Exchange Outages

Definition ∞ Exchange outages are periods when cryptocurrency trading platforms become unavailable or experience service disruptions. These events involve temporary interruptions in the operational functionality of digital asset exchanges, preventing users from accessing their accounts, executing trades, or managing their holdings. Outages can result from technical failures, cyberattacks, overwhelming traffic volumes, or scheduled maintenance. Such disruptions can cause significant financial losses for traders and erode trust in the affected platforms.
Context ∞ Exchange outages are a recurring concern in the cryptocurrency space, frequently reported in news when major platforms experience downtime during periods of high market volatility. These events underscore the importance of robust infrastructure and security measures for digital asset trading venues. Regulatory bodies increasingly scrutinize exchange uptime and incident response protocols to ensure market stability and protect investor assets.