CryptoBridge was a decentralized exchange built on BitShares. Users traded via blockchain-stored order books and held assets in their own wallets - no central custody. It ran a native token, BridgeCoin (BCO), for staking and fee distributions.
Fees and trading
It charged a flat 0.20 percent on trades regardless of taker or maker status. That simplicity appealed to altcoin traders. No distinction between spot or leverage trades - everything was on-chain.
Liquidity and trading volume
Despite supporting around 80-100 coin pairs, CryptoBridge was flagged inactive by multiple platforms. Trading volume data disappeared, signaling inactivity. As a result, liquidity was unclear and likely minimal.
Shutdown and forks
In December 2019 CryptoBridge shut down citing regulatory pressure, market conditions and funding issues. Withdrawals remained open briefly, but deposits closed early in the shutdown window. Since then its website has been offline and attempts to relaunch created clone domains - many of which were flagged as scams by regulators.
Security and transparency
Users always held private keys and trades were on-chain - this eliminated centralized custody risk. The federated gateway design removed single points of failure. But no external audits or reserve verifications were provided before the shutdown.
Community and reputation
Initial feedback was positive - CryptoBridge reimbursed users after hacks and supported many altcoins. But after closure, Trustpilot dropped its rating to around 3.8 out of 5 with many reports of lost funds and never-responsive support. Reddit threads warned against clones and fake platforms, calling many not legit.
Strengths and weaknesses
Strengths:
Decentralized, non-custodial trading via BitShares
Flat, predictable fee model
Broad altcoin support and no gatekeeping native token mechanics
Weaknesses:
No active trading or liquidity since shutdown
No fiat support or mobile/web updates after 2019
No audits or insurance coverage
Scammers and phishing clones with similar branding proliferated post-shutdown
Who it may still appeal to
Crypto historians, researchers or traders studying decentralized on-chain trading might find value here
Final verdict
CryptoBridge was a pioneering decentralized exchange with transparent on-chain architecture and broad token access. However, it shut down in 2019, leaving behind no volume, no liquidity, and a web of clones that confuse and prey on users. Today it stands as a historical footnote - an experiment in early DEX design. For anyone seeking trading venues, there’s nothing to gain here. If curiosity outweighs risk, explore it only as a study in blockchain history - not as a functioning platform.
