Bitcoin News Today: CEX Spot Trading Surges 30% as Bitcoin Rallies and Regulators Clarify Rules

Crypto spot trading on centralized exchanges (CEXs) surged 30.6% in Q3 2025, reversing a two-quarter decline and reaching $4.7 trillion in total volume, driven by Bitcoin's rally above $123,000 and renewed institutional interest. The rebound, reported by analytics firm TokenInsight, marks a pivotal shift in market dynamics after early-year dips linked to regulatory uncertainty and macroeconomic headwinds. Derivatives trading also rose 29% to $26 trillion, maintaining its dominance over spot markets. Cointelegraph likewise noted a roughly 31% recovery in spot activity for the quarter.

Binance retained its leadership, capturing 43% of spot market share, while MEXC and Bybit trailed at 9% each. The exchange's derivatives market share climbed to 31.3% in September, widening its lead over rivals like OKX (15%) and Bybit (12%). LBank, meanwhile, emerged as a key growth story, reporting $4.23 billion in 24-hour spot volume and a 4% global market share, propelled by strategic expansions in emerging assets and partnerships with security firms like CertiK.

The recovery was fueled by a confluence of factors: Bitcoin's price surge, improved regulatory clarity in key regions, and inflows into spot markets from institutional investors. TokenInsight noted that stablecoin pairs accounted for over 60% of spot activity, serving as a liquidity buffer during volatile periods. Retail participation also spiked, with CEX app downloads rising 18% quarter-over-quarter.

However, challenges persist. Binance faces scrutiny in South Korea over frozen $106 million in GOPAX GoFi user funds, with South Korean lawmakers demanding compensation as a condition of its 2023 acquisition approval. Separately, traders blamed Binance for a $19 billion crash linked to order rejections during extreme volatility, according to Forbes. These incidents highlight ongoing concerns about market integrity and regulatory compliance for global exchanges.

While derivatives trading remains dominant, spot volumes gained traction as investors sought direct asset exposure amid Bitcoin's rally. TokenInsight warned that the derivatives market is entering a "phase of structural transformation," with intensified competition from emerging platforms.