ABFinance shuts down before going live – Why crypto’s bear market matters

Exchange closures have become all too common in a bear market, with some  exchanges shutting down even before launching. Following a series of recent shutdowns, ABFinance has now joined the list.

ABFinance announces suspension of operations

ABFinance, a U.S.-compliant cryptocurrency trading platform founded by former Bybit co-CEO Helen Liu, has announced the suspension of operations.

In March 2026, Helen Liu announced the creation of a new U.S.-based platform, ABFinance. Notably, the platform was built with compliant licensing from the first day.

However, nearly five months after its announcement, the core product still hasn’t launched publicly. Shockingly, the team announced the immediate suspension of operations.

ABfinance stated through their official X that

Planned launch will not move forward 

This marked a sudden end to the founder’s effort to combine deposits, earnings, and spending under the U.S. regulatory umbrella. After the announcement, the team thanked its community and partners.

The team has not stated specific reasons or a closure timeline. Therefore, information about users needing to withdraw assets has not yet been officially confirmed. 

Why are crypto exchanges failing?

Although ABfinance did not disclose the reasons for the exit, market conditions have become a major factor.