Introduction: KuCoin’s Position in the Global Cryptocurrency Market

KuCoin, a leading cryptocurrency exchange platform, has experienced a dynamic journey since its establishment in 2017 in China. Initially launched in China, the exchange faced increasing regulatory restrictions from the Chinese government on cryptocurrency-related businesses, prompting it to relocate. This strategic shift first took KuCoin to Singapore and later to Seychelles. These relocations highlight KuCoin’s adaptability to regulatory pressures and its ambition to operate on a global scale. Such proactive navigation of regulatory changes, even if it means operating in jurisdictions with less stringent oversight, is a hallmark of major players in the crypto space.

Currently, KuCoin has earned the trust of over 40 million users across more than 200 countries worldwide. This extensive geographical reach and large user base underscore its global accessibility and significant market penetration. However, operating across such a diverse range of countries requires navigating varied regulatory environments, which directly impacts its policies for users in sanctioned regions like Iran. This background indicates that KuCoin’s business model emphasizes flexibility and a broad user base, even if it means operating in regulatory "gray zones" in certain regions.

KuCoin’s Current Standing Among Global Exchanges

In the highly competitive landscape of cryptocurrency exchanges, KuCoin has secured a notable position. According to CoinGlass’s report for Q3 2025, KuCoin ranks fourth globally in terms of futures trading volume. This high ranking in futures trading reflects the platform’s substantial market depth and robust infrastructure. For market participants, particularly arbitrageurs, high trading volume and deep liquidity are critical, as they enable the execution of large orders quickly and efficiently with minimal price impact.

Beyond trading volume, platform security is a vital factor in choosing an exchange. In Q2 2025, KuCoin achieved a AAA security rating from CER.live, placing it among the top global exchanges for platform security. This high security rating demonstrates KuCoin’s commitment to safeguarding user assets, a crucial consideration for traders, especially those engaged in cross-exchange strategies like arbitrage. High futures trading volume (indicative of strong liquidity) and robust security directly enhance KuCoin’s suitability for complex trading strategies like arbitrage, as arbitrageurs rely on efficient execution and asset safety.

Section 1: Introduction and Key Features of KuCoin

KuCoin, as a comprehensive exchange, offers a wide array of features and services, making it an attractive option for traders of varying experience levels.

Key Features of KuCoin

One of KuCoin’s primary strengths is its extensive range of supported cryptocurrencies. The exchange supports over 900 digital assets, including a diverse selection such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Ripple (XRP), Solana (SOL), Ethena (ENA), Monero (XMR), Dogecoin (DOGE), Litecoin (LTC), Sui (SUI), and FARTCOIN. This broad asset variety provides traders and investors with greater opportunities to diversify their portfolios and capitalize on various trading opportunities. For arbitrageurs, this diversity translates to more trading pairs and a higher potential for identifying arbitrage opportunities.

KuCoin also offers multiple trading markets, including spot trading, margin trading, options, and perpetual futures. Additionally, it supports peer-to-peer (P2P) trading. This variety of trading markets allows users to implement diverse strategies, from simple spot market buying and selling to more complex leveraged trading in futures and margin markets.

Beyond trading, KuCoin provides various passive income opportunities. Users can earn through staking, yield farming, and participation pools. The KuCoin Earn service is designed to generate steady returns on idle assets, enabling users to profit from their holdings even during periods of inactivity.

For professional traders seeking to optimize their strategies, KuCoin offers advanced trading tools and trading bots. These include advanced limit orders and various trading bots such as Futures Martingale, Spot Grid, Spot Martingale, and Infinity Grid. With an improved user interface and 12 automated strategies, these bots enable automated trading under diverse market conditions. Additionally, KuCoin’s copy trading feature allows users to replicate the strategies of successful traders automatically. These tools are critical for arbitrageurs, who require speed and precision to identify and capitalize on profitable opportunities automatically.

User Interface and Experience (UI/UX)

KuCoin’s user interface, both on its website and mobile app, is recognized for its clean and organized design. This facilitates easy navigation across the platform’s various sections, catering to traders of all experience levels, from beginners to professionals. Compatibility with both desktop and mobile platforms enhances accessibility, allowing users to trade anytime, anywhere.

However, some users note that the abundance of features and trading options can be overwhelming for newcomers to the crypto space, indicating a learning curve for new users. For experienced arbitrageurs, this complexity may translate to access to powerful yet user-friendly tools. A well-designed interface, even with rich features, can reduce human errors and minimize execution time in arbitrage strategies, directly impacting profitability.

Security at KuCoin

KuCoin prioritizes security, claiming to protect user assets with industry-leading measures. Its security protocols include bank-level encryption, a 6-digit trading password for critical operations, anti-phishing phrases, IP restrictions, and two-factor authentication (2FA). Additionally, KuCoin has obtained reputable security certifications such as SOC 2 Type II and ISO 27001:2022, and it has completed its Proof of Reserves audit by Hacken. These measures reflect KuCoin’s technical and organizational efforts to ensure the safety of user assets and information.

However, KuCoin’s security track record has not been without challenges. The exchange has faced security criticisms in the past, though its ongoing efforts to enhance security are well-recognized. More significantly, in March 2024, KuCoin and its founders faced charges for operating as an unlicensed money transmission business and failing to implement adequate anti-money laundering (AML) protocols. In January 2025, KuCoin pleaded guilty to these charges, agreeing to pay nearly $300 million in fines and forfeiture. These legal issues and hefty fines due to AML/KYC violations highlight a critical point: there is a tension between the exchange’s stated technical security framework and its historical regulatory compliance. While the AAA security rating and ISO certifications indicate a robust technical security framework, the substantial AML/KYC fines point to weaknesses in regulatory compliance that can directly impact user accounts, particularly in sanctioned countries. This dichotomy underscores that technical security does not always equate to full regulatory compliance, and both aspects are vital for user safety.

Section 2: KuCoin’s Fee Structure

An exchange’s fee structure is a determining factor in transaction profitability, especially for high-volume strategies like arbitrage. KuCoin strives to enhance its appeal to traders by offering competitive fees.

Trading Fees (Maker and Taker)

For spot trading, KuCoin’s base fee is 0.1% for both maker and taker transactions. A maker places an order in the order book, adding liquidity, while a taker removes liquidity by filling an existing order. This base fee is relatively low compared to many other exchanges.

A significant advantage of KuCoin’s fee structure is the ability to reduce fees by using its native token, KuCoin Token (KCS). Paying fees with KCS grants users up to a 20% discount, reducing the effective fee to 0.08%. This mechanism not only lowers trading costs but also incentivizes holding and using KCS, potentially increasing its demand and value. Additionally, high-volume traders can benefit from further discounts through KuCoin’s VIP program, which is particularly advantageous for active traders and arbitrageurs with high trading volumes.

In the futures market, standard fees are 0.02% for makers and 0.06% for takers, with reductions available as VIP levels increase. These low futures fees make KuCoin an attractive option for derivatives traders. Low, tiered fees directly enhance arbitrage profitability, as arbitrageurs execute numerous transactions. The KCS discount further incentivizes holding the native token, potentially increasing its utility and demand.

Cryptocurrency Deposit and Withdrawal Fees

KuCoin charges no fees for cryptocurrency deposits, allowing users to transfer assets to the platform without additional costs.

For cryptocurrency withdrawals, fees vary depending on the asset and blockchain network used. For example, the withdrawal fee for Bitcoin is 0.0005 BTC. These fees are typically charged to cover blockchain network costs (e.g., miner fees) and are standard in the cryptocurrency industry. KuCoin occasionally offers promotions, such as zero-fee withdrawals for Tether (USDT) on the BNB Smart Chain during specific periods. This indicates that KuCoin strategically uses fee waivers to attract or retain users or promote specific networks.

For arbitrageurs, these variable withdrawal fees must be carefully factored into profitability calculations, as they can significantly impact net profits, especially in high-frequency, low-margin trades. The potential for zero-fee withdrawal promotions can provide a temporary advantage for optimizing arbitrage profits.

Fiat Deposit and Withdrawal Fees (If Applicable)

KuCoin currently does not support direct fiat withdrawals (e.g., USD or EUR). This means users must use alternative methods, such as selling cryptocurrencies on a local exchange or using P2P services (if available), to convert digital assets to fiat.

For fiat deposits, the option exists but may incur fees. For example, depositing EUR via SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area) incurs a fixed fee of 1 EUR. This limitation on direct fiat entry and exit means users, particularly Iranian users, likely need to rely on alternative methods (e.g., local exchanges or P2P services) to convert cryptocurrencies to IRR or vice versa. This adds a layer of complexity and potential additional costs. This restriction forces users to use other platforms for fiat conversions, which may introduce additional fees and security risks, particularly for Iranian users who cannot directly access international banking systems.

Table 1: Comparison of KuCoin’s Trading and Deposit/Withdrawal Fees

Section 3: KuCoin’s Suitability for Arbitrage

Arbitrage in financial markets involves exploiting price differences for an asset across different markets or platforms. The primary goal is to buy an asset at a lower price in one market and sell it simultaneously at a higher price in another, profiting from the discrepancy. Successful arbitrage heavily depends on several factors, which we evaluate below in the context of KuCoin’s suitability for this strategy.

Key Factors for Successful Arbitrage

Liquidity and Trading Volume:
High liquidity and substantial trading volume are critical for successful arbitrage. Sufficient liquidity ensures arbitrageurs can buy or sell large asset quantities without causing significant price fluctuations (slippage). KuCoin’s high trading volume, particularly in futures markets where it ranks fourth globally in Q3 2025, indicates strong market depth. This depth allows large orders to be executed with minimal price impact, making arbitrage opportunities more exploitable due to the presence of ample buyers and sellers. High liquidity reduces price disparities between markets, enabling arbitrageurs to trade with greater confidence.

Speed and Technical Infrastructure:
In arbitrage, timing is critical, as even slight delays can eliminate profit opportunities. KuCoin’s platform is engineered for high performance, capable of processing up to 1 million transactions per second without overload. This robust infrastructure ensures fast order execution and a reliable trading environment, particularly beneficial during periods of high market volatility. High transaction processing speed and real-time price updates allow arbitrageurs to react quickly to price changes and finalize trades before arbitrage opportunities vanish.

Fee Structure:
Low trading fees directly enhance arbitrage profitability. As noted, KuCoin offers spot fees of 0.1% and futures fees of 0.02% (maker) and 0.06% (taker), which can be further reduced with KCS discounts and VIP levels. These competitive fees make KuCoin an attractive option for high-volume arbitrage strategies, as lower fees increase net profits per arbitrage cycle.

Supported Asset Variety:
With support for over 900 digital assets, KuCoin offers a vast number of trading pairs. This diversity creates more opportunities to identify price discrepancies between different assets or trading pairs within KuCoin or across other exchanges. The more tradable markets available, the higher the likelihood of discovering arbitrage opportunities.

Advanced Tools and Trading Bots:
Arbitrage often requires rapid and automated execution. KuCoin provides advanced tools like APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) and diverse trading bots. APIs allow arbitrageurs to connect automated systems for real-time price monitoring and trade execution in fractions of a second. Trading bots can automatically identify and exploit arbitrage opportunities, reducing human error and increasing reaction speed.

Challenges and Considerations for Arbitrage on KuCoin

Despite its advantages, arbitrage on KuCoin comes with challenges:

Withdrawal Delays and Support Issues:
Some KuCoin users have reported delays in withdrawals and generic responses from customer support. These issues can be problematic for arbitrageurs who need to transfer assets quickly between exchanges. Withdrawal delays may lock up capital, causing missed opportunities in other markets.

Regulatory Uncertainty and Legal History:
As previously mentioned, KuCoin has faced charges and hefty fines for AML/KYC violations. These regulatory uncertainties pose risks for user assets, particularly for those in sanctioned regions. Arbitrageurs must consider these risks, as sudden policy changes or legal actions could lead to account suspensions or asset losses.

Order Book Depth:
While KuCoin boasts high trading volume, the order book depth for specific trading pairs can vary. Order book depth refers to the number of buy and sell orders at different price levels. In markets with low depth, executing large orders can result in significant slippage, where trades occur at prices different from those expected. This can reduce or eliminate arbitrage profits. Arbitrageurs must carefully assess order book depth for their target trading pairs.

Importance of Comprehensive Systems for Successful Arbitrage (e.g., Soodjoo)

Successful arbitrage in the cryptocurrency market goes beyond access to a suitable exchange. It requires comprehensive, robust, fast, and accurate systems capable of identifying price discrepancies across multiple exchanges in real time and executing trades with minimal delay. Platforms like Soodjoo are recommended for this purpose, typically offering the following features:

• Real-Time Data Collection: The ability to gather and analyze price and volume data from multiple exchanges simultaneously with high speed.

• Arbitrage Opportunity Detection: Advanced algorithms to automatically identify profitable price differences, factoring in fees and liquidity.

• API Integration with Exchanges: Connectivity to exchange APIs for rapid and automated order execution.

• Risk Management: Tools to manage risks related to market volatility, slippage, and transaction delays.

• Optimized User Interface: A dashboard allowing arbitrageurs to monitor trades and opportunities visually and efficiently.

Using such platforms gives arbitrageurs a significant edge in the competitive cryptocurrency market, enabling them to capitalize on opportunities that are nearly impossible to exploit manually.

Section 4: Conditions for Iranian Users on KuCoin

Using international exchanges presents unique challenges for Iranian users, primarily due to international sanctions and domestic regulations. KuCoin is no exception, enforcing strict policies for users in sanctioned regions like Iran.

KuCoin’s KYC Policy

Since November 1, 2018, KuCoin has mandated Know Your Customer (KYC) verification for its users, aligning with its commitment to combat illegal activities like money laundering and terrorism financing. As of August 31, 2023, all new users must complete KYC to access KuCoin’s products and services. This process involves submitting identification documents and completing facial verification.

For users registered before August 31, 2023, who have not completed standard KYC, restrictions apply. These users can only perform actions such as selling cryptocurrencies, closing futures contracts, closing margin positions, redeeming from KuCoin Earn, and redeeming ETFs. New deposits are disabled, though withdrawal services remain unaffected. Completing KYC not only grants full access to services but also significantly increases daily withdrawal limits—e.g., unverified users may face limits of 0 to 30,000 USDT in 24 hours, while verified users can withdraw up to 999,999 USDT.

Sanctions and Restrictions for Iranian Users

KuCoin explicitly restricts users from countries sanctioned by Seychelles (its current registration location) and those under international sanctions, including Iran, North Korea, Syria, Sudan, and Cuba. This means Iranian residents are prohibited from registering, trading, or accessing the platform’s services.

U.S. sanctions also prohibit the export of goods or services to Iran. Operating an account from Iran could be deemed a violation of these regulations, posing serious risks for Iranian users attempting to access KuCoin.

VPN Requirements and Associated Risks

Due to KuCoin’s geographical restrictions, Iranian users may resort to using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to mask their location. However, KuCoin explicitly states that attempting to bypass these restrictions with VPNs or falsified location information risks account suspension, asset freezes, or restricted access.

In some cases, KuCoin suggests changing networks or using a VPN to resolve technical issues (e.g., facial verification failures). This can create confusion, suggesting VPN use may be permissible. However, this likely refers to temporary technical issues rather than intentional bypassing of geographical restrictions.

The risks of using VPNs to circumvent sanctions are significant:

• Account Suspension or Freezing: If an Iranian IP or suspicious activity is detected, KuCoin may suspend the account and restrict access to assets.

• Asset Loss: Recovering assets from a frozen account can be extremely difficult or impossible.

• Legal Consequences: Using exchanges under sanctions may lead to legal repercussions, especially if financial activities conflict with international regulations.

• IP Instability: Using unstable VPNs or frequently changing IPs may be flagged as suspicious activity, triggering security reviews and potential account freezes.

Thus, despite KuCoin’s robust features and competitive fees, its strict sanctions and KYC policies make it highly risky for Iranian users, and its use is not recommended.

Section 5: Comparison of KuCoin with Domestic and International Exchanges

To better understand KuCoin’s position and choose the right platform, a comparison with other domestic and international exchanges accessible to Iranian users is essential. This comparison focuses on features, fees, supported cryptocurrencies, KYC policies, and user experience.

Comparison with Domestic Exchanges

Domestic exchanges are attractive to Iranian users due to easy access to IRR and Persian-language support, but they come with limitations.

KuCoin vs. Nobitex:

• Introduction and History: Nobitex, established in 2017, is Iran’s largest and first cryptocurrency exchange, with over 10 million users.

• Features: Nobitex supports over 150 cryptocurrencies, offering Tether, Bitcoin, and IRR markets. It provides advanced features like staking, participation pools, yield farming, futures trading, and APIs. It uses cold wallets, 2FA, and multi-signature systems for security.

• Fees: Nobitex’s trading fees are tiered based on 30-day trading volume, ranging from 0.35% (below 10M IRR) to 0.2% (above 100M IRR). Crypto withdrawal fees vary (e.g., 1-3 USDT for USDT). Nobitex’s fees are roughly three times higher than KuCoin’s.

• KYC: KYC is mandatory, with five levels determining IRR and crypto deposit/withdrawal limits (e.g., up to 300M IRR and 200M IRR daily for fiat and crypto, respectively, at the highest level).

• User Experience and Security: Nobitex has a user-friendly interface and 24/7 support. It maintains high liquidity and stores most assets in cold wallets. However, a July 2024 hack destroyed significant assets and disabled many services. Leaked codes revealed Nobitex enabled monitoring without court orders while protecting VIP user privacy.

• Arbitrage Suitability: Nobitex’s high trading volume and liquidity make it suitable for internal arbitrage (between IRR and Tether markets). However, its lack of futures trading in the past (though recently introduced) and higher fees compared to global exchanges like KuCoin may reduce international arbitrage profitability.

KuCoin vs. Bitpin:

• Introduction and History: Bitpin, launched in 2020, has over 3 million users.

• Features: Bitpin supports over 275 cryptocurrencies, offering OTC and P2P trading, staking, crypto-collateralized loans, gift cards, and trading bots.

• Fees: Crypto deposits are free. Trading fees are up to 0.35%, with zero fees for instant trades. Fiat deposit/withdrawal fees are 0.02%. Crypto withdrawal fees depend on network and hardware wallet costs.

• KYC: KYC is mandatory and takes up to 3 hours.

• User Experience and Security: Bitpin has a simple, user-friendly interface and high security with 95% of assets in cold wallets and 2FA. Support is available 24/7 via online chat, phone (business hours), email, and Telegram bot. Some users report issues with online support (requiring VPN) and crypto transfer delays. Liquidity is lower than global exchanges, and crypto prices may be higher.

• Arbitrage Suitability: Bitpin’s crypto variety and competitive fees for instant trades make it suitable for internal arbitrage. However, lower liquidity and potential withdrawal issues can pose challenges.

KuCoin vs. Wallex:

• Introduction and History: Wallex, founded in 2019, is a popular and trusted Iranian exchange supporting over 130 cryptocurrencies.

• Features: Wallex offers P2P trading markets, advanced features like take-profit/stop-loss, profit/loss reports, price alerts, charting tools, and market analysis. It provides free trading bots (e.g., Margin Grid, Spot Grid, Martingale, Infinity Grid, Smart Rebalance) and advanced APIs. Leveraged trading up to 10X is available.

• Fees: Crypto deposits are free. Fiat deposit fees are 0.02% up to 4,000 IRR. Trading fees are tiered (0.35% for low volume to 0.1% for high volume). Instant trades have zero fees. USDT withdrawal fees are 5 USDT (Ethereum) and 3.5 USDT (Tron).

• KYC: KYC is mandatory and considered strict by some users, requiring a landline.

• User Experience and Security: Wallex has an easy-to-understand interface and 24/7 online/phone support. It uses cold wallets, strong encryption, and 2FA. Some users report transaction delays and withdrawal issues.

• Arbitrage Suitability: Wallex’s crypto variety, advanced tools, and trading bots make it suitable for arbitrage. Its decent trading volume and zero-fee instant trades are advantages, though strict KYC and reported issues may pose challenges.

KuCoin vs. Onefinex:

• Introduction and History: Onefinex, a newly established platform in 2023, operates in Tehran under Tivan Rayan Tiam, led by CEO Ali Kouroshi.

• Features: Onefinex supports 213 cryptocurrencies, offering instant and limit orders with take-profit/stop-loss. It provides USDT staking with plans to support more assets, plus rewards for new users and a referral program.

• Fees: Trading fees range from 0.15%–0.29% (IRR markets) and 0.14%–0.28% (Tether markets). Deposits are free. Crypto withdrawal fees vary by network but are not fully specified.

• KYC: KYC is mandatory with three levels. Level 0 allows unlimited crypto deposits but no withdrawals. Level 1 permits $300 crypto withdrawals and 25M/50M IRR fiat deposits/withdrawals. Level 2 allows $5,000 crypto withdrawals and 25M (gateway) + 200M IRR (IBAN) deposits/200M IRR withdrawals.

• User Experience and Security: Onefinex has a simple interface and claims experienced support with 1–3 minute response times. It was a member of the Iran Blockchain Association in June 2024 but not by December 2024. It enforces a 72-hour withdrawal restriction post-fiat deposit per FATA regulations and has faced payment gateway issues.

• Arbitrage Suitability: Onefinex’s crypto variety and trading markets offer arbitrage potential, but its newness, past payment gateway issues, and 72-hour withdrawal restriction create risks for arbitrageurs.

Table 2: Comparison of KuCoin with Domestic Exchanges (Nobitex, Bitpin, Wallex, Onefinex)

Comparison with International Exchanges Accessible to Iranians

Given the restrictions on major international exchanges like KuCoin for Iranian users, other international exchanges with more flexible policies are considered.

KuCoin vs. CoinEx:

• Introduction: CoinEx, a global exchange since 2017, operates in over 200 countries.

• Features: CoinEx supports over 700 cryptocurrencies, offering spot, futures, margin, AMM, and copy trading. It can process 10,000 transactions per second.

• Fees: Base spot fees are 0.2%, reducible with CET and VIP levels. Futures fees are 0.02% (maker) and 0.06% (taker). Crypto deposits are free, with variable withdrawal fees.

• KYC for Iranians: KYC is not mandatory, but services are restricted in countries like the U.S., Canada, and China. Some sources indicate CoinEx allows verification with Iranian IDs, but IP restrictions apply, necessitating VPN use with the risk of account suspension if Iranian IPs are detected.

• User Experience and Security: CoinEx has a user-friendly interface, regulatory certifications in three jurisdictions, and 100% Proof of Reserves. User feedback varies, with some praising its crypto variety and low fees, while others report withdrawal issues. It is popular among Iranians.

• Arbitrage Suitability: CoinEx’s competitive fees, high crypto variety, and decent trading volume make it suitable for arbitrage. Non-mandatory KYC and potential Iranian ID verification (per some sources) make it appealing for Iranians, though VPN risks and policy changes remain concerns.

KuCoin vs. LBank:

• Introduction and History: LBank, established in 2015 and registered in the British Virgin Islands, has over 12 million users across 210+ countries.

• Features: LBank supports over 800 cryptocurrencies and 1,000 trading pairs, offering spot, margin, futures, options, staking, ETFs, and grid trading.

• Fees: Spot fees are 0.10% (maker/taker). Futures fees are 0.02% (maker) and 0.06% (taker). Crypto deposits are free, with variable withdrawal fees.

• KYC for Iranians: LBank allows trading without KYC and accepts Iranian IPs, though using a non-Iranian, stable IP is recommended to avoid policy change risks. Non-KYC accounts may face withdrawal and advanced service restrictions.

• User Experience and Security: LBank has reliable technology and strong security measures, including 2FA. Some users report slow response times and lack of Proof of Reserves. Analyses suggest LBank’s trading volume may be artificially inflated.

• Arbitrage Suitability: LBank’s low, fixed fees, high crypto variety, and non-mandatory KYC make it attractive for Iranian arbitrageurs. However, liquidity concerns (due to potential volume inflation) and policy change risks must be considered.

KuCoin vs. Toobit:

• Introduction and History: Toobit, a newer exchange established in 2022 in the Cayman Islands.

• Features: Toobit supports over 300 cryptocurrencies, offering spot, futures, copy trading, and zero-fee instant crypto conversions.

• Fees: Toobit has low trading fees, with zero fees for instant conversions.

• KYC for Iranians: Toobit promotes a “no-KYC” policy and does not explicitly sanction Iran. However, accounts with Iranian IPs or suspicious activity may be blocked, necessitating a stable, non-Iranian IP.

• User Experience and Security: Toobit holds ISO 27001 certification and Proof of Reserves, using cold wallets and advanced security. Some users praise its speed and efficiency, while others report 2FA and support issues.

• Arbitrage Suitability: Toobit’s low fees, zero-fee instant conversions, and no-KYC policy make it attractive for Iranian arbitrageurs. Its security and trading bots are advantages, but its newness and potential policy changes require caution.

Table 3: Comparison of KuCoin with International Exchanges Accessible to Iranians (CoinEx, LBank, Toobit)

Conclusion and Recommendations

KuCoin, as a leading global exchange, offers a wide range of cryptocurrencies, diverse trading markets (spot, futures, margin, options), advanced trading tools, and competitive fees, making it highly suitable for complex trading strategies like arbitrage. Its high futures trading volume and robust technical infrastructure, capable of processing millions of transactions per second, are key strengths for arbitrage. Its technical security, backed by high ratings and certifications, is also commendable.

However, for Iranian users, KuCoin poses significant risks. Its strict sanctions and mandatory KYC policies explicitly prohibit Iran, placing it in the list of restricted countries. Attempting to bypass these restrictions using VPNs risks account suspension and asset loss, outweighing potential arbitrage profits. KuCoin’s legal history, including hefty AML fines, underscores the importance of regulatory compliance and the risks of non-compliance.

Compared to domestic exchanges, KuCoin excels in crypto variety, advanced trading features (especially futures), and lower trading fees. Domestic exchanges like Nobitex, Bitpin, Wallex, and Onefinex offer easy IRR access and Persian support, making them more suitable for internal trading, but they often lag in trading volume, tool diversity, and international fee competitiveness. Some also have security or operational issues.

Among international exchanges claiming accessibility for Iranians (e.g., CoinEx, LBank, Toobit), the landscape varies. These exchanges often have more flexible KYC policies or do not explicitly sanction Iran, but VPN use is still recommended, carrying risks. CoinEx and Toobit offer competitive fees and advanced features, while LBank provides low fees but raises liquidity concerns.

Final Recommendations: For Iranian arbitrageurs, focusing on international exchanges that do not explicitly sanction Iran and have flexible KYC policies, paired with a stable, reliable VPN, may offer lower-risk options. However, no international exchange is entirely risk-free for Iranians, and sudden policy changes remain a threat.

For successful arbitrage, regardless of the chosen exchange, using comprehensive, robust, fast, and accurate systems like Soodjoo is critical. These tools provide real-time data, precise analysis, and automated trade execution, enabling arbitrageurs to capitalize on fleeting market opportunities while minimizing risks from delays and human error. Choosing the right exchange requires careful consideration of risks, costs, and technical capabilities.