USD-backed crypto exchanges see volume boost as US traders regain influence

USD-supported exchanges experienced a modest resurgence in trading activity last month, with combined volumes reaching $279 billion across platforms that offer direct USD pairs and USD stablecoin trading pairs like USDT and USDC.

Crypto.com, Coinbase, and Kraken maintain their leadership positions in the USD-supported exchange landscape, while smaller platforms are also benefiting from the uptick in trading interest across the regulated exchange ecosystem. The U.S. user base, although excluded from many global platforms, continues to demonstrate an outsized influence by accounting for more than 10% of global exchange volume, despite regulatory limitations that have historically limited options for American traders.

However, recent CFTC clarifications regarding offshore exchange regulations and U.S. user access have created market uncertainty, as Americans may be able to once again access exchanges like Binance in the near future. The regulatory developments have highlighted the scale of what U.S. traders are currently missing, with platforms like Binance and Bybit processing a combined $850 billion in volume this month while remaining inaccessible to American users.

The market reaction to potential regulatory changes demonstrates the continued dominance of major offshore exchanges, with HYPE (Hyperliquid) token prices declining on speculation that increased U.S. access to platforms like Binance could negatively impact decentralized exchange adoption.

This price movement underscores how deeply Binance's market influence extends even into territories where it cannot currently operate, suggesting that any future U.S. market re-entry could significantly disrupt the existing exchange status quo.

This is an excerpt from The Block's Data & Insights newsletter. Dig into the numbers making up the industry's most thought-provoking trends.