BitMEX is accelerating the removal of derivative contracts and trading pairs in July, with 65 instruments scheduled for delisting during the month. That compares with just 19 delistings across the first half of the year, underscoring a sharp increase in activity as the exchange moves toward shutting down operations.
According to notices published on BitMEX’s website, the platform delisted 21 derivative contracts in early July. Two weeks later, it removed nine spot pairs, citing insufficient trading interest. On Thursday, the exchange added another 35 derivative contracts to its delisting list, bringing the total to 65 for July alone.
The exchange said the contracts are being removed because trading interest is too low and because BitMEX is closing its exchange business. The delisting pace suggests a broader contraction in activity on the platform as it prepares for an orderly wind-down.
BitMEX also confirmed that it will discontinue exchange services on Sept. 23, 2026, at 4:00 am UTC. The company did not specify a detailed operational reason for the closure, instead referring to a strategic review of the business and the wider crypto industry.
Industry restructuring adviser Roshan Dharia said the situation reflects the structural pressures weighing on exchanges of BitMEX’s size. Those pressures include the difficulty of attracting sufficient liquidity, rising compliance costs, and the need to compete with larger rivals that have more entrenched user bases. silver traded slightly higher in Asian hours on Friday after a sharp decline of more than 4% in the previous session, with XAG/USD near $58 per troy ounce. The modest rebound came as traders weighed renewed geopolitical risks against the broader impact of firmer energy prices and shifting expectations for US monetary policy.
The metal remains under pressure because it does not offer yield, making it more vulnerable when interest-rate expectations rise. Oil prices have moved higher as tensions in the Middle East intensify, reinforcing the view that inflationary pressures could persist and keeping alive the possibility of additional Federal Reserve tightening.
Market pricing reflects that shift in sentiment. The CME FedWatch tool shows investors assigning about a 36% probability to a rate increase this month, while the odds of at least a quarter-point hike in September are around 82%. Those expectations have helped limit demand for precious metals, even as silver attempts to stabilize after its recent slide.
Geopolitical concerns have escalated after reports that Houthi forces attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. The group, which is backed by Iran, said the vessels were allegedly violating a blockade. In response, the United States carried out another round of airstrikes on Iran, extending a campaign that has now lasted for nearly two weeks.
The latest developments have deepened fears of a broader regional confrontation. Washington has also issued increasingly forceful warnings, signaling the possibility of further military action if attacks continue. For silver , the combination of higher oil prices, stronger rate-hike expectations, and elevated risk sentiment has created a mixed but generally difficult trading environment. While safe-haven demand can support the metal during periods of stress, the prospect of tighter policy continues to offset that benefit.
