How to upgrade to KuCoin VIP levels? (Fee Discounts)

Understanding KuCoin VIP Tiers

1. KuCoin divides its users into eight distinct VIP levels, ranging from VIP 0 to VIP 7.

2. Each tier corresponds to a specific set of trading fee discounts for both takers and makers.

3. Eligibility is determined solely by the user’s 30-day average KCS holdings and 30-day cumulative trading volume in USD.

4. The system recalculates eligibility every 24 hours based on real-time wallet balances and exchange activity.

5. Users cannot manually apply or request promotion; upgrades and downgrades occur automatically once thresholds are met or missed.

KCS Holding Requirements

1. Holding KuCoin Shares (KCS) is one of two primary criteria for VIP advancement.

2. The required KCS balance increases progressively with each level — VIP 1 demands at least 1,000 KCS, while VIP 7 requires a minimum of 3,000,000 KCS.

3. Only KCS held in the main account qualifies — assets stored in sub-accounts, futures wallets, or staking contracts do not count toward the calculation.

4. Staked KCS in the KuCoin Earn program contributes only if the staking product permits immediate redemption without lock-up restrictions.

5. Users must maintain the required KCS balance continuously for 30 days — temporary spikes above the threshold will not trigger an upgrade unless sustained.

Trading Volume Thresholds

1. Trading volume is measured in USD-equivalent across all spot markets, including BTC, ETH, USDT, and stablecoin pairs.

2. Futures and margin trading volumes are excluded from the calculation unless explicitly stated in a limited-time campaign.

3. Volume generated through API-based arbitrage bots counts fully, provided orders are executed on the public order book and not canceled before matching.

4. Wash trades, self-matching orders, or transactions involving related accounts are actively monitored and excluded during verification.

5. Volume is aggregated across all verified KYC accounts under the same individual — KuCoin enforces strict anti-sybil policies to prevent artificial inflation.

Fee Discount Mechanics

1. Maker fees decrease from 0.10% at VIP 0 to as low as 0.00% at VIP 7 for high-volume traders holding sufficient KCS.

2. Taker fees follow a parallel reduction curve, dropping from 0.10% to 0.02% at the highest tier.

3. Discount rates apply uniformly across all trading pairs — no pair-specific exceptions exist under standard conditions.

4. Fee reductions take effect immediately after a VIP level change is confirmed, with historical trades unaffected by retroactive adjustments.

5. Users receive fee rebates in KCS for every trade executed — the rebate percentage scales with VIP level and is credited within five minutes of order settlement.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do deposits or withdrawals affect my VIP status? A: No. Only 30-day average KCS balance and 30-day trading volume determine eligibility. Deposits and withdrawals influence the average only if they shift the 30-day mean significantly over time.

Q: Can I hold KCS in a third-party wallet and still qualify? A: No. KCS must reside in your KuCoin main account wallet. External wallets, even those linked via API, are not included in the calculation.

Q: What happens if my KCS balance drops below the threshold mid-cycle? A: The system evaluates the full 30-day rolling average daily. A single-day dip does not cause downgrade — only sustained shortfall across the evaluation window triggers adjustment.

Q: Are referral bonuses or airdrop tokens counted as trading volume? A: No. Referral rewards, token airdrops, and P2P transaction volumes are excluded from the trading volume metric used for VIP assessment.