Skip to main content

Localbitcoins, the Pioneer P2P Bitcoin Exchange, Shuts Down After a Decade of Service Due to Crypto Winter

Localbitcoins, the Pioneer P2P Bitcoin Exchange, Shuts Down After a Decade of Service Due to Crypto Winter

Localbitcoins, the Helsinki, Finland-based bitcoin exchange founded in 2012, is closing operations after over a decade of service. The company’s operators attribute the shutdown to the “ongoing crypto-winter,” which has left them unable to continue offering their bitcoin trading services.

The Challenges Faced by Localbitcoins and its Ultimate Demise in the Crypto Market

The first peer-to-peer (P2P) bitcoin exchange, Localbitcoins, is ending operations after over ten years in the business. The exchange announced the news on its website, stating that new sign-ups will be suspended as of Feb. 9, 2023, and trading will be suspended seven days later, on Feb. 16. Following the suspension of trading, Localbitcoins users will only be able to withdraw their bitcoins and have 12 months to do so.

“Originally Localbitcoins was established to bring bitcoin everywhere and drive global financial inclusion,” the company stated on Thursday. “We have honored that mission for over 10 years and we are proud of what we have achieved together with all of you, our loyal community.” The bitcoin exchange added:

We are therefore sad to share, that regardless of our efforts to overcome challenges during the ongoing very cold crypto-winter, we have regretfully concluded that Localbitcoins can no longer provide its bitcoin trading service.

In its early years, Localbitcoins was the preferred exchange for peer-to-peer trades globally. The platform saw strong volume in its first few years, but centralized crypto exchanges eventually surpassed it, leading Localbitcoins to become more prominent in regions without centralized trading options.

By 2019, the peer-to-peer exchange faced further challenges when it was required to comply with Know-Your-Customer (KYC) regulations. Additionally, Localbitcoins ended in-person trades that year, making the platform less appealing for peer-to-peer traders.

In 2021, during the crypto bull market and resurgence in digital currency prices, Localbitcoins announced the launch of an Android mobile app. Despite this, Localbitcoins never regained the volume it saw in 2017. Even during the 2021 bull market, the platform’s volume continued to decline. Statistics show that Localbitcoins’ volume is currently as low as it was during the 2015 bear market. The first week of February 2023 saw a slight increase, with 6.56 million BTC traded over a seven-day period.

What do you think is the future of peer-to-peer cryptocurrency exchanges after the closure of Localbitcoins? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.



from Bitcoin News https://ift.tt/01PLpNZ
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Mt Gox Creditors Updated, Trustee Says Rehabilitation Custodian Is ‘Currently Preparing to Make Repayments’

On August 31, 2022, the Mt Gox trustee Nobuaki Kobayashi explained in a recent letter that the rehabilitation custodian is “currently preparing to make repayments” to Mt Gox creditors. Trustee Updates Mt Gox Creditors — Repayment Date and Exchange Still Unknown Last week speculation and rumors concerning the release of 140K bitcoin ( BTC ) from Mt Gox littered social media platforms and headlines. Bitcoin.com News covered the situation six days ago as a number of people and Mt Gox creditors called the rumors “ fake news .” During that same period of time, a bitcoin whale transferred 10,000 BTC to unknown wallets, and a 2018 annotation , heuristics, and clustering methods show the funds likely originated from the June 2011 Mt Gox hacks. Following the mysterious whale transfer, last Wednesday, Mt Gox published an official update from the court trustee Nobuaki Kobayashi that explains the court is “currently preparing to make repayments” to creditors. Mt Gox creditors have been wait...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fidelity Discusses Bitcoin as Portfolio Insurance — Could Soon Stand in ‘Stark Contrast’ to Path Fiat Currencies Take

Fidelity Digital Assets, a subsidiary of Fidelity Investments, says that bitcoin could be considered portfolio insurance. The firm notes that the cryptocurrency “may soon stand in stark contrast to the path that the rest of the world and fiat currencies may take — namely the path of increased supply, additional currency creation, and central bank balance sheet expansion.” Fidelity Says Bitcoin Could Be Portfolio Insurance Fidelity Digital Assets, a subsidiary of Fidelity Investments, recently published a research study titled “The Rising Dollar and Bitcoin.” The research outlines “how bitcoin could be considered portfolio insurance” as the rising dollar impacts global currency markets. “The strengthening U.S. dollar is wreaking havoc among other countries and may put pressure on the Federal Reserve to soon reverse its tightening monetary actions, something that has precedent based on 1985’s Plaza Accord,” Fidelity explained. In addition, “more monetary debasement may be needed to ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Economists Discuss Russia, China Potentially Developing Gold-Backed Currency That Could Undermine US Dollar

Economists have weighed in on reports that China and Russia may be developing a new gold-backed currency that could undermine the U.S. dollar’s status as the world’s primary reserve currency. Russia and China May Be Developing Gold-Backed Currency Several experts have shared their views on Russia and China potentially creating a new gold-baked currency, Fox Business reported Saturday, emphasizing that China has been buying up huge quantities of gold while Russia was forced off the U.S. dollar due to sanctions imposed on the country following its invasion of Ukraine. The news outlet noted that some experts have cautioned that these moves, along with the closer relationship that has developed between Moscow and Beijing, point to the likelihood of China attempting to launch a gold-backed currency. However, neither Russia nor China has officially confirmed plans for such a currency. Craig Singleton, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and a former U.S. diplomat,...
Post a Comment
Read more