KuCoin Token 

KCS Price

What is KuCoin Token (KCS)?

KuCoin Token (KCS) is the native token of KuCoin, a global cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2017. KCS launched as KuCoin Shares in the August 2017 ICO and was later rebranded — one asset, not two projects. The token is an ERC-20 on Ethereum and anchors the wider KuCoin ecosystem, including the KuCoin Community Chain (KCC), a separate chain built by the same ecosystem. Utility covers trading-fee discounts, the KCS Bonus daily revenue share, staking, and payments.

How does the KCS Bonus work?

The KCS Bonus is KuCoin's daily revenue-share program for holders who hold at least 6 KCS. Holders receive a daily distribution tied to exchange revenue. The KCS Bonus is a standing utility of the token rather than a dated campaign — the benefit applies for as long as KuCoin operates the program and the holder keeps the minimum balance on the exchange.

Can you stake KCS?

Yes. Staking is listed among KCS utilities, alongside trading-fee discounts, the KCS Bonus daily revenue share, and payments support. KCS itself is an ERC-20 token on Ethereum, and the token contract carries no native staking mechanism — the staking offering runs through the KuCoin ecosystem, so participation happens on the exchange side rather than on-chain.

What is the total KCS token supply?

KCS has a fixed maximum supply of 200,000,000 tokens. The ongoing burn program has permanently removed a large share of that — well over a quarter of the maximum — so total supply sits below 200M and keeps falling; live figures are on DropsTab. Distribution at genesis: 100 million KCS (50%) sold in the ICO, 30 million (15%) in the Angel Round, and the remaining ~70 million retained by the team and ecosystem.

Will KCS supply keep burning to 100 million?

The stated end goal of KuCoin's burn program is reducing total supply to 100 million KCS. Under KuCoin's current published KCS program, buybacks and burns are funded from 10% of the exchange's quarterly net profit, which makes the token deflationary by design. Burn pace depends on exchange profitability and is not guaranteed. No schedule beyond the 100 million target is published.

Does KCS have upcoming token unlocks or a vesting schedule?

KCS has no active vesting schedule and no announced future cliff dates. ICO tokens sold from 13 August 2017 carried no lock-up. The Angel Round's 30 million KCS carried a two-year lock-up running from September 2017. That lock-up expired in September 2019, so unlock-driven sell pressure on KCS is effectively zero — the only structural supply change is the buy-back-and-burn, which removes tokens rather than adding them.

Who backed KuCoin Token?

Per DropsTab funding data, KuCoin raised $25 million in its ICO on 13 August 2017 at $0.25 per KCS, selling 100 million tokens at a $50 million pre-money valuation. The Angel Round in July 2017 sold 30 million KCS. The Angel Round raise amount is not publicly disclosed. A $20 million Series A followed in November 2018 from IDG Capital, Matrix Partners, and Neo Global Capital (NGC).

What does KuCoin's Series A signal about backer quality?

The November 2018 Series A brought in established institutional backers — IDG Capital and Matrix Partners are both recognized venture firms, and Neo Global Capital (NGC) is a venture firm tied to the NEO smart-contract ecosystem. Institutional backing signals outside validation of KuCoin's exchange business model. Concentration risk on the disclosure side is limited: no individual investor is disclosed as holding more than 20% of KCS supply.

On which exchanges can you trade KCS?

KCS trades on six-plus centralized spot venues, with KuCoin as the home market carrying the deepest liquidity. Secondary CEX listings include Bybit, Poloniex, HitBTC, BYDFi, and Azbit. On-chain, a KCS/WETH pair on Uniswap v3 gives the ERC-20 token DEX access, and KuCoin Futures lists a KCS perpetual. Liquidity is heavily concentrated on KuCoin itself — the issuer controls KCS's primary market, while DEX liquidity is minor.

What regulatory risk does KuCoin Token carry?

KCS carries issuer-level regulatory risk. In January 2025, KuCoin's operating entities pled guilty in the United States to operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business. The settlement required roughly $297 million in combined forfeiture and fines plus a two-year exit from the US market. The case is a material legal overhang on the token's issuer, and the burn program's dependency on exchange profitability ties that issuer risk directly to KCS supply mechanics.