--- title: "KuCoin Immediately Stops Serving Clients from Russia and Belarus" description: "Crypto exchange KuCoin has immediately stopped servicing clients from Russia and Belarus, becoming the third major platform to leave the markets in October amid regulatory changes." date: 2026-10-31T16:33:33.119Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/kucoin-stops-serving-russia-and-belarus tags: [kucoin, crypto-exchange, russia, belarus, mica, sanctions] author: "Darya Fomina" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # KuCoin Immediately Stops Serving Clients from Russia and Belarus ![KuCoin exchange logo and a graphic character holding percentages and USDT in hand](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/31/kucoin-prekrashhaet-obsluzhivanie-rossii-i-belarusi/kucoin-prekrashhaet-obsluzhivanie-rossii-i-belarusi-1.webp) ## Key Points - KuCoin immediately stops serving clients from Russia and Belarus across all products and services - Affected users will receive personal notifications with deadlines for closing positions and withdrawing assets - KuCoin is the third major exchange after Bitget and MEXC to leave the markets in October - Reasons include preparation for European MiCA licenses, new sanctions, and Russian legislation starting September 1 Cryptocurrency exchange KuCoin has officially announced the complete cessation of services for clients from Russia and Belarus. The company explained that the decision was driven by the necessity to comply with applicable international legal and regulatory standards. The restrictions take effect immediately and apply to all products, features, and trading services of the platform without exception. ### What Will Happen to Assets and Open Positions The KuCoin administration stated that users subject to the restrictions will receive personal notifications with detailed instructions. These will specify individual deadlines for closing active positions and seamlessly withdrawing accumulated assets. Thus, the platform formally retains an orderly wind-down mechanism, although access to trading and other services for the affected jurisdictions is cut off immediately. ### A Wave of Departures: KuCoin is the Third Platform in October KuCoin's decision makes it the third major international crypto exchange to leave the Russian and Belarusian markets during October. Previously, Bitget and MEXC announced the introduction of strict jurisdictional bans and the complete blocking of accounts. According to several reports, MEXC announced the cessation of services for users from Belarus and Russia on October 20, clarifying at the time that the restrictions would affect a specific category of clients. The cumulative effect of these decisions is a noticeable narrowing of the circle of legal international platforms available to residents of both countries. ### Regulatory Background: MiCA, Sanctions, and Russian Legislation Experts attribute this dynamic to several factors. On the one hand, platforms are preparing to obtain European licenses under the MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) regulation and for the entry into force of new European sanction restrictions, which make serving clients from certain jurisdictions legally risky. On the other hand, baseline legislative regulation of digital rights circulation and crypto exchange activities came into force in Russia on September 1, changing the operating conditions for both foreign and local operators. As a result, international exchanges are revising their jurisdictional perimeter, while Russian and Belarusian users are forced to adapt to a reduction in available services. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Криптобиржа KuCoin прекращает работу с пользователями из России и Беларуси](https://www.goha.ru/kriptobirzha-kucoin-prekrashhaet-rabotu-s-polzovatelyami-iz-rossii-i-belarusi-ln7VRM) - Primary source: immediate cessation of service, personal notifications, context of Bitget and MEXC departures, MiCA, and Russian legislation from September 1. - [Криптобиржа KuCoin прекращает работу с пользователями из Беларуси](https://myfin.by/article/rynki/kriptobirza-kucoin-prekrasaet-rabotu-s-polzovatelami-iz-belarusi-49510) - Confirms the immediate implementation of restrictions and coverage of all platform products and features. - [Еще одна крупная криптобиржа прекращает работать с беларусами. Что будет с деньгами ...](https://news.zerkalo.io/economics/139483.html) - Indicates October 20 for MEXC's announcement and clarifies the scope of restrictions, consistent with general trends. - [Криптобиржа KuCoin перестала обслуживать россиян и белорусов](https://kod.ru/kucoin-rossiya-belarus-uhod) - Confirms the immediate effect of restrictions and the notification mechanism with position closing deadlines. ## FAQ ### When do KuCoin's restrictions take effect? The restrictions take effect immediately and apply to all products, features, and trading services of the platform for clients from Russia and Belarus. ### What should users with open positions do? KuCoin will send affected users personal notifications with instructions and individual deadlines for closing active positions and withdrawing accumulated assets. ### Why did the exchange make this decision? The company cites compliance with international legal and regulatory standards. Experts also link the departure to preparations for European MiCA licenses, new sanctions, and the entry into force of Russian regulations on September 1.