Why is it apparently so difficult to run a solvent crypto exchange? On the face, it shouldn't be too hard, just take deposits, stick them in a wallet, and swap client balances in a database. Is the temptation to maintain a reserve ratio < 1 just too great? Do operators try to earn small, low-risk return on client funds only to find there are no low-risk, positive-return assets in crypto? Are the extending margin to c…
Running a stock exchange is a hard business too; you are the market maker, you set the spread, and the most sophisticated investors in the world are trying to arbitrage you. Any mistake can potentially ruin you. If you do you job right you take a tiny sliver of profit from each transaction.
Now consider crypto, where your ability to pause the market or unwind clearly-erroneous transactions is reduced or removed.
Sounds excruciatingly hard to me.