More than 60 cryptocurrency companies, blockchains, and decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols shut down or filed for bankruptcy between January and July 2026, a pace that accelerated sharply in the final weeks of July.
Key Takeaways
Over 60 crypto projects shut down or filed bankruptcy from January to July 2026, led by BitMEX’s Sept. 23 closure.Security exploits drove closures including Step Finance’s $40 million hack and Radiant Capital’s $50 million 2024 breach.AscendEX cited failed EU MiCA licensing, while Tally’s founder linked its closure to looser SEC enforcement.Across the industry, networks, projects, and startups have quietly shut their doors, while crypto-focused venture capital activity has cooled to levels that reflect far more caution than conviction.
The closures span every corner of the industry. Exchanges, layer-one (L1) and layer-two (L2) blockchains, wallets, NFT platforms, DAO tooling firms, and blockchain games all appear on the list. The stated causes vary just as widely: security exploits, failed licensing applications, unsustainable token economics, market-making scandals, and, in several cases, teams that simply said the product never found an audience.
Exchanges and Trading Platforms Bankruptcies Layer-One and Layer-Two Blockchains DeFi Protocols
