Bitfinex

Bitfinex is a long-running centralized cryptocurrency exchange operated by iFinex Inc., offering spot trading, derivatives, margin trading, lending, and over-the-counter (OTC) services for digital assets. Founded in 2012 and registered in the British Virgin Islands, the platform targets professional traders and institutional market participants, emphasizing deep liquidity, advanced order types, and low-latency execution across a wide range of trading pairs.

Overview

Bitfinex describes itself as a digital asset trading platform for “global liquidity providers,” providing order-book markets and financing tools for crypto assets, stablecoins, and select fiat currencies. It supports a range of products, from basic spot trading in assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum to leveraged products and tokenized securities. The exchange’s interface is built around customizable workspaces, charting tools, and API connectivity for algorithmic and high-frequency traders.

The platform is closely associated with Tether, the issuer of the USDT stablecoin tracked on CryptoSlate’s Tether (USDT) asset page. Both entities share a common parent company, iFinex, making Bitfinex a central venue for USDT liquidity and trading.

History and Background

Bitfinex launched in 2012 as a peer-to-peer Bitcoin exchange and gradually expanded its asset coverage and feature set to include a broad range of cryptocurrencies and leveraged products. Over time it became one of the earliest “professional grade” exchanges in the industry, attracting market makers and active traders with margin trading, lending, and an integrated funding market.

The exchange has also faced significant challenges. In August 2016, Bitfinex suffered a major security breach in which approximately 120,000 BTC were stolen from customer accounts. In response, the company implemented a socialized loss mechanism, reducing all user balances by a fixed percentage and compensating customers with BFX tokens that could be redeemed or converted into equity. Within months, Bitfinex reported that it had redeemed all outstanding BFX, restoring affected users and allowing the platform to continue operating as a going concern.

Regulatory and Legal Context

Bitfinex operates globally but restricts access for users in certain jurisdictions, including New York, in line with regulatory settlements. In 2021, iFinex (the parent company of Bitfinex) and related entities reached a settlement with the New York Attorney General’s office concerning allegations related to the handling of funds associated with Tether and access for New York customers. The agreement included a monetary penalty and ongoing reporting obligations, while Bit