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. Localbitcoins’ worldwide trade volume from 2013 to 2023.
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. Tags in this story 10 years, 2012, 2019, 6.56 million BTC, android, Bear Market, Bitcoin exchange, bitcoin trading, bitcoin trading service, Bitcoin withdrawals, centralized crypto exchanges, centralized trading options, Challenges, crypto bull market, Crypto Winter, Decade, decline, Digital Currency Prices, finland, global financial inclusion, Helsinki, in-person trades, Know-Your-Customer, less appealing, LocalBitcoins, Localbitcoins decline, Mobile App, new sign-ups, operations, Peer-to-peer, peer-to-peer trades, Regulations, Resurgence, service, seven-day period, shutdown, strong volume, suspended, trading, volume
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. Jamie Redman
Jamie Redman is the News Lead at Bitcoin.com News and a financial tech journalist living in Florida. Redman has been an active member of the cryptocurrency community since 2011. He has a passion for Bitcoin, open-source code, and decentralized applications. Since September 2015, Redman has written more than 6,000 articles for Bitcoin.com News about the disruptive protocols emerging today. Bitcoin’s Average Transfer Fees Experience Sharp Increase: 122% Rise in 10 Days NEWS | 1 day ago 3AC Co-Founder Kyle Davies Fails to Respond to Liquidators" Subpoena Despite Twitter Delivery NEWS | 1 day ago
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