BitMEX Shutdown Timeline: From Reduce-Only Restrictions on August 26 to Closure on September 23
Information verified: July 29, 2026
Risk warning: The shutdown arrangements may change through later official announcements. Contract prices, liquidity, and withdrawal processing times may also change before closure. This article summarizes public information and is not investment advice. Always follow the latest notice and information shown in your BitMEX account.
BitMEX will formally shut down at 04:00 UTC on September 23, 2026. Users may trade and manage positions before then, but from August 26 they will only be able to reduce positions and cannot open or increase them. (BitMEX)
Contents
- BitMEX shutdown timeline at a glance
- What happened after the July 23 announcement
- Why trading becomes reduce-only after August 26
- What happens to positions still open on September 23
- Whether login and withdrawals remain available after September 23
- Withdrawal restrictions to consider before closure
- What BitMEX users should do now
BitMEX shutdown timeline at a glance
All times are in UTC. In UTC+8, 04:00 UTC on August 26 and September 23 is 12:00 noon on the same date. BitMEX published its formal closure announcement on July 23 and identified 04:00 UTC on September 23 as the final shutdown time.
What happened after the July 23 announcement?
BitMEX stopped accepting new account registrations immediately after its July 23 announcement. Existing users can continue to log in, trade, adjust positions, and request withdrawals. In principle, the platform remains operational until the risk restrictions take effect on August 26.
The platform also unstaked all BMEX tokens that users had staked on BitMEX, allowing the tokens to appear directly in holders’ accounts. BMEX holders therefore do not need to wait for the previous unstaking process, but they must still decide how to handle their account balances.
September 23 is not the only date on which contracts will stop trading. BitMEX has announced that 35 derivatives contracts with insufficient trading interest will be delisted and settled early at 12:00 UTC on July 30, citing both low liquidity and the impending exchange closure.
Users should therefore check whether each contract they hold has a separate delisting announcement instead of relying only on the final shutdown date.
Why does trading become reduce-only after August 26?
From 04:00 UTC on August 26, 2026, BitMEX will impose risk restrictions. Users will no longer be able to increase positions and may only reduce existing ones, a trading state commonly called “reduce-only.” (BitMEX)
For example, a user who already holds 500 long contracts may sell to reduce or close the position but cannot buy more contracts to enlarge it. According to the BitMEX help center, users can close a position through:
Trade page → Positions section → Market or Limit
They may also select Reduce-Only in the order-entry area to prevent an order from accidentally increasing a position.
After August 26, BitMEX may gradually force-close some open positions before September 23. The company has not published an exact processing date for every account or contract, so users should not treat September 23 as the only position-closing deadline.
Order-book depth and participation may also change as the market enters the shutdown phase. Waiting until the final stage to manage a position may result in an execution price different from the one originally expected.
What happens to positions still open on September 23?
At 04:00 UTC on September 23, 2026, BitMEX will stop providing its normal exchange services. The platform will immediately force-close any open position that has not yet been handled. (BitMEX)
This is not the same as an ordinary liquidation. A normal liquidation typically results from insufficient margin, while a shutdown force-close is the platform’s method of resolving remaining positions as it ends market operations.
The settlement result may still be affected by:
- the market price at the time;
- the mark price;
- contract liquidity;
- the platform’s early-settlement rules; and
- position size.
BitMEX has also stated that it will not be responsible for trading losses caused by force-closing a position that the user did not manage before final closure.
For a broader explanation of how the closure affects accounts and funds, see “BitMEX Is Closing: What It Means for Your Account and Funds.”
Can users still log in and withdraw after September 23?
Yes. After BitMEX ends normal trading services, users who have not transferred out their assets can still log in, view wallet balances and transaction history, and submit withdrawal requests.
September 23 is therefore more accurately described as:
The exchange-service shutdown time, not an absolute withdrawal deadline.
However, that does not mean users should leave assets in a post-closure account indefinitely. BitMEX says a KYC-verified user who has not removed their assets by the shutdown time will be charged:
The greater of USD 50 equivalent or 1% of the account balance per year.
The charge will be collected monthly. The platform also reserves the right to increase it later after giving advance notice.
Withdrawals during the shutdown period may face additional review. BitMEX warns that requests can be affected by internal checks, the processing speed of a particular blockchain, and address-pool capacity. A “Processing” status means a request remains queued; it does not mean the funds are lost.
What withdrawal restrictions should users consider before closure?
BitMEX allows users to withdraw their full available balance, provided it meets the minimum withdrawal amount shown for that asset on the withdrawal page. Unrealized profit is not part of the withdrawable balance. The relevant position must first be closed and its profit or loss settled. (BitMEX Support)
BitMEX does not charge a platform fee for Bitcoin withdrawals, but users must pay the dynamically calculated Bitcoin network fee. Other assets generally carry a fixed withdrawal fee denominated in that asset. The applicable fee and minimum withdrawal amount are displayed when the request is submitted.
After submitting a withdrawal, users can check:
Transaction History
Common statuses include Pending, Confirmed, Processing, and Completed. Completed only means that BitMEX has broadcast the transaction to the blockchain; it does not mean that the destination has received all required network confirmations.
BitMEX currently requires Travel Rule information for every withdrawal, with no exemption for smaller amounts. Even when sending funds to a personal wallet, the user must state that they are the recipient and specify whether the destination is an exchange wallet or a self-custody wallet.
What should BitMEX users do now?
First, review every open position and unfilled order. In particular, check whether any held contract appears on an early-delisting list instead of planning only around September 23.
Second, close positions that you do not intend to keep as early as practical. Trading becomes reduce-only after August 26, and the platform may begin closing some positions before the final shutdown, leaving users progressively less control over their exit price.
Third, confirm the available withdrawal balance. Unrealized profit must be converted into a realized balance by closing the associated position before it can be withdrawn. Cross-margin users should also remember that a withdrawal may reduce the account’s remaining margin and change the liquidation price.
Fourth, save transaction records. Even though BitMEX says historical information will remain viewable after closure, users should back up orders, fills, funding fees, deposits, and withdrawals before the main service stops.
Finally, do not trust claims of “priority withdrawals,” “accelerated payouts,” or paid processing channels. BitMEX has stated that it offers no such expedited service, and phishing attempts that impersonate the platform may increase during the shutdown period.
Summary
BitMEX’s final shutdown is scheduled for 04:00 UTC on September 23, 2026, but the first key point affecting user actions is 04:00 UTC on August 26. From that time, users will no longer be able to increase positions, and BitMEX may gradually force-close existing ones.
After September 23, users can still log in, view records, and request withdrawals. Assets left in an account may, however, incur account charges, and withdrawals may face additional review and network delays.
Rather than waiting until the last day, existing users should act in this order:
Check contract delistings → close positions → cancel orders → verify balances → save records → submit withdrawals.
Frequently asked questions
What is BitMEX’s last trading day?
BitMEX will stop providing exchange services at 04:00 UTC on September 23, 2026. However, from 04:00 UTC on August 26, users will no longer be able to add to positions and may only reduce them.
Can users still trade on BitMEX after August 26?
Users may reduce or close existing positions but cannot open or increase positions. BitMEX may also gradually force-close open positions between August 26 and September 23.
Can users withdraw from BitMEX after September 23?
According to the official announcement, users can still log in, view balances and history, and request withdrawals after closure. Assets left in an account may be subject to the greater of a USD 50 equivalent charge or an annual charge of 1% of the account balance.
Does BitMEX have a withdrawal deadline?
BitMEX has not announced a final date after which all withdrawals will cease, but it strongly recommends withdrawing before September 23. Requests submitted after that date may incur additional charges and face stricter review.
Will positions be transferred automatically to another exchange?
No. BitMEX has not announced any automatic position migration. Users must close their own positions; any position left unresolved at final shutdown will be force-closed by the platform.
