KuCoin is withdrawing from Russia and Belarus, closing customer accounts in both countries as major cryptocurrency exchanges continue to pull back from markets subject to Western sanctions.
According to CoinDesk, the move follows similar announcements earlier in October from MEXC and Bitget. The developments point to a broader retreat by international crypto trading platforms from Russia and Belarus, although the source material does not provide details on KuCoin’s timetable, the number of affected customers or the specific account-closing process.
What KuCoin’s exit means
KuCoin is a cryptocurrency exchange, a platform where users can trade digital assets. Closing accounts means customers in the two countries will no longer be able to maintain those accounts with the exchange once the withdrawal process takes effect. The available report does not say whether existing users have been given a deadline to withdraw funds or whether any services remain available during a transition period.
Russia and Belarus are described in the report as Western-sanctioned markets. Sanctions can restrict financial dealings with specified countries, entities or individuals, increasing the compliance requirements and potential risks for companies operating there. Crypto exchanges have faced growing scrutiny over how their platforms are used in jurisdictions affected by such restrictions.
Recent exchange withdrawals
KuCoin’s decision comes after MEXC and Bitget announced comparable moves earlier this month. The sequence indicates that the change is not limited to one trading platform, but the source material does not identify a common policy or provide a broader list of exchanges leaving the two countries.
For customers, the immediate significance is access: account closures can affect the ability to trade or hold assets through a particular platform. The report does not state how users’ balances will be handled, so customers should rely on official communications from the relevant exchange for operational details.
Market picture
Moneyiar market data, recorded on October 25, 2026, showed mixed weekly performance among the listed assets. Monad (MON) was priced at $0.0215496181, down 0.49% over 24 hours but up 2.33% over seven days. ONEchain (ONE) stood at $0.1019913497, down 0.44% daily and up 1.74% weekly. Ontology (ONT) was $0.0501456474, down 0.93% in 24 hours and 1.73% over seven days, while Movement (MOVE) was $0.0070930391, down 0.02% daily and 5.33% weekly.
