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CoinEx to Close Operations on December 22

By Markets Desk · 2026-09-16 · 1 min read
A closed server room with rows of dark, inactive computer towers and tangled cables on the floor
Illustration: Tradingbird

Hong Kong exchange CoinEx will cease trading in nine years, citing rising compliance costs and low volume. Users must withdraw funds by December 22.

CoinEx will close on December 22. The exchange operated for nine years. Users must withdraw all funds by that date. Founder Haipo Yang announced the decision on X.

Yang cited security and compliance risks as the primary drivers. He stated that these costs became difficult to contain. CoinEx rejected a potential sale. Yang preferred a controlled shutdown over a transaction.

Trading volume lags competitors

CoinEx recorded 24-hour volume of $70 million. This figure is far below regional peers. CoinW processed $1.18 billion in the same period. Gate handled $1.6 billion in daily trades.

The gap highlights a competitive disadvantage. CoinEx failed to capture significant market share. Volume metrics show a clear tier separation. The exchange could not match the liquidity of rivals.

Industry consolidation accelerates

Other major players have also exited. BitMart and BitMEX closed in July. Both operated for several years before shutting down. Their departures signal a broader market shift.

Retail spot trading volumes have declined. This trend pressures established exchanges. The sector is shrinking in size. Only the most efficient operators remain viable.

RWA inflows show recovery

Real-world asset inflows are rising. Tokenized equities lead this recovery. Binance’s bStocks reached $118.5 million in two months. This product is now the second-largest issuer.

On-chain equity DEX volume stands at 90 percent. This share is dominated by Binance. The data comes from GN markets/crypto. It reflects a shift toward institutional-grade assets.

Based on reporting by coindesk.com, compiled by the Tradingbird desk.

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