Arkham Intelligence has announced the impending closure of its crypto trading platform, a decision prompted by disappointing user adoption rates. The derivatives exchange, which launched in late 2024, struggled to attract a significant user base in a market dominated by established players such as Binance and Bybit.
Despite its ambitious start, the exchange has failed to gain traction, with reports indicating that trading activity remained low. Just before the announcement of the shutdown, the platform”s daily trading volumes were reportedly under $1 million, a stark contrast to the activity seen on larger exchanges. This trend highlights the intense competition and challenges faced by new entrants in the crowded derivatives market.
Arkham initially launched its exchange with the goal of leveraging its successful analytics platform to convert users into active traders. The exchange integrated advanced features that provided users with insights from on-chain intelligence tools, allowing for enhanced decision-making during trading. However, despite these efforts, the platform could not achieve the necessary scale to remain competitive.
The decision to cease operations comes less than two years after the launch of the exchange. Reports suggest that the shutdown will proceed in a structured manner, allowing users to withdraw their funds, although a detailed timeline for this process has yet to be provided. Meanwhile, Arkham”s analytics platform will continue to function normally, maintaining its services that track whale movements and on-chain activities across various blockchains.
This closure underscores the current difficulties faced by new crypto exchanges, particularly in the derivatives sector, where liquidity and market presence are crucial for success. The market conditions that persisted through parts of 2025 and early 2026 further compounded the challenges for smaller platforms like Arkham. As the company pivots back to its core analytics business, it reaffirms its position as a leading provider of blockchain intelligence.
