When a dead crypto exchange, a platform that once let users trade crypto but has since vanished, frozen assets, or been exposed as a scam. Also known as failed crypto exchange, it leaves users with nothing but screenshots and silence. This isn’t rare—thousands have disappeared since 2014, and many more are quietly dying right now. You don’t need to be a expert to lose everything. All it takes is trusting a platform that doesn’t have real security, no clear ownership, or zero accountability.
Most crypto exchange scams, platforms that pretend to be legitimate but are designed to steal funds or disappear. Also known as fake crypto exchange, they often look polished—low fees, high leverage, no KYC—but they hide behind anonymous teams, no audits, and zero customer support. Look at Bittworld or Libre Swap: both claimed to be major players, but had no real volume, no users, and no way to withdraw. Then they vanished. Meanwhile, crypto exchange shutdown, when a platform closes due to legal pressure, regulatory action, or financial collapse. Also known as regulated crypto exchange closure, it’s just as deadly—just slower. Vietnam’s Directive 05/CT-TTg forced dozens of exchanges out of the country. Iran’s government froze wallets. Kazakhstan cut power to miners. These aren’t hacks. They’re systemic failures. The common thread? No real custody. If you don’t hold your own private keys, you’re not owning crypto—you’re renting it from someone who might not be trustworthy.
What separates a dead crypto exchange from a surviving one? Transparency. Regulation. Proof of reserves. Community. If a platform doesn’t publish audits, doesn’t name its founders, and doesn’t answer questions about where your money is stored, it’s already halfway to being a ghost. You’ll find real examples below: exchanges that claimed to be safe, then vanished. Others that were shut down by governments. And a few that were exposed as outright frauds. These aren’t hypotheticals. These are real cases where people lost everything overnight. The goal here isn’t to scare you—it’s to arm you. Know the signs. Spot the traps. And never trust a platform just because it looks nice.
BiONE crypto exchange is defunct as of 2025. Once promoted as a secure, regulated platform with 300+ coins, it vanished without warning. Learn why it failed and where to trade safely instead.