Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, has seen a decline in market share from 54.2% to 48.7% in 2023, according to TokenInsight. Competitors OKX and Bybit have capitalized on this, with their market shares increasing by 4.3% and 2.2% respectively.
Despite the decline, Binance still leads in cumulative transaction volume for 2023, followed by Upbit and OKX. A similar trend is observed in the crypto derivatives market, with Binance at the forefront, trailed by OKX and Bybit.
The year 2023 has been particularly challenging for Binance amidst a tumultuous period for cryptocurrencies. Positive news later in the year has helped reverse the downward trend that persisted through a lengthy bear season.
In June, the industry was rocked by a lawsuit from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) against Binance and its CEO at the time, Changpeng Zhao (CZ). Later in November, significant developments occurred in the ongoing investigation against Binance.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) accused Binance of violating sanctions and anti-money laundering regulations, offering a settlement that included a $4.3 billion fine. A notable condition of the settlement was the demand for CZ’s resignation as CEO, which he complied with. CZ also faced a travel ban in the U.S. until the next court date in February 2024.