Major Pitfalls to Avoid When Launching an Exchange in 2025

As of March 2025, over 1.8 million crypto projects have failed — nearly 50% of everything launched in the past five years. The takeaway isn’t that the space is broken, it’s that the stakes are higher, and the winners are smarter.

Launching an exchange today means more than showing up at the right time. Regulation, user expectations, and liquidity have evolved. So has the bar for infrastructure. To stand out in 2025, you need more than software — you need precision.

Why Strategic Launches Win

New data confirms what we’ve seen firsthand: over half of crypto assets launched since 2021 are now inactive. But in that same span, we’ve helped over 175 exchanges launch and scale, not just survive, but grow. The difference? Intentional launch strategy. Successful operators plan for liquidity, compliance, infrastructure, and growth before they go live. They treat launch like a mission-critical phase, not a milestone.

What High-Performing Exchanges Get Right

Before launching your crypto exchange, it’s important to identify the mistakes that most commonly derail new platforms. These issues often stem from moving too fast, underestimating complexity, or overlooking critical infrastructure and compliance needs. By understanding these pitfalls in advance, you can establish the most important pillars that will separate your exchang:

1. Liquidity from Day One

Empty books drive traders away. Without reliable market makers or liquidity integrations, spreads widen and execution suffers. Ensure you have committed providers and routing in place before going live.

2. Compliance Built Into the Roadmap

Launching without clear licensing and compliance protocols is a fast track to shutdown. Every market has unique KYC, AML, and custody rules. Build compliance into your roadmap early to avoid legal setbacks.

3. UX That Feels Instant and Reliable

A clunky interface will drive users away, even if the backend is solid. Traders expect speed, clarity, and consistency across devices. Keep it simple, intuitive, and responsive from day one.

4. Infrastructure That Can Scale

Surges in traffic and volume will expose any flaws in your system. Without scalable, modular architecture, outages are inevitable. Build for load from the start to avoid downtime and lost trust.

5. Launch Strategy That Activates Users

A silent launch with no user incentives, marketing, or referral programs leads to flat growth. Exchanges that succeed in 2025 will treat go-to-market as a core function, not an afterthought.

Shift Markets: Launch with Confidence

If you’re launching an exchange this year, you’re entering a smarter, more competitive landscape. But that’s not a reason to hesitate, it’s a reason to plan with purpose. Avoiding these five major pitfalls can help operators build trust, scale efficiently, and attract long-term traders.

Shift Markets provides the infrastructure, compliance support, and liquidity integrations to launch and grow crypto exchanges worldwide. Whether you’re entering a niche market or targeting global users, our technology helps you launch with confidence. If you’re ready to launch your crypto exchange? Learn how to launch an exchange in 30 days and  connect with our team to get started.