Bittrex: what happened, and where to go instead
Bittrex has shut down
Bittrex is dead: do not send funds to anything using the name. The Seattle exchange filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on May 8, 2023, and its US platform closed for good at the end of 2023.
Founded in 2014 by former corporate security engineers, Bittrex spent years as one of the largest US venues for altcoin trading. The end came quickly: the SEC sued it in April 2023 for operating an unregistered exchange, the company announced it would leave the US market, and the bankruptcy filing followed weeks later. US customers were able to file claims and withdraw through the court process.
Its offshore arm, Bittrex Global, held on longer but wound down too. Its claims process closed in April 2025 with no payouts made, and the Bermudan Court of Appeal ruled on how customer assets should be treated on March 10, 2026. Bankruptcy examiners flagged more than 500 million dollars in questionable transactions, and disputes over customer money continue.
Former Bittrex users should move on: Kraken and Coinbase cover regulated US trading, and CEX.IO serves much of the US plus international markets.
- Founded
- 2014
- Headquarters
- Seattle, Washington, US
- Status
- defunct
Frequently asked questions
Can I still withdraw money from Bittrex?
The main windows have closed. US customers went through the Chapter 11 claims process, and Bittrex Global's claims process closed in April 2025 without payouts. If you missed those deadlines, recovery now depends on the ongoing court proceedings.
Why did Bittrex shut down?
The SEC sued Bittrex in April 2023 for operating an unregistered securities exchange. The company announced it would leave the US market and filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on May 8, 2023.
What happened to Bittrex Global?
The offshore arm wound down after the US bankruptcy. Its customer claims process closed in April 2025 with no payouts made, and the Bermudan Court of Appeal ruled on the treatment of customer assets on March 10, 2026.
Where should former Bittrex users trade now?
Kraken and Coinbase are the closest regulated US replacements, and CEX.IO is an option in much of the US and internationally.
Where those users went
- 4.7KrakenA 2011-vintage exchange with one of the cleanest security records in the business, heading toward a US stock listing.
- 4.5CoinbaseThe easiest US on-ramp for beginners, publicly listed, and legally in the clear since the SEC dropped its case.
- 4.0CEX.IOA card-friendly exchange licensed across most of the US, but currently closed to deposits and trading in Europe.
