Launched in 2017, Tier 1 cryptocurrency exchange KuCoin is trusted by 40 millions of users globally. KuCoin Token (previously known as KuCoin shares) or KCS mirrors its growth and remains the backbone element of its digital economy.

In this new review, U.Today observes the basic aspects of KCS offering and design as well as its role in KCS Loyalty Level, one of the most ambitious community initiatives in the segment of crypto exchanges.

KuCoin’s KCS: Crypto token as gateway to top exchange’s utility and earning

Ethereum-based cryptocurrency KCS is the core native digital asset of KuCoin, a major crypto exchange.

• First introduced in 2017, KCS is the native cryptocurrency of KuCoin, a Tier 1 centralized cryptocurrency exchange.
• KCS is integrated into the economics of KuCoin as it serves for fees deduction programs, underpins the user tiers hierarchy and so on.
• KCS stakers can benefit from long-term yield programs with competitive APY rates.
• Starting from March 2025, KuCoin is running KCS Loyalty Level, a community incentive program.
• With KCS Loyalty Level, stakers of KCS can get a unique combination of cashbacks, fee rebates and other perks with limited access.

Also, KCS is the native cryptocurrency of KuCoin Community Chain, an EVM-compatible programmable L1 by the KuCoin community.

What are exchange tokens?

In cryptocurrency, exchange tokens are utility tokens issued by centralized crypto exchanges to support their internal ecosystems. Exchange tokens often provide benefits such as reduced trading fees, access to limited features, or generous staking rewards. They are typically launched on popular smart contract platforms like Ethereum (ETH) or BNB Smart Chain (BSC).

These tokens can also be used for governance within the exchange’s ecosystem or as collateral in lending platforms. Some exchanges periodically burn a portion of their token supply to reduce circulation and increase scarcity, protecting the asset from inflation in the long-term. Holding exchange tokens can also give users early access to token sales (so-called Launchpads) and special promotions (Launchpools).

Well-known examples of exchange tokens include KCS by KuCoin, BNB by Binance, OKB by OKX, HT by HTX (formerly Huobi) and GT (Gate.io). Each serves a similar purpose but is tailored to the specific utilities and strategies of its issuing platform. They play a key role in incentivizing user activity and platform loyalty, and are often used for gas fees on “corporate chains” associated with this or that CEX.

What is KuCoin and what makes it special in 2025?

First unveiled in September 2017, KuCoin should be referred to as a mainstream centralized cryptocurrency trading platform with over 40 million registered accounts. The platform boldly champions reliability, accessibility, and transparency, driving innovation with unwavering commitment.

As of Q2, 2025, the exchange is offering the trading of 900+ cryptocurrencies, while its aggregated daily trading volume exceeds $2.3 billion.

Industry-standard encryption, proactive monitoring and regular proof-of-reserves (PoR) reports ensure that every digital asset is safeguarded, with BTC, ETH, USDT and USDC reserve ratios all exceeding 107%.

Thanks to a balanced tech design and cost-effective architecture of trading infrastructure, KuCoin platform’s trading fees are among the lowest in the entire cryptocurrency exchange segment.

With a base fee of 0.1% for both market makers and takers on Class A tokens, fees can fall further through a KCS-powered tiered VIP system. For instance, reaching VIP Level 5 (by trading over 2,000 BTC in volume or holding 40,000+ KCS tokens) reduces maker fees to 0%. Elite tiers even enjoy rebates on their liquidity.

KuCoin Earn module includes Savings, Staking and Lending modules, as well as a native launchpad and launchpools.

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Introducing KCS, veteran exchange token by top crypto exchange

KuCoin Token (KCS) is the core native cryptocurrency by KuCoin, a Tier 1 centralized cryptocurrency exchange ecosystem. It was launched together with the exchange itself to fuel its tokenomics and boost community engagement.

As per the KuCoin Token (KCS) whitepaper, the token’s maximum supply is capped at 200 million with no extra mint possible. Thanks to the constant periodical burn program, this number will eventually drop to 100 million.

KCS is fueling four workloads for KuCoin and its community, namely early participants rewards, an allocation for the founders and team, a bonus for advisors and angel investors and market/community rewards.

As such, KCS is a balanced instrument underpinning KuCoin's economic architecture and incentivizing trading on the platform.Discover real-time KCS pricing.. 

Getting started with KCS Loyalty Level, massive KCS-centric community program

As of Q2, 2025, all KCS utility and bonuses it can bring to holders and stakers are concentrated in the KCS Loyalty Level program, one of the largest community initiatives in the entire history of centralized exchanges.

KCS Loyalty Level: Single token, many perks

KCS Loyalty Level program offers a variety of opportunities for those who own and stake KCS tokens. Namely, it offers up to 22% fees discount for all operations. Also, KCS owners and stakers are eligible for a 20% bonus on GemPool, KuCoin’s Launchpool for early-stage tokens.

Then, KCS owners enjoy up to 1.03x bonuses for all KuCoin Earn instruments for passive income on idle crypto liquidity, as well as 2% rewards for fixed KuCoin Earn programs.

KCS Loyalty Level participants have their loan limits increased by 20% with a limit of 1 million USD in equivalent.

KCS Loyalty Level: How to join

Last but not least, KCS stakers and owners enjoy great bonuses and rebates: Up to 5.5% will return in KCS for every KuCoin Card purchase, while 40% in KCS will be rebated from all paid trading fees.

For every user, their level of participation depends on a) the amount of staked KCS; b) the net volume of deposits on KuCoin.

The higher the level of participation (K1 is the lowest, while K4 is highest), the better the benefits.

Unlock rewards with the KCS Loyalty Program

More utility for KCS: Bonuses, rewards, opportunities

Besides that, holding KCS offers a number of extra perks. First, for better rewards, KCS can be staked directly on blockchain, with no centralized intermediate. KCS holders enjoy bigger benefits on KuCoin Spotlight events.

Also, KCS can be utilized for participation in BurningDrop’s staking events for new coins. KCS holders can get GemVote tickets to participate in referendums for listing their favorite assets on KuCoin’s centralized exchange.

KCS and KuCoin Community Chain (KCC): What to know

KCS is also the core cryptocurrency and gas token for KuCoin Community Chain (KCC), a community-driven L1 blockchain focused on low transactional latency, negligible fees, easy onboarding and fast operations.

Since its inception and first public releases, KuCoin Community Chain (KCC) has been laser-focused on 100% compatibility with Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), the most popular smart contract execution mechanism in Web3.

Not unlike ETH in Ethereum (ETH), KCS is utilized as a gas currency for KuCoin Community Chain (KCC) needed to pay for transactions to be included in next blocks.

Also, KCS is an essential ecosystem instrument for referendums on crucial decisions for next stages of KuCoin Community Chain (KCC) development and growth.

KuCoin Community Chain (KCC) has already onboarded dozens of decentralized cryptocurrency applications, including DeFis, NFT marketplaces, blockchain-based games and so on.

Bonus: How to buy KCS in 2025

In 2025, there are a number of opportunities to buy KCS, a major utility cryptocurrency of the Tier 1 centralized crypto exchange.

1. Buying KCS on a centralized exchange. As of Q2, 2025, KCS is listed by all mainstream CEXes. First, it is available in dozens of pairs with BTC, USDT and altcoins on the KuCoin exchange itself. With USDT and BTC, cryptocurrency traders can also buy KCS on Bybit, MEXC, Bitmart, HashKey Global, Probit, CoinDCX and HitBTC.
2. Buying KCS on a decentralized exchange. As an Ethereum-based ERC-20 cryptocurrency, KCS is available on Uniswap, a major decentralized exchange. KuCoin exchange’s token can be purchased in the WETH/KCS pair. Therefore, KCS holders can also provide liquidity to WETH/KCS and earn LP rewards.

To purchase the KCS token with cash, cryptocurrency holders should deposit money to any CEX that supports fiat deposits.

Invest in KCS on KuCoin Today

Wrapping up: KCS provides community with exposure to KuCoin success

KCS is the native cryptocurrency token of KuCoin, a Tier 1 centralized crypto exchange. KCS fuels KuCoin’s tokenomics and serves the KuCoin community.

KCS staking provides the exposure to dozens of perks, including fees rebates, cashbacks, advanced loan functionality and so on.

KCS owners are now invited to join KCS Loyalty Level, a massive multi-tiered community program with extra bonuses and rewards.