Bybit Delisting Shakes Crypto Market: 6 USDT Spot Trading Pairs Including MEMEFI to Be Removed

In a significant market development, cryptocurrency exchange Bybit has announced the impending delisting of six USDT spot trading pairs, sending ripples through the digital asset community and prompting immediate user action. The exchange confirmed it will remove MEMEFI/USDT, RACA/USDT, ART/USDT, SPEC/USDT, XCAD/USDT, and MYRO/USDT from its platform at precisely 8:00 a.m. UTC on January 21, 2025. This strategic move reflects ongoing industry consolidation and heightened regulatory scrutiny affecting smaller-cap digital assets globally.

Bybit Delisting Announcement Details and Immediate Impact

Bybit communicated the delisting decision through official channels on January 15, 2025, providing users with a six-day notice period. Consequently, the exchange will suspend spot trading for these pairs at the designated time. However, users can withdraw their assets until February 20, 2025. Market data indicates immediate trading volume declines for the affected assets following the announcement. Typically, exchanges implement such measures when trading pairs fail to meet specific liquidity, volume, or project viability thresholds established in their listing policies.

Furthermore, this action aligns with broader industry trends where major exchanges periodically review their asset offerings. For instance, similar delisting waves occurred on Binance and Coinbase throughout 2024. These reviews ensure platform integrity and protect users from highly volatile or illiquid assets. The selected pairs represent a mix of meme tokens, gaming assets, and creator economy projects, suggesting a targeted review of specific market segments.

Analysis of Affected Cryptocurrency Assets

The six assets slated for removal represent diverse blockchain sectors. MEMEFI operates as a gamified meme token platform, while RACA (Radio Caca) functions within the USM Metaverse ecosystem. ART (Maecenas) facilitates tokenized fine art ownership, and SPEC (Spectre.ai) represents a derivatives trading platform. Additionally, XCAD focuses on creator economy tokenization, and MYRO is a Solana-based meme token named after a dog. Market capitalization data preceding the announcement showed all six assets occupying lower-tier positions relative to major cryptocurrencies.

Historical performance data reveals these assets experienced significant volatility throughout 2024. For example, trading volumes for MEMEFI fluctuated dramatically during meme coin market cycles. Similarly, XCAD demonstrated correlation with broader creator economy and social token trends. The table below summarizes key characteristics of the affected assets based on pre-announcement metrics:

Notably, five of the six assets primarily operate on the Ethereum blockchain, indicating possible network-specific review criteria. The delisting does not affect these cryptocurrencies’ availability on other trading platforms or their underlying blockchain functionality.

Exchange Compliance and Regulatory Context

The delisting decision occurs within an evolving global regulatory landscape. Major jurisdictions, including the European Union with its MiCA framework and the United States through SEC enforcement actions, have increased scrutiny on cryptocurrency exchanges and asset classifications. Consequently, exchanges now conduct more rigorous due diligence on listed assets. Bybit’s move potentially reflects proactive compliance measures ahead of anticipated 2025 regulatory implementations.

Exchange listing policies typically mandate minimum requirements for:

• Trading Volume: Sustained liquidity thresholds
• Project Development: Active GitHub commits and roadmap progress
• Legal Compliance: Adherence to jurisdictional regulations
• Community Activity: Measurable user engagement and growth
• Security Standards: Audit completion and smart contract reliability

Periodic reviews against these criteria ensure platform quality. Assets failing multiple metrics often face delisting. This process protects retail investors from projects demonstrating signs of abandonment or regulatory non-compliance.

Market Reactions and Historical Precedents

Following the announcement, social sentiment analysis showed increased discussion volume regarding exchange dependency risks. Historical data from previous delisting events on major platforms indicates potential short-term price pressure on affected assets. However, projects with strong fundamentals and alternative trading venues often recover post-delisting. For instance, some assets removed from Binance in 2023 maintained trading activity on decentralized exchanges and smaller platforms.

The cryptocurrency market has witnessed similar consolidation cycles during previous bear markets. The 2022-2023 period saw numerous exchanges streamline their offerings after the FTX collapse. This current action suggests continued industry maturation rather than isolated platform decisions. Market analysts observe that such delistings frequently correlate with increased institutional adoption, as exchanges prioritize assets with clearer regulatory pathways.

User Guidance and Portfolio Management Implications

Bybit users holding the affected assets must take specific actions before key deadlines. The exchange recommends closing open spot orders for these pairs before January 21. Users should complete all withdrawals by February 20 to avoid asset accessibility issues. For continued exposure, investors can explore alternative trading platforms listing these assets, though they should first verify each platform’s regulatory standing and security practices.

This event highlights several crucial portfolio management considerations:

• Exchange Diversification: Avoid concentrating holdings on single platforms
• Asset Research: Prioritize projects with multiple exchange listings
• Liquidity Awareness: Monitor trading volume trends for early warnings
• Withdrawal Preparedness: Maintain ability to move assets quickly between platforms
• Regulatory Monitoring: Track jurisdictional developments affecting asset classifications

Professional traders often use delisting announcements as liquidity events, executing strategic exits or entries based on projected price dislocations. Retail investors should prioritize capital preservation and consider reallocating to assets with stronger exchange support.

Conclusion

Bybit’s decision to delist six USDT spot trading pairs, including MEMEFI, represents a calculated move within the cryptocurrency industry’s ongoing maturation phase. This action underscores the importance of exchange compliance, asset viability, and proactive portfolio management. While affecting specific tokens, the delisting reflects broader trends toward market standardization and regulatory alignment. Users must adhere to announced deadlines, and the market will closely observe how similar platforms respond to evolving 2025 regulatory expectations. Ultimately, such consolidation efforts aim to strengthen ecosystem resilience and investor protection.

FAQs

Q1: What exact time will Bybit delist the MEMEFI/USDT trading pair?
The delisting will occur precisely at 8:00 a.m. UTC on January 21, 2025. Spot trading will suspend at that moment.

Q2: Can I still withdraw my RACA tokens after the delisting date?
Yes. Bybit will maintain withdrawal functionality for all six delisted assets until February 20, 2025.

Q3: Does this mean the ART cryptocurrency is shutting down?
No. The delisting only affects trading on Bybit. The ART token and its underlying platform continue operating, and it may trade on other exchanges.

Q4: Why would an exchange delist trading pairs?
Exchanges typically delist pairs due to low liquidity, declining trading volume, regulatory concerns, or failure to meet ongoing project development standards outlined in their listing agreements.

Q5: Where can I trade MYRO after the Bybit delisting?
You should consult cryptocurrency market data aggregators to identify alternative platforms listing MYRO. Always verify the security and regulatory compliance of any new exchange before transferring assets.