CoinEx to Shut Down Exchange Operations by December 22 After Nine Years

4 min readPublished 15 Sep 2026Updated 15 Sep 2026, 08:55 UTC

The exchange has told users to withdraw funds ahead of a December deadline, citing a significant contraction in the crypto market.

CoinEx has told its users to prepare for the end of the exchange’s operations. The platform will cease functioning by December 22, according to reports. The company has set a deadline in December for customers to withdraw any remaining funds held on the exchange.

The shutdown brings an end to roughly nine years of operation for CoinEx. The exchange launched in the earlier wave of centralized crypto trading platforms that emerged during the industry’s initial growth period. It built a user base across multiple regions during that time, competing with a crowded field of centralized exchanges offering spot and derivatives trading.

CoinEx cited what it described as a significant contraction in the cryptocurrency market as the reason behind its decision to close. The company did not attribute the closure to a single dramatic event but instead pointed to broader industry conditions. This framing suggests the decision reflects sustained pressure on trading volumes and revenue rather than a sudden crisis.

The exchange industry has faced consolidation pressure for several years. Regulatory scrutiny has intensified across major markets, raising compliance costs for smaller platforms. Competition from a shrinking number of dominant exchanges has also squeezed margins for mid-sized operators. CoinEx’s closure adds to a pattern of exchanges either merging, restructuring, or exiting the market entirely.

For users, the immediate priority is the withdrawal deadline. Exchanges winding down operations typically urge customers to move funds well before a stated cutoff date. Delays in withdrawal processing can occur as platforms scale down staff and infrastructure during a shutdown period. Users holding assets on CoinEx will need to complete withdrawals before the December 22 deadline to avoid complications.

The announcement also raises questions about what happens to any remaining balances after the deadline passes. Details on dispute resolution, customer support availability, and asset recovery procedures during the wind-down period were not fully specified in initial reports. Users are advised to monitor official CoinEx communications for further guidance as the shutdown date approaches.

Sources disagree on this story

This article was published before the reports below were compared. The reporting above stands; what follows is where the published accounts do not agree.

CoinEx’s wind-down details are broadly consistent across four outlets, but Cointelegraph and Coinfomania give contradictory figures for the exchange’s current trading volume.

What all sources agree on

CoinEx is winding down operations after nearly nine years.
The exchange cites a prolonged crypto market downturn, declining trading volumes/liquidity, and rising regulatory and compliance costs.
Non-spot services including futures end September 22, spot trading ends September 29.
Withdrawals remain open until December 22, 2026 at 02:00 UTC, after which the platform ceases operations.
CET will be repurchased/bought back at 0.005 USDT per token.
Unwithdrawn USDT after the deadline will be moved to independent custody and incur a 5% monthly custody fee.
CoinEx was launched in December 2017.

Where the reports disagree

1CoinEx’s current 24-hour trading volume

The crypto exchange is ranked 33rd with $58 million in 24-hour trading volume, according to CoinMarketCap.

Cointelegraph 2026-09-15 04:19

Currently, CoinEx reports no trading volume, reflecting its imminent closure and the impact of a struggling market.

Coinfomania 2026-09-15 04:40

What would settle it: CoinMarketCap’s live trading volume data for CoinEx at the time of publication.

What to make of it

Treat the shutdown timeline, the CET buyback price, and the December 22 withdrawal deadline as established across all four reports; the claim about whether CoinEx still had meaningful trading volume at the time of the announcement is contested and unresolved.

Market Impact

The closure of a nine-year-old exchange is likely to reinforce concerns about consolidation among centralized crypto trading platforms. Smaller and mid-tier exchanges have faced mounting pressure from regulatory compliance costs and declining trading volumes in recent periods. CoinEx’s exit could push some of its former user base toward larger, more established exchanges, potentially concentrating trading activity further.

The stated reason for the shutdown, a broader contraction in crypto markets, may prompt renewed scrutiny of exchange balance sheets and operational sustainability industry-wide. Traders and institutions with exposure to smaller platforms may reassess counterparty risk in light of this development.

CoinEx’s planned shutdown marks the end of a nearly decade-long run in the crypto exchange sector. Users are being urged to withdraw funds ahead of the December 22 deadline as the company winds down its operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will CoinEx stop operating?

CoinEx has said it will cease exchange operations by December 22, according to reports on the announcement.

Why is CoinEx shutting down?

The company cited what it described as a significant contraction in the cryptocurrency market as the reason for closing after nine years in operation.

What should CoinEx users do before the deadline?

Users should withdraw any remaining funds from the exchange before the December deadline to avoid potential complications during the wind-down process.