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For crypto exchanges that seek to operate legally in the European market, obtaining a MiCA license is only the first step. The next stage is the constant confirmation of compliance with the requirements, and this is where KuCoin has difficulties. The European division of a well-known crypto platform has faced regulatory restrictions in Austria.

The Austrian Financial Supervisory Authority (Finanzmarktaufsicht, FMA) has issued an injunction to KuCoin EU, finding that the exchange has ceased to meet the necessary standards for license holders. The reason turned out to be a shortage of personnel: the company lost specialists responsible for critical areas such as anti-money laundering (AML) and compliance with sanctions restrictions.

According to the FMA statement, the absence of these key employees makes it impossible to further develop the business. KuCoin EU is now prohibited from attracting new customers until the team is fully staffed with relevant specialists. Also, the exchange cannot offer new products or enter into additional agreements. This ban will remain in effect until the company is able to provide the regulator with confirmation of the hiring of the necessary personnel and the restoration of the internal control system.

Representatives of KuCoin assured that they are already actively working on filling vacancies. The company is expanding its compliance team in an Austrian office established to meet MiCA standards. Sabine Liu, Managing Director of KuCoin EU, stressed that the priority now is to form an administrative structure that fully meets the expectations of regulators and the needs of the European market. According to her, investments in local regulatory compliance experts are aimed at creating a stable operating model with a long-term perspective.

This situation underscores the strict position of European regulators: a license is not the end point, but the beginning of a path of continuous internal control. Staff outflow, especially in positions related to financial security, can lead to immediate operational consequences. For KuCoin, this means a temporary limitation of the growth of the customer base in Europe, but does not affect the service of existing users.