Seychelles-based cryptocurrency exchange MEXC found itself in the midst of controversy on Friday as users on social media site X (formerly Twitter) called for immediate withdrawals amid speculation about the exchange’s potential bankruptcy. 

What Happened At MEXC?

Market analyst J.A. Maartun was among the first to draw attention to the situation, sharing a chart on social media that indicated a significant spike in withdrawal transactions around midday.

Researcher Hanzo also shed light on the unfolding drama, revealing the plight of a user known as “The White Whale.” This individual claimed that his account was suspended despite engaging in trading without the use of bots or APIs, leaving him unable to access his funds, which he estimated at between $3 million and $5 million. 

The White Whale alleged that customer support was unresponsive and that when he engaged with Cecilia Hsueh, MEXC’s new Chief Strategy Officer, he was pressured to admit to breaking the rules to have his funds released, a claim he firmly denied.

Cecilia later responded that their conversation should have remained private and accused The White Whale of misrepresenting the facts. MEXC subsequently announced its intention to take legal action against him for alleged misinformation. 

However, as the situation escalated, a wave of support emerged from the cryptocurrency community, including notable figures like ZachXBT, as many users reported similar issues with MEXC. 

This collective response led to warnings on social media urging users to withdraw their funds immediately, fueling the growing unrest.

CSO Issues Apology

In a rapid development, Cecilia issued an apology and confirmed that The White Whale’s withdrawal had been processed. She stated:

We fucked up. We apologize to @TheWhiteWhaleV2, and his money is already released. He can claim it at any time. I messed up in communicating with him. I got emotional, and I shouldn’t have. Since I joined MEXC 2 months ago I’ve been fighting behind the scenes to get MEXC to change. We grew really fast—a few years ago, we were a very small exchange, but given our current scale, our risk, operations, and PR teams have not kept up.

She noted that MEXC has experienced rapid growth, but its operational and public relations teams had struggled to keep pace. “We’re going to change that,” she stated, emphasizing that leadership has begun to recognize the need for improvement in transparency and operations.

In response to the swirling rumors of bankruptcy, MEXC took to social media to clarify its financial status. The exchange stated, “Recent online discussions have circulated unverified rumors regarding MEXC’s financial status. We would like to clearly state that these claims are false and misleading.” They assured users that MEXC remains financially healthy, with all user assets fully backed. 

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

As October comes to a close, Bitcoin (BTC) has disappointed many who had anticipated the month to be a strong one for the cryptocurrency, often referred to as “Uptober” due to its historically positive performance. Instead, Bitcoin finished the month down, creating a gap of approximately 13% from its all-time high. 

Historical Trends Suggest Bitcoin Could Rebound

Joel Kruger, a market strategist at LMAX Group, noted that while October was a letdown compared to historical trends, it’s essential to contextualize the price movements. He remarked, “Prices have held up well overall, especially after a September that actually bucked the usual weakness.”

Notably, on the 6th of this month, the market’s leading cryptocurrency reached an all-time high just beyond $126,000. Additionally, the current downturn has failed to erase the year-to-date gains, with Bitcoin still recording a 55% uptrend during this period.

However, according to a recent analysis by Fortune, this October marks the fourth-worst performance for Bitcoin since 2013 and the worst in the past seven years. Bitcoin’s performance lagged behind that of the S&P 500, which saw a gain of roughly 2.3% during the same period. 

Despite this under performance, Kruger remains optimistic about Bitcoin’s potential recovery in the upcoming months. “Historically, Q4 has been one of the best periods for crypto performance,” he stated, expressing hope for a push toward record highs for both Bitcoin and Ethereum (ETH) as the year draws to a close.

October Challenges

The month proved challenging not only in terms of price but also due to significant market events. Adam McCarthy, a senior research analyst at digital market data provider Kaiko, observed that cryptocurrencies entered October tracking gold and stocks at near all-time highs. However, as uncertainty crept into the market, investors did not flow back into Bitcoin as anticipated. 

In addition, October witnessed the largest liquidation event in cryptocurrency history, triggered by President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 100% tariff on Chinese imports, alongside threats of export controls on crucial software.

McCarthy commented on the impact of this liquidation, stating, “That washout on the 10th really reminded people that this asset class is very narrow.” He emphasized that even dominant cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum can experience sharp drawdowns, citing instances of 10% declines occurring in just 15 to 20 minutes.

Amid these developments, concerns have been raised by several figures regarding the high valuations in equity markets. Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, recently warned of a heightened risk of a significant correction in the US stock market within the next six months to two years. 

Jake Ostrovskis, head of trading at Wintermute’s over-the-counter desk, noted that participants in the market remain hesitant as they grapple with the implications of the largest liquidation event on record. He added that this caution persists amid ongoing speculation about vulnerabilities that might still exist within the financial system.

When writing, BTC was trading at $109,688, losing its nearest support floor of $110,000. 

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com