BitMEX is steadily winding down its services, removing a total of 65 derivative contracts and spot trading pairs throughout July as it prepares to end operations on September 23, 2026. The exchange attributes these cuts largely to weak trading volumes and declining user interest.
The removal schedule for July included 21 derivatives on the 2nd, nine spot pairs on the 16th, and a final group of 35 derivatives set for early settlement on the 30th. This is a marked increase compared to the first half of 2026 when only 19 instruments were delisted across several months.
The initial July deletions featured contracts linked to major names like Apple, Amazon, Meta, and Avalanche, while the mid-month delistings covered spot pairs such as UNI, APE, ATOM, and TRX. The last group includes various asset types, spanning crypto tokens, forex, commodities, and equities such as AAVE, COIN, GOOGL, NVDA, and TSLA. Trading on all will cease by 04:00 UTC on July 30.
After stopping new funding calculations and canceling open orders, BitMEX will settle these contracts at fixed prices without charging settlement fees. Users’ profits or losses will be credited directly in Bitcoin or Tether balances.
Steps Toward Exit
Following a strategic evaluation of its business and the broader crypto scene, BitMEX’s owner HDR Global announced the platform would end exchange services on September 23. New account registrations have already been halted as part of this wind-down.
From August 26, new risk limits will prohibit opening new positions, though existing ones can still be reduced. The company may forcibly close some positions during the run-off period and will liquidate all remaining open trades when shutdown takes effect.
Users will retain account access post-closure to monitor balances, review transactions, and make withdrawals. BitMEX also has unstaked BMEX tokens for holders, urging all customers to clear out assets before the platform closes.
Accounts with leftover funds after closure will incur fees of $50 or 1% per year on their balance, whichever is higher.
