Kuna (company)

KUNA
Company typePublic Company
IndustryFinancial Services, Cryptocurrency
Founded2016 (2016) (after ICO)
FounderMichael Chobanian
Defunct2025
Headquarters
Kyiv
,
Ukraine
Websitekuna.io

Kuna (Ukrainian: Куна) is the first Ukrainian and CIS cryptocurrency exchange.[1][2]

History

Kuna was founded in 2016 by Michael Chobanian as the first cryptocurrency exchange in Ukraine and the CIS region.

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Kuna became a major fundraising platform in Ukraine, reportedly accumulating over $100 million in cryptocurrency donations.

Investigation and closure

The subject of a tax evasion investigation, in late January 2025 the company commenced an orderly shut-down[3] in the wake of an unannounced withdrawal of Internet connectivity to domestic customers ordered by the Shevchenkivsky District Court of Kyiv – this sanction was at the request of the Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine (BEB).[4] The corporate decision having been made not to contest the matter, Kuna wrapped up operations completely on April 30, 2025 and ceased to exist.[5][6]

References

  1. ^ "How Ukraine is spending crypto donations". TechCrunch. March 2, 2022. Retrieved May 19, 2022.
  2. ^ Pimentel, Benjamin (March 17, 2022). "Ukraine crypto leader: 'Blockchain will help rebuild my country'". Protocol. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  3. ^ ""It's time to take your crypto". The founder of the oldest cryptocurrency exchange in Ukraine, Kuna, announced its closure". dev.ua.
  4. ^ "Ukraine's Oldest Crypto Exchange, Kuna, Shuts Down After Authorities' Sudden Ban". Ainvest.
  5. ^ "Українська криптобіржа Kuna припиняє свою діяльність — Forbes.ua". forbes.ua. January 30, 2025.
  6. ^ "Ukraine's Oldest Cryptocurrency Exchange KUNA Shuts Down After Court Ban".