BitMEX said it will permanently shut its crypto exchange on September 23, 2026 at 04:00 UTC after a strategic review by parent HDR Global Trading Limited. New registrations have stopped, opening new positions will end on August 26, and remaining positions will be auto closed at shutdown. Users are urged to withdraw funds before the deadline.

Three crypto exploits led to $35.55 million in losses, including $7.54 million from an attack on the Verus Ethereum bridge, according to CoinDesk. The incidents also hit the B² Network staking contract and other crosschain infrastructure, highlighting persistent security risks tied to bridge design and smart contract management.

BitMEX will shut down on September 23, 2026 at 04:00 UTC. The exchange will allow normal trading until August 26, after which users will no longer be able to open new positions and may only reduce existing exposure. Any positions still open at the shutdown time will be closed automatically, and certain illiquid contracts may be settled earlier under existing exchange procedures. HDR Global Trading Limited said it approved the wind-down after reviewing the business and broader digital asset market. New account registrations have already been halted, while existing customers can continue to manage positions during the transition. BitMEX plans to begin a staged closure of outstanding contracts ahead of the final deadline to reduce disruption. After operations end, users will still be able to access accounts to review balances, view transaction history, and make withdrawals. The exchange also said it has unstaked all BMEX tokens, making them available to holders. Verified users who keep assets on the platform after closure will be subject to custody fees of at least $50 or 1% per year, assessed monthly. Founded in 2014, BitMEX was an early leader in crypto derivatives and helped popularize perpetual swaps, offering leverage of up to 100x. The company said no user funds were lost to hacks over more than 11 years of operation. The shutdown comes as competition in derivatives has intensified and market dynamics have shifted. CoinGecko reported centralized perpetual futures volume declined 10% to $12.7 trillion in the second quarter, while decentralized venues have taken a larger share, led by platforms such as Hyperliquid. BitMEX reminded users that they remain responsible for closing positions and withdrawing assets before September 23. It also warned that enhanced withdrawal checks and blockchain confirmation delays could slow processing, and urged customers to be alert to phishing attempts related to the closure. Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. CoinCryptoNewz is not responsible for any losses incurred. Readers should do their own research before making financial decisions.

BitMEX has closed its doors, marking the end of the crypto derivatives venue that pioneered the perpetual swap. The product it popularized has since become a market mainstay, now dominated by larger rivals.

UPDATE: The crypto market saw three separate exploits in a single day, with combined losses estimated at $35.55 million. AFX_XYZ accounted for $24.15 million, VerusCoin for $7.55 million, and BSquaredNetwork for $3.86 million.

BMEX, the exchange token issued by BitMEX, sank as low as $0.001112 on Wednesday, according to market data. The token is down 92.05% over the past 24 hours and was last trading at $0.004757. BitMEX previously said it will shut down its exchange on Sept. 23 and has already stopped accepting new user registrations.

Odaily Planet Daily reports that prediction markets Kalshi and Polymarket handled more than $44 billion in combined trading volume in 2025. As of April 2026, their combined monthly volume climbed to $24 billion, exceeding the average monthly wagering volume seen on regulated U.S. sports-betting platforms. Kalshi generated $263.5 million in fee revenue last year, and its annualized revenue rate has now surpassed $1.5 billion. Prediction markets typically run a binary contract exchange model: the platform matches buyers and sellers but does not place bets itself, hold directional positions, or take event-outcome risk. Revenue is primarily driven by transaction fees, with additional contributions from data licensing, API access for institutional traders, and market-creation fees on some venues. In the U.S., Kalshi operates as a designated contract market (DCM) registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Polymarket returned to the U.S. market at the end of 2025 after acquiring QCEX, a CFTC-regulated entity, for $1.12 billion. Some states still treat prediction-market contracts as gambling, and related federal and state litigation remains ongoing. In the EU, the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) does not explicitly define the legal status of prediction-market contracts, resulting in different classifications across member states. Platforms that use crypto settlement and offer custody or transfer services to EU users must obtain a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) license.

Crypto derivatives exchange BitMEX will fully wind down and cease operations on September 23, 2026, ending a run that began in 2014. New account registrations have already been suspended, and the platform is urging customers to withdraw funds as soon as possible. HDR Global Trading Limited’s board made the decision after a strategic review of the business and broader crypto market conditions. The company said the choice was difficult. In its announcement, BitMEX pointed to its early role in the sector, saying it launched in 2014 with the goal of broadening access to professional-grade crypto derivatives and that it created the 100x-leverage perpetual swap, a product that became one of the industry’s most actively traded. BitMEX also stated that, across more than a decade of operations, it has never lost user funds due to a hack. Wind-down timeline - New accounts: registration is no longer available. - Starting August 26: users will be unable to open new positions and may only reduce existing positions. - Through the shutdown date: BitMEX will progressively force-close open positions to ensure an orderly end to trading. - At the moment operations cease: any remaining open positions will be force-closed. After September 23, trading will be disabled. Users will still be able to log in, review transaction history, and withdraw funds. Custody fee after closure for KYC’d users BitMEX warned that users who have completed KYC but do not withdraw by the closure date will be charged a custody fee, billed monthly, equal to $50 or 1% per year, whichever is higher. Scam warning The exchange cautioned clients about phishing attempts and scam messages claiming to offer "expedited withdrawals," saying there are no special withdrawal procedures. BitMEX closed its statement by thanking users for their support over the years and encouraging them to continue trading on other platforms. The shutdown announcement came the same week Movement Labs filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the U.S. following last year’s scandal involving the MOVE token.

PANews, July 23 — CertiK's report, "Hack3D: Wrench Attacks in the First Half of 2026," shows a sharp rise in so-called wrench attacks. The firm confirmed 52 incidents in the first half of 2026, up 33.3% from 39 over the same period in 2025. Recorded financial losses tied to these attacks totaled about $124.1 million, compared with $10.5 million a year earlier. The geographic distribution was heavily concentrated in Europe. Of the 52 confirmed cases, 39 occurred in Europe, including 33 in France, making it the most prominent country in the dataset. CertiK also highlighted a notable strategic shift: crypto-related burglaries surged from one publicly reported case in H1 2025 to 20 cases in H1 2026.