Crypto Exchange Not Working? Fix Common Issues and Avoid Scams

When your crypto exchange not working, a digital platform where you buy, sell, or trade cryptocurrencies. Also known as a crypto trading platform, it’s supposed to be your gateway to the blockchain—but when it freezes, crashes, or disappears, you’re left stranded. This isn’t just a technical glitch. It’s often a warning sign.

Most of the time, the problem isn’t you. It’s the exchange. Some platforms, like BEPSwap, a once-popular decentralized exchange on Binance Smart Chain, vanished without notice. Others, like WazirX, a major Indian exchange that faced security breaches and fund freezes, got hit by regulatory pressure. If your exchange suddenly stops processing withdrawals, updates its terms without warning, or stops responding to support tickets, it’s not a bug—it’s a red flag. And if you’re in a country like India or Myanmar, where crypto regulations are tightening, even a legitimate exchange might shut down your account overnight.

But not every issue is a scam. Sometimes, it’s just maintenance. Or a blockchain congestion. Or a forgotten two-factor code. The key is knowing the difference. A real exchange will post status updates. A fake one will vanish. A real one will let you access your wallet keys. A fake one will lock you out. Check if your coins are still visible in your wallet on a blockchain explorer like Etherscan. If they are, your funds are safe—you just lost the interface. If they’re gone, you’ve been hacked or scammed.

Most people panic when their exchange goes dark. They rush to call support, repost the problem on social media, or even try to "recover" their account through some shady service. Don’t. Take a breath. Write down what happened. When did it start? What were you doing? Did you click a link? Did you enter your seed phrase somewhere? Then check the exchange’s official Twitter or Telegram. If those are silent, it’s likely dead. If they’re active, wait. Most outages last hours, not days.

And if you’re using an exchange that doesn’t let you withdraw to your own wallet? That’s not a feature—it’s a trap. True crypto ownership means you control the keys. If you can’t move your coins off the platform, you don’t own them. You’re just a customer with a balance. And when that platform fails, you’re last in line to get anything back.

Below, you’ll find real cases of exchanges that broke, disappeared, or turned dangerous. Some were scams. Others were victims of regulation. All of them teach the same lesson: never trust a platform more than your own control. Whether it’s a frozen account in India, a dead DEX from 2021, or a fake airdrop tied to a fake exchange, the pattern is clear. The best defense isn’t better tech—it’s knowing when to walk away.