BitMEX to Shut Down Exchange Operations on September 23, 2026

Crypto derivatives exchange BitMEX announced it will close permanently at 04:00 UTC on September 23, 2026, ending new account registrations immediately as the platform winds down.

Board Cites Strategic Review Behind Closure

HDR Global Trading Limited, the company behind BitMEX, said the decision followed a review of the business and the wider crypto industry. Launched in 2014, BitMEX pioneered the 100x leverage perpetual swap, a product later adopted across the industry, and says it has never lost user funds to a hack in over 11 years of operation.

Users are being urged to close positions and withdraw funds as soon as possible. Risk limits take effect August 26, preventing new positions, and any open positions remaining at closure will be force-closed. Staked BMEX tokens have already been unstaked and made available to holders.

Fees and Security Warnings for Slow Withdrawals

Users who fail to withdraw by the closure date will face a monthly fee of $50 or 1% annually, whichever is greater. BitMEX also warned users to watch for phishing attempts falsely offering expedited withdrawals, noting all assets currently exceed liabilities per its proof of reserves.