#OnChainAnalysis

AscendEX Froze Withdrawals and May Not Return User Funds After MiCA Miss

Crypto exchange AscendEX officially shut down on July 1, 2026, after failing to secure authorization under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation. On-chain data from Arkham Intelligence and TRM Labs revealed that the exchange's liquidity issues began weeks prior, marked by a $240 million reserve drop in late June. Investigator ZachXBT first alerted the public to stuck withdrawals on June 26, noting that operational hot wallets were nearly depleted of major assets like ETH and USDT. The exchange admitted that a failed strategic transaction left it unable to fund user withdrawals, and it currently offers no guarantee that funds will be returned. Because AscendEX lacked a MiCA CASP license, its users are not protected by the regulation's mandatory asset segregation requirements. This collapse highlights the gap between MiCA's consumer-protection goals and the reality for users on platforms that fail to meet regulatory standards. The event underscores the critical role of on-chain transparency in identifying exchange insolvency before official announcements are made.

techtimes.com·3d ago