> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://uncoded.ch/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# KuCoin — Setup and Operation

> Diverse altcoin coverage. Lists symbols Binance and Bybit don't, with passphrase-based API authentication similar to OKX.

<Info>
  **KuCoin is a strong second-venue choice for operators wanting broader altcoin coverage.** Lists more symbols than the global tier-1 venues, with solid liquidity on majors. Uses a passphrase-based API authentication scheme similar to OKX — save all three credentials at API key creation.
</Info>

## When KuCoin makes sense

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Symbol coverage Binance doesn't have" icon="boxes-stacked">
    KuCoin lists thousands of symbols, including many Asian-market-driven projects and earlier-stage tokens not on Binance.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Diverse altcoin trading" icon="layer-group">
    For operators wanting beyond-majors exposure, KuCoin's listing breadth is hard to match.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Strong sub-account support" icon="users">
    Sub-accounts work cleanly for strategy isolation. Common pattern: one sub-account per experimental strategy.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Solid liquidity on majors" icon="droplet">
    `BTC-USDT`, `ETH-USDT` and other top pairs have deep books. Comparable to Bybit on common majors.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## When NOT to use KuCoin

<Warning>
  * ❌ **As your only venue** — not recommended as a starter; Binance is the recommended primary.
  * ❌ **For US residents** — KuCoin restricted in the US. Use Coinbase Advanced or Binance.US.
  * ❌ **For long-tail altcoins without verifying liquidity** — KuCoin lists many tokens; verify your specific symbol has enough depth before configuring.
  * ❌ **For first-month operators** — start with Binance or Coinbase, add KuCoin as a deliberate secondary.
</Warning>

## Account creation

<Steps>
  <Step title="Sign up at KuCoin">
    Use a referral link if available. KuCoin's referral program offers fee discounts attached at signup.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify email and phone">
    Standard verification flow.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Complete KYC">
    KYC at the level required for spot trading. Higher tiers unlock features unCoded does not need.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable 2FA">
    Authenticator app preferred over SMS. KuCoin also supports email-based 2FA but app is stronger.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## API key creation

<Steps>
  <Step title="Navigate to API Management">
    Account → API Management.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click 'Create API'">
    Choose "API Trading" type (not "Sub-Account API" unless you're creating for a sub-account).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set API name and passphrase">
    Choose a passphrase for this API key. **This is not your account password.** Save it immediately — KuCoin will not show it again.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure permissions">
    * ✅ **General** — enable (read account data).
    * ✅ **Trade** — enable.
    * ❌ **Withdrawal** — leave unchecked. NEVER enable this.
    * ❌ **Transfer** — leave unchecked unless required.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set IP allowlist">
    Paste your VPS's static IP. Find it with `curl -s https://api.ipify.org` from the VPS.

    Wait `30–60` seconds for propagation after saving.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save key, secret, AND passphrase">
    All three credentials are needed. Save all three to your password manager **before doing anything else**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Connecting unCoded to KuCoin

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the unCoded Dashboard">
    Log in with admin credentials.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add KuCoin as an exchange">
    "Exchanges" → "Add Exchange" → "KuCoin."
  </Step>

  <Step title="Paste all three credentials">
    KuCoin form has three fields: API Key, Secret, Passphrase. Paste all three.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test connection">
    Click "Test Connection." Green status if successful. If not, see [Troubleshooting](#troubleshooting-kucoin-specific) below.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## KuCoin-specific quirks

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Passphrase requirement (like OKX)" icon="lock">
    KuCoin uses passphrase-based authentication. Three credentials needed: API Key, Secret, Passphrase. Lose any one = revoke and create new.

    Operator habit: save all three in your password manager at creation. Don't try to memorize the passphrase.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Symbol naming uses dashes" icon="font">
    KuCoin pairs use dash-separated naming: `BTC-USDT`, `ETH-USDT`. Different from Binance/Bybit's unhyphenated format.

    The unCoded exchange profile handles this transparently — but mentally translate when cross-referencing.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Withdrawal pauses on specific assets" icon="ban">
    KuCoin occasionally pauses withdrawals on specific assets during operational events. Doesn't affect trading directly, but affects deposit/withdrawal timing.

    **Operator implication**: not a concern if your API keys correctly have withdrawal disabled. unCoded never withdraws anyway.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Sub-account support" icon="layer-group">
    KuCoin supports sub-accounts. Same pattern as Binance/Bybit: separate API keys per sub-account, separate balances, one master account for compliance.

    Useful for strategy isolation. Each sub-account API key needs its own passphrase.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Rate limits" icon="gauge">
    KuCoin's published spot rate limit varies by endpoint type. unCoded operates well below the published ceilings.

    Persistent rate-limit hits indicate over-aggressive configuration. Reduce active pair count.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Fee structure" icon="coins">
    Default `0.10%` taker on standard accounts. Volume tier discounts available. KCS (KuCoin's native token) discount available for fee payment.

    Most retail operators stay at the base tier; paying fees with KCS gives a small discount but adds complexity.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Troubleshooting KuCoin-specific

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Authentication fails with valid-looking credentials" icon="circle-exclamation">
    Most common cause: passphrase typo or whitespace.

    **Steps**:

    1. Re-paste passphrase from password manager.
    2. Watch for trailing whitespace.
    3. Verify IP allowlist matches VPS IP.
    4. Confirm Trade permission enabled.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Symbol not found" icon="font">
    Use KuCoin's dash-separated format: `BTC-USDT`, not `BTCUSDT`.

    Verify symbol is actually listed on KuCoin — many altcoins on KuCoin are listed only on KuCoin.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="I lost the passphrase" icon="lock">
    Recovery path:

    1. Revoke the API key at KuCoin.
    2. Create new key with new passphrase.
    3. Save key, secret, passphrase immediately.
    4. Update Dashboard, restart TradingBot.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Insufficient balance error" icon="circle-exclamation">
    Standard fix: top up balance, adjust mode's investment-per-buy, or close other positions.

    KuCoin-specific: verify the balance is in the correct sub-account if you use sub-accounts.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Rate limit hit" icon="gauge">
    Bot handles auto-cooldown. Persistent hits = reduce active pairs.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Best practices for KuCoin operators

<Tip>
  * ✅ **Save key, secret, AND passphrase at creation** — passphrase is unrecoverable.
  * ✅ **Use KuCoin's dash-separated symbol format** (`BTC-USDT`).
  * ✅ **API permissions: General + Trade only** — never Withdrawal.
  * ✅ **IP allowlist your API key**.
  * ✅ **Authenticator app for 2FA**.
  * ✅ **Use as second/third venue, not starter** — Binance better for first-time operators.
  * ✅ **Verify symbol liquidity before configuring** — many altcoins have thin books.
  * ✅ **Quarterly rotation** — same cadence as other venues.
  * ✅ **Sub-accounts for strategy isolation** — KuCoin supports this well.
</Tip>

## What's next

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="API Key Security" icon="shield" href="/exchanges/api-key-security">
    Universal principles applicable to KuCoin.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Binance Setup" icon="building-columns" href="/exchanges/binance">
    The recommended primary venue.
  </Card>

  <Card title="OKX Setup" icon="building-columns" href="/exchanges/okx">
    Similar passphrase-based authentication pattern.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Other venues" icon="ellipsis" href="/exchanges/other-venues">
    The remaining production-ready venues.
  </Card>

  <Card title="TradingBot" icon="robot" href="/modules/tradingbot">
    The execution engine that uses your KuCoin credentials.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Troubleshooting" icon="wrench" href="/troubleshooting/common-issues">
    Common issues and recovery procedures.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>