to evolve beyond trading into payments, tokenized finance and AI-powered applications, KuCoin's latest report emphasizes its efforts to build a more secure, transparent and utility-driven ecosystem.
Emerging Markets Drive User Growth
According to the report, KuCoin now supports more than 45 million users globally and offers access to over 1,600 digital assets.
The exchange recorded particularly strong growth in emerging markets during the first half of 2026. Its user base expanded by 170% in Latin America and 30% in Africa, reflecting increasing cryptocurrency adoption across developing economies.
KuCoin also highlighted third-party research that ranks the platform among the world's top three cryptocurrency exchanges for both spot market share and Bitcoin spot market depth.
BC Wong, CEO of KuCoin, said the exchange's nine-year journey has reinforced the importance of building trust through consistent innovation and responsible growth.
He noted that as cryptocurrencies become part of the global financial infrastructure, exchanges will be judged by the value they create over time rather than short-term market trends. Wong added that KuCoin remains focused on strengthening security, transparency, regulatory compliance and real-world digital asset adoption.
Security and Transparency Remain a Core Focus
Trust and security remain central themes in KuCoin's latest report. During the first half of 2026, the exchange completed its 44th consecutive monthly Proof of Reserves report, backed by 14 independent audits conducted by cybersecurity firm Hacken.
KuCoin also expanded its security infrastructure through AI-assisted monitoring, vulnerability disclosure initiatives and enhanced user protection measures. The company maintained several internationally recognized security certifications, including SOC 2 Type II, ISO/IEC 27001:2022, ISO/IEC 27701 and the Cryptocurrency Security Standard (CCSS).
Artificial intelligence emerged as one of KuCoin's fastest-growing segments during the reporting period.
The exchange reported a 300% increase in daily active users of KIA, its AI-powered service platform. Initially introduced for customer support, KIA has expanded to offer trading assistance, portfolio management, market intelligence, search capabilities, wealth management tools, and content services.
KuCoin also launched Skills Hub, a platform that allows third-party AI agents to integrate with modular crypto services, further expanding the exchange's AI ecosystem.
KuCoin Pay and KuCard Expand Global Reach
Digital payments also recorded significant growth during the first half of the year. KuCoin Pay delivered more than threefold growth in off-chain payment volume, while total payment orders increased by over 25 times compared to previous levels. The number of merchants and service partners using the platform also rose by 60%.
To support broader payment adoption, KuCoin introduced several new features, including multi-chain payment support, Payment Links, static merchant QR codes and API-based crypto-to-stablecoin conversion.
Meanwhile, KuCard expanded its international presence by launching in Australia through Mastercard's global payment network.
KuCoin also strengthened its institutional business during the first half of 2026. The exchange now supports more than 120 Crypto-as-a-Service partners and over 400 broker partners through its institutional infrastructure. According to the company, broker-related activity currently accounts for approximately 4% to 7% of total trading volume on the platform.
KuCoin continued expanding its Web3 ecosystem with new features for its self-custody wallet.
The wallet now includes native perpetual futures trading powered by Hyperliquid and provides access to more than 260 tokenized U.S. stocks and exchange-traded funds through Ondo Global Markets.
Additional multi-chain functionality and broader access to tokenized financial products further reinforce KuCoin's strategy of connecting decentralized finance with traditional financial assets.
Looking Beyond Trading
KuCoin's Beyond the Signal report illustrates the exchange's transition from a traditional cryptocurrency trading platform to a broader digital asset ecosystem.
With continued investment in AI, payment infrastructure, institutional services, security and tokenized finance, the company is positioning itself to support the next stage of crypto adoption as blockchain technology becomes increasingly integrated into mainstream financial services.
The full 2026 H1 Review: Beyond the Signal is available here
Founded in 2017, KuCoin is a global cryptocurrency platform serving more than 45 million users across over 200 countries and regions. The platform provides access to more than 1,500 digital assets through a range of trading, payments, institutional and Web3 services. KuCoin holds certifications including SOC 2 Type II, ISO/IEC 27001:2022 and ISO/IEC 27701:2019, and has expanded its regulatory footprint through milestones including AUSTRAC registration in Australia and a MiCA license in Europe.
