Crypto exchange Bittrex to wind down operations in the US

The exchange shared that all customer funds are safe but advised U.S. customers to withdraw their funds by April 30, 2023.

Cryptocurrency exchange Bittrex has announced it will be winding down its operations in the United States due to a challenging regulatory and economic environment. The announcement was made on the platform’s ninth anniversary, marking a bittersweet moment for the company. 

Due to continued regulatory uncertainty, we have made the difficult decision to wind down our U.S. operations, effective April 30, 2023. All funds are safe and can be fully withdrawn immediately.

This does not affect customers of @BittrexGlobal https://t.co/MY4u7XLk9z

— Bittrex (@BittrexExchange) March 31, 2023

Co-founder and CEO Richie Lai said that as the crypto ecosystem evolved, regulatory requirements have become increasingly “unclear” and “enforced, without appropriate discussion or input,” leading to an uneven competitive landscape. This environment has made it economically unviable for Bittrex to continue its operations in the United States.

Thank you everyone.... pic.twitter.com/kq8nTRT0Aj

— Richie Lai (@richiela) March 31, 2023

The company’s founders have decided to focus on helping Bittrex Global succeed outside the United States. Bittrex clarified that U.S. customers don’t have to worry about the safety of their funds, as all of their capital is safe and available for withdrawal. The platform shared that it will permit trading until April 14, 2023, but advised customers to withdraw all funds by April 30, 2023.

Founded in 2014 by three cybersecurity engineers, Bittrex offered features like full-service API, near-instant atomic transactions, wallet infrastructure and offline cold wallet solutions.

Related: Elizabeth Warren is pushing the Senate to ban your crypto wallet

The winding down of Bittrex’s U.S. operations is a reminder of the challenges faced by cryptocurrency businesses navigating an uncertain regulatory environment.

On March 3, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse warned that the Securities and Exchange Commission’s regulatory approach puts the U.S. at “severe risk” of missing out on being an attractive hub for the next evolution of blockchain and crypto innovation.

In a Bloomberg interview, Garlinghouse suggested that the crypto industry has “already started moving outside” of the U.S. because the country’s crypto regulation is “behind” other nations like Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, Singapore and Switzerland.