All the countries have laws regarding to financial transactions and they require a financial license for the Bitcoin exchangers. It doesn't matter if you are in USA or China.
If Bitcoin isn't defined as money in their country, exactly why would they need such a license? Bitcoin is still in the 'grey zone' for a lot of places.it's not about Bitcoin. It's about that an exchanger is doing financial transactions. They are receiving money from customers for doing a FINANCIAL service. You need license for a such thing in all the countries. There is NO grey zone.
Example: you need a financial license to trade gold even it's virtual gold. Gold is not money...
"In their country" where? Kraken is based in USA and USA requests license. Okcoin, BTC China are based in Singapore and China which are requesting financial licenses for that, Bitfinex is based in Hong Kong and they claim to be registered in British Virgin Islands which requires a financial license for these kind of services....