Crypto Exchanges Enforce Age Restrictions Amid Regulatory Scrutiny

The age requirement to buy cryptocurrency has become a pressing issue for regulators and exchanges worldwide. Most major exchanges, including Coinbase, Binance, Kraken, and Gemini, require users to be at least 18 years old and pass identity verification before purchasing cryptocurrency.

This minimum age threshold is largely due to Know Your Customer (KYC) rules that mandate identity verification through government-issued documents, which minors typically cannot complete independently. South Korea stands as a notable exception by requiring users to be at least 19 years old, enforced through mandatory real-name banking links tied to exchange accounts.

Decentralized exchanges like Uniswap do not require age verification or KYC checks, but their users generally do not receive the same consumer protections and support available through regulated centralized platforms. However, DEXs offer no consumer protections, insurance coverage, or fraud recovery options for any user.