🟢 Update — May 18, 2026: FMA Lifts Ban on New Clients
Austria's FMA officially revoked the ban on KuCoin EU new client onboarding on May 18, 2026. Following the April 29, 2026 appointment of Carmen Kleinhans as AMLO and an independent FMA compliance review, KuCoin EU is now authorized to accept new EU clients again.
KuCoin EU's CASP licence (granted November 27, 2025) remains valid. As of July 1, 2026, KuCoin EU is one of the few major exchanges retaining full EU operating rights — while Binance exited the EU market on the same date after withdrawing its CASP application from Greece's HCMC on June 24, 2026.
🔄 April 29, 2026 Update: KuCoin EU has appointed Carmen Kleinhans as Anti-Money Laundering Officer (AMLO), supported by Stephan Klinger and Bernd Träxler as deputy officers — both former Austrian regulators with banking compliance backgrounds. The appointment was reported by CoinDesk on April 29, 2026.
✅ FMA ban revoked May 18, 2026: Following this appointment, Austria's FMA completed its compliance review and officially revoked the ban on new client onboarding on May 18, 2026. See the update box above for full details.
Timeline of Events
To understand the current situation with KuCoin EU, it is essential to trace the key events of the past several months.
- November 27, 2025: KuCoin EU Exchange GmbH is granted a CASP (Crypto-Asset Service Provider) license by Austria's FMA under the MiCA regulation — a significant milestone authorizing KuCoin EU to operate legally across the entire European Union.
- Late 2025 / early 2026: Two senior AML and sanctions compliance officers leave the company. KuCoin EU fails to appoint adequate replacements within the timeframes required by MiCA and the FMA license conditions.
- February 19, 2026: The FMA (Finanzmarktaufsicht) issues a formal ban against KuCoin EU Exchange GmbH: new EU client onboarding is prohibited due to critical deficiencies in AML/CTF (Counter-Terrorist Financing) oversight. Existing clients may continue to operate their accounts normally.
- April 29, 2026: KuCoin EU announces the appointment of Carmen Kleinhans as AMLO, with Stephan Klinger and Bernd Träxler as deputy officers. Both deputies bring backgrounds as former Austrian regulators and senior banking compliance officers. The news is reported by CoinDesk.
- April 30, 2026 (original publication date): The FMA ban remains formally in force at this point. No official revocation has been communicated. Managing Director Sabina Liu stated she cannot provide a timeline for resuming EU operations.
- May 18, 2026: Austria's FMA officially revokes the ban on KuCoin EU new client onboarding. Following an independent assessment of Carmen Kleinhans's AMLO appointment and KuCoin EU's updated compliance structure, the Finanzmarktaufsicht confirms the deficiencies have been remedied. KuCoin EU can now accept new EU clients.
- July 1, 2026: MiCA CASP deadline. KuCoin EU — holding a valid CASP licence since November 27, 2025 and with the FMA ban now lifted — continues operating in the EU. Binance, by contrast, exits the EU market on this date after withdrawing its CASP application from Greece's HCMC on June 24, 2026.
What This Means for EU Users
The situation has concrete implications depending on whether you are an existing KuCoin EU client or looking to open a new account:
Existing clients: no immediate impact
If you already hold a KuCoin EU account opened before February 19, 2026, you can continue using the platform normally. The ban applies exclusively to new client onboarding — it does not affect existing registered accounts.
New EU users: accounts open again since May 18, 2026
The FMA officially revoked the ban on May 18, 2026. New EU residents can now open a KuCoin EU account. The platform holds a valid MiCA CASP licence (FMA Austria, granted November 27, 2025) and is fully authorized to onboard new EU clients.
What Changed: The FMA Lifted the Ban on May 18, 2026
Austria's FMA completed its independent review of KuCoin EU's updated compliance structure and officially revoked the ban on new client onboarding on May 18, 2026. The process followed the regulatory steps that were anticipated after the April 29 AMLO appointment:
- FMA review of Carmen Kleinhans's qualifications and suitability as AMLO ✅
- Assessment of KuCoin EU's updated internal AML/CTF compliance procedures ✅
- Official FMA communication revoking the ban — issued May 18, 2026 ✅
KuCoin EU's CASP licence (granted November 27, 2025) remained valid throughout the restriction period and continues to authorize full EU operations. The exchange is now one of the compliant platforms operating under MiCA as of the July 1, 2026 deadline.
MiCA-Authorized Alternatives for New EU Users
If you are a new EU user looking for an exchange with an active MiCA license and open onboarding, several strong alternatives are available:
- Best KuCoin alternatives for EU users (2026) — a comprehensive guide comparing fees, product offerings, and KYC requirements.
- MiCA-compliant exchange guide 2026 — which exchanges already hold a CASP license and how to verify it.
- Consider Kraken (MiCA Ireland), Coinbase (MiCA Luxembourg), or Bybit EU (MiCA Austria — FMA) as immediate alternatives with open EU onboarding.
For a broader overview of the MiCA regulatory landscape, see our full analysis of exchanges at risk under MiCA 2026. You can also check our detailed KuCoin EU review for the latest platform assessment.
Conclusion
KuCoin EU took a meaningful step by appointing Carmen Kleinhans as AMLO on April 29, 2026. Austria's FMA independently assessed the new compliance structure and officially revoked the ban on May 18, 2026 — approximately three weeks after the AMLO appointment.
For existing clients, the platform has remained fully operational throughout the restriction period. For new EU users, KuCoin EU onboarding is open again as of May 18, 2026. With a valid MiCA CASP licence and the FMA ban now lifted, KuCoin EU is one of the few major exchanges maintaining full EU operating rights after the July 1, 2026 MiCA deadline — while Binance and others have exited the EU market.
Find a MiCA-Authorized Alternative
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