KuCoin EU Strengthens AML Leadership, Paving the Way to Resume Full Operations
Vienna-based crypto platform KuCoin EU has filled the vacant positions in its Anti-Money Laundering team, marking an important step toward resuming regular operations. With the appointment of an experienced Anti-Money Laundering Officer and two deputy compliance experts with regulatory backgrounds, the company is responding to the departure of key staff that had led to a voluntary suspension of new customer business in early February 2026.
Three New Compliance Leaders
Carmen Kleinhans has been appointed as the new Anti-Money Laundering Officer (AMLO). In this role, she will oversee the entire AML and Counter-Terrorism Financing (CFT) framework as well as the sanctions area at KuCoin EU. Kleinhans brings extensive experience from the European banking sector: most recently, she served as Head of Compliance, AML/CTF and Sanctions Officer at ICBC Austria Bank GmbH, where she built the institution’s compliance and AML framework from the ground up. Prior to that, she held regional compliance responsibility at Banco do Brasil AG and worked in AML and sanctions roles at Raiffeisenlandesbank Niederösterreich Wien AG.
In addition, Mr. Klinger and Mr. Träxler from the consulting network Compliance Networks have been appointed as Deputy Anti-Money Laundering Officers (DAMLOs). Both bring an unusually broad range of expertise: they previously worked for the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) and subsequently held positions as Chief Compliance Officers at international banks, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Klinger also served as Head of Legal at the Austrian National Bank, where he was responsible for overseeing financial sanctions in the Austrian banking sector.
Background: Why KuCoin EU Paused Operations
The situation traces back to February 2026. After two employees responsible for AML and sanctions compliance left the company, KuCoin EU says it proactively decided to suspend its new customer business before the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) took formal action. Since February 4, 2026, trading and deposit services have been blocked for new customers.
The FMA subsequently determined that the positions of the AML Officer, the deputy, and the Sanctions Officer were no longer properly staffed. Since these functions are a fundamental requirement for operating a licensed crypto service provider under MiCAR, the authority issued a ban on new business and called on KuCoin EU to restore lawful conditions without delay.
Constructive Dialogue with the FMA
KuCoin EU emphasizes that the exchange with the FMA remained constructive and transparent throughout the entire period. The company says it proactively informed the authority about the personnel changes and immediately began the process of filling the key positions. With the appointments now finalized, the AML and sanctions roles required by the FMA are once again fully staffed.
KuCoin EU Managing Director Sabina Liu commented on the development as follows:
“Compliance is the operational foundation of everything we do. Strengthening our AML leadership and capabilities is a decisive step toward delivering on our promise of fully compliant operations in Europe.”
Outlook: Return to Normal Operations Within Reach
With all required key positions now filled, the formal conditions for the FMA to lift the ban on new business have been met. An official decision by the authority is still pending. Existing customer accounts and assets were not affected by the measures at any point.
KuCoin EU has been licensed by the FMA as a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) under the European MiCAR regulation since November 2025, offering European users services such as custody, exchange, and transfer of crypto assets.
