Why did BitMEX shut down its exchange after eleven years?

BitMEX closed after the board of HDR Global Trading Limited completed a strategic review of the business and broader crypto industry.

What fees apply to accounts with residual balances on BitMEX?

KYC-verified users who retain assets after the closure face a monthly account fee equivalent to 1% annually, or $50 for accounts with balances below that amount, until funds are withdrawn.

How does BitMEX handle withdrawals after the exchange closure?

Users can continue accessing their accounts, viewing balances and historical transactions, and withdrawing remaining assets after the exchange closes.

What is the operational timeline for closing open positions on BitMEX?

BitMEX began applying risk limits on August 26 to prevent new positions, then force-closed remaining open positions at 04:00 UTC on September 23.

What does the BitMEX closure mean for its BMEX token?

BitMEX unstaked all BMEX tokens held on its platform, making them immediately available in holders’ accounts after the closure announcement.

Cryptocurrency

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BitMEX shuts exchange after 11 years

Written by Brie CarterPublished Sep 24, 2026, 2:52 AM

BitMEX has closed its exchange after more than 11 years of operations.
Trading ended on September 23, while users retain access for withdrawals.
The shutdown follows a strategic review by BitMEX’s parent company, HDR Global Trading Limited.

BitMEX has closed its exchange after more than 11 years, following a strategic review by parent HDR Global Trading Limited.

The exchange stopped new account registrations immediately after announcing the closure and ended trading services on September 23.

“When BitMEX started in 2014, our mission was simple: provide access to professional-grade crypto derivatives for everyone.provide access to professional-grade crypto derivatives for everyone,” the BitMEX team said in its closure announcement.

BitMEX launched in 2014 and became known for its 100x-leverage perpetual swap and crypto derivatives market.

The exchange said users can still access their accounts, view balances and withdraw remaining assets after the closure.

BitMEX has also unstaked all BMEX Tokens, making those assets immediately available in holder accounts.

Open positions faced forced closure during the wind-down, with risk limits introduced from August 26 before the final shutdown.

Following the closure, BitMEX will keep withdrawal access available for users with remaining assets.

Frequently asked questions

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