KuCoin is officially planting its flag in Australia, opening a new headquarters in Sydney as part of its push to expand across major global crypto markets.
The exchange confirmed the move in a Nov. 17 announcement, calling Australia one of the most important and fast-changing regions for digital assets. The new Sydney office will act as KuCoin’s regional base as it works to strengthen its footprint and connect more closely with local users.
New leadership and major hiring plans
To lead the new operation, KuCoin has appointed industry veteran James Pinch as managing director. Pinch previously held key roles at OKX, CMC Markets, Vantage, and Invast Global, giving him deep experience in Australia’s trading and financial services landscape.
Pinch said Australian crypto users expect “transparency, stability, and innovation,” noting that the country’s digital asset market is projected to grow nearly 20% to $1.2 billion by 2026. He added that KuCoin aims to meet those expectations through strong security standards and active community engagement.
KuCoin isn’t easing into the country quietly. Over the next 12 months, the exchange plans a hiring spree across compliance, cybersecurity, operations, and product development to build a full-scale local team.
Entering a competitive—and highly regulated—market
KuCoin joins a growing list of major global exchanges trying to win over Australian investors. Gemini entered the market just last month, rolling out AUD deposits and trading via its local subsidiary. Gemini has already registered with AUSTRAC to comply with anti-money-laundering rules, setting a regulatory benchmark new entrants will have to follow.
KuCoin will need to secure an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL) before it can offer the full suite of its crypto services locally, including AUD support. The timing is notable, as Australia is currently debating a new licensing framework that would require digital asset platforms to operate under the Corporations Act. Once implemented, exchanges that fail to comply could face penalties of up to 10% of annual turnover or more than A$16.5 million, whichever is higher.
Strengthening its global presence
Australia marks another major step in KuCoin’s global strategy. Earlier this year, the exchange launched in Thailand after securing a full operating license and later became the lead exchange supporting the government’s tokenized bond program, the G-Token initiative, handling subscriptions, redemptions, and secondary trading.
KuCoin has also been expanding its ecosystem through partnerships and new services. A recent collaboration with Refillarena allows users to spend crypto on gift cards, mobile top-ups, and data plans via KuCoin Pay. The company also introduced KuMining, a cloud-mining platform enabling users to mine Bitcoin, Dogecoin, and Litecoin without running their own hardware.
With a new headquarters, a seasoned leader, and ambitious plans, KuCoin is betting big on Australia—and positioning itself for the next phase of global crypto adoption.
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