KuCoin EU has crossed a critical threshold in Europe. The exchange confirmed it has completed a core compliance milestone under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) and appointed Sabina Liu as Managing Director to lead its European business.
The two moves go hand in hand. With regulatory clearance largely in place, KuCoin EU is shifting from preparation mode into execution — building a regulated, localized operation designed to last.
A leadership hire shaped by regulation
Sabina Liu is not a crypto-first hire. That’s the point.
Before taking on the Managing Director role, Liu ran KuCoin’s institutional business, helping the exchange build relationships with professional trading firms and expand its institutional footprint. Prior to that, she spent 14 years at London Stock Exchange Group, working across Asia-Pacific and managing relationships with global investment banks active on the LSE’s secondary markets.
That background matters in a MiCAR world. Europe’s crypto market is no longer forgiving of loose governance or fast-and-loose growth. Exchanges are increasingly expected to operate like financial institutions — with clear controls, reporting discipline, and leadership that understands regulated market structure.
KuCoin’s decision to put a former LSEG executive in charge of its EU arm reflects that reality.
Investor Takeaway
Why MiCAR changes everything for KuCoin EU
MiCAR replaces Europe’s patchwork of national crypto rules with a single regulatory framework. For exchanges, that’s both a constraint and an opportunity.
KuCoin EU says securing MiCAR approval gives it a stable foundation to operate across the region without relying on jurisdiction-specific workarounds. In practice, this shifts the company’s priorities toward operational consistency, governance, and long-term service reliability.
KuCoin CEO BC Wong described Europe as a core market in the group’s long-term compliance strategy, calling MiCAR approval a necessary step toward sustainable operations.
That framing is telling. The race in Europe is no longer about who lists fastest or offers the highest leverage. It’s about who can operate cleanly, visibly, and at scale under regulatory scrutiny.
From approval to local execution
With its compliance foundations in place, KuCoin EU says the focus now moves to local execution — building teams, improving services, and engaging users market by market.
Liu described MiCAR as a “clear and unified framework” that allows crypto companies to plan beyond short-term cycles. Her mandate includes strengthening governance, deepening local operations, and pursuing steady growth within regulatory boundaries.
This mirrors a broader industry shift. Global exchanges are discovering that Europe rewards patience. Those willing to trade speed for stability may end up with stronger user trust and longer-lasting market share.
Investor Takeaway
What this says about Europe’s crypto market
KuCoin EU’s announcement is another sign that Europe’s crypto market has entered a different phase. Regulation is no longer looming — it’s here.
That reality is forcing exchanges to professionalize quickly, from leadership structure to operational controls. Those that treat MiCAR as a box-ticking exercise risk falling behind. Those that embed it into how they run their business may gain a durable edge.
By pairing MiCAR compliance with a leadership appointment rooted in traditional market infrastructure, KuCoin EU is making its position clear: Europe is a long-term market, not a growth experiment.
Execution will decide whether that strategy pays off. But the direction is set — and it’s firmly aligned with regulation, not against it.
About Sabina Liu
Sabina is the Managing Director of KuCoin EU. Prior to her current role, she led KuCoin Exchange’s institutional business, driving the growth of institutional partnerships and market expansion.
Prior to joining KuCoin, Sabina spent 14 years at London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG), where she headed business development across Asia-Pacific and managed relationships with global investment banks trading on the secondary markets of the London Stock Exchange and Turquoise, a pan-European platform featuring 4,300 securities from 19 European countries and the US. In recognition of her outstanding contribution to the Shanghai-London Stock Connect project, Sabina and the project team received the 2019 LSEG CEO Award. From 2021 to 2023, she also served as Co-Chair of LSEG’s Women’s Inspired Network, championing diversity and inclusion across the financial services industry. In 2023, Sabina was selected as the inaugural participant in the Financial Markets Standards Board (FMSB) Mentoring Programme, where she provided governance and strategic insights to the Board of FMSB, a global standards body for wholesale financial markets.
Sabina began her career as a reporter for Phoenix TV in London and later worked as Project Manager at the University of Oxford, overseeing the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Initiative. Sabina holds an MBA degree from Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, and a Master’s degree in Journalism from the University of Westminster.
