The cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX will cease operations entirely on September 23, 2026. New account registrations have already been halted, and users are urged to close their positions and withdraw funds as soon as possible.
Dear BitMEX Users,
Today, we share with a very heavy heart that BitMEX exchange will shut down its operations, effective 23 September 2026 at 04:00:00 UTC.
The owner and operator of BitMEX, HDR Global Trading Limited, has made the difficult decision to close operations… pic.twitter.com/oWuqlh547f
— BitMEX (@BitMEX) July 23, 2026
The decision was made by the board of directors of the holding company HDR Global Trading Limited after a "strategic analysis of the business and the cryptocurrency industry as a whole."
The company noted that its assets exceed its liabilities, referencing their Proof of Reserves and Liabilities page.
Source: BitMEX.Until the closure date, the platform will continue trading. Starting August 26, the exchange will prohibit opening new positions, allowing only for closures.
After operations cease, users will retain access to their accounts to view balances, transaction history, and withdraw funds.
BitMEX has already unlocked all staked BMEX tokens, which are now available in holders' accounts.
Additionally, the platform's team warned of phishing risks. There may also be additional identity verification required for withdrawals and delays due to network restrictions.
BitMEX has been in the market for over 11 years, since 2014. The exchange was one of the first to launch cryptocurrency derivatives trading with leverage up to 100x.
It is worth noting that in March 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump pardoned three co-founders of the trading platform—Arthur Hayes, Benjamin Delo, and Samuel Reed—who were charged with violating U.S. Bank Secrecy Act requirements regarding KYC and AML measures.