Centralized exchange (CEX) trading volumes experienced a significant decline even before the recent lawsuits against Binance and Coinbase by the SEC. Crypto analytics firm CCData reported that combined spot and derivatives trading volume in May dropped by 15.7% from the previous month. This marks the second consecutive month of decreasing crypto trading activity. Notably, Binance suffered the most significant decline in trading volumes.
Binance has experienced a continuous decline in total market share for three consecutive months. In February, the exchange held 57% market share, but by the end of May, it only retained 43%. According to the report, the majority of this decline can be attributed to Binance removing zero-fee trading for USDT pairs. However, the added pressure from increased scrutiny by U.S. regulators undoubtedly played a role.
On the other side of the coin, crypto exchanges Bullish, Bybit, and BitMEX gained more than 1% in market share between March and May. This development came amid Binance’s market share slide and the lawsuits initiated by the SEC. While these legal actions may have consequences for the crypto market, it’s also worth noting that the top three decentralized exchanges (DEX) witnessed a 444% increase in median trading volume within 48 hours of the lawsuits.
Despite the overall decrease in trading volumes, mainly attributed to spot trading, the market share of derivatives trading increased, setting a new record. As of May, 79.5% of the entire crypto market is comprised of derivatives trading on centralized exchanges, a 1.2% increase from April. However, it’s crucial to mention that total derivatives volumes experienced a 14.4% decrease in May.
In conclusion, the decline in trading volumes on centralized exchanges is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it reflects the tightening grip of regulators on the industry, which may negatively impact trading activity. On the other hand, it highlights the resilience and growth of decentralized exchanges, which may ultimately prove to be more secure and trustworthy for investors. The question remains whether more regulation is truly necessary or if it will only continue to push traders toward decentralized alternatives.
Source: Cointelegraph
