MEXC has released its Q1 2026 TradFi Futures report, revealing that geopolitical tensions and safe-haven demand drove a surge in precious metals and energy contract trading. The platform ranked first among seven major crypto platforms in gold order book depth at the top five levels, translating to lower slippage and reduced true cost on large orders. MEXC also placed second in gold futures volume and third in both silver and crude oil among major crypto exchanges.
Total trading volume in February soared 138% month-over-month, with March adding another 45%. Monthly active traders grew cumulatively by 58% over the quarter. The number of available instruments expanded 62% quarter-over-quarter, now covering precious metals, energy, US stocks, global indices, forex, and ETFs.
Gold, Silver Lead; Oil Futures Fast Riser
Among the top-10 volume contracts, XAUT and SILVER ranked first and second, together accounting for over 90% of volume. PAXG placed fifth, confirming strong user appetite for on-chain precious metals.
Escalation in the Middle East from late February into March triggered sharp volatility across oil and gold markets, with single-day volume peaking on March 3. MEXC had launched USOIL (WTI) and UKOIL (Brent) perpetual futures on January 30, ahead of the inflection point. Within two months, both contracts climbed to third and fourth place in volume, capturing a combined 15.3% market share in Q1.
Depth Advantage Cuts Slippage
MEXC's top-ranked gold depth at the first five price levels meant less slippage even during the most volatile sessions. Silver's month-over-month growth in March was the fastest of any comparable platform.
Vugar Usi Zade, CEO of MEXC, commented: “Gold and oil volatility created a window of opportunity and lucrative entry points for those who are prepared. We positioned ourselves ahead of the curve with the right instruments, deep liquidity, and a frictionless fee model. As we move through H1 2026, our focus remains on expanding access, broadening our asset universe, and turning market shifts into opportunities.” The full report with detailed volume structure, market share, and liquidity benchmarks is available.
MEXC now serves over 40 million users across 170+ markets, offering zero-fee trading on more than 3,000 digital assets, plus tokenized stocks, ETFs, and commodities.