AscendEX Withdrawal Glitch Triggers Liquidity Panic, Highlighting Struggles of Smaller Exchanges
Cryptocurrency exchange AscendEX (formerly Bitmax) faces a major withdrawal crisis, with user funds stuck in 'Initiating' status and no on-chain confirmations, sparking fears of liquidity insolvency. The platform suffered a $78 million hack by the Lazarus syndicate in 2021 and has since lacked proof-of-reserves and third-party audits. The incident underscores the existential challenges faced by mid-to-small exchanges amid tighter regulation and market consolidation.


