What would happen to Bitcoin’s value if all countries banned crypto exchanges ?

[Abiky]

What would happen to Bitcoin’s value if all countries banned crypto exchanges together ? Can it survive such an action ?

Market prices will crash, obviously. That's because VCs and institutional investors (aka Wall Street) will stop pouring money into BTC. They're the ones who usually "pump" prices all the way to the moon. Then, there's the issue of retail investors (average people like you and me) refraining themselves from buying/selling Bitcoin out of fear from getting caught by the government. Only a small minority will keep using BTC (mostly believers, libertarians, crypto enthusiasts, anarchists, etc).

Considering that most governments are embracing Bitcoin, we should expect CEXs to continue trading Bitcoin for the foreseeable future. Especially now that "Wall Street" has its hands tied on BTC. Capital inflows are increasing, which means governments will prefer to regulate the industry than outright ban it. Money talks, right? I wouldn't worry about a "full-blanket ban" for a long time.

[hd49728]

Market prices will crash, obviously. That's because VCs and institutional investors (aka Wall Street) will stop pouring money into BTC. They're the ones who usually "pump" prices all the way to the moon. Then, there's the issue of retail investors (average people like you and me) refraining themselves from buying/selling Bitcoin out of fear from getting caught by the government. Only a small minority will keep using BTC (mostly believers, libertarians, crypto enthusiasts, anarchists, etc).

If it happens, Bitcoin price will crash so terrible because banning Bitcoin after 2025 in any years in the future is truly different than what happened in past years when Bitcoin adoption was smaller, was not legal, not legal tender, but it was not prohibited too.

Let's say, governments don't prohibit Bitcoin and government ban Bitcoin are very different in legal aspect as well as risk of Bitcoin holders, investors and traders. The fact is people can still own and trade bitcoin with each other even governments ban it but if such global ban against Bitcoin actually enforced in the future, it will have so great impact on Bitcoin market and its price.

[moolex]

If all countries truly banned exchanges at the same time, yes, the immediate impact would be a massive crash — liquidity would vanish overnight, institutional players would exit, and retail investors would panic. But long-term, Bitcoin wouldn’t necessarily “die”. It was created to survive outside of governments and banks, and P2P trading, decentralized exchanges, OTC desks, and even informal markets would continue to exist.

The value of Bitcoin has never come only from exchanges, but from its core properties: scarcity, censorship resistance, and borderless transfer of value. Governments can ban centralized ramps, but they can’t ban the protocol itself unless they shut down the internet globally — and that’s not realistic.

So in the short run: chaos, fear, and price collapse.
In the long run: Bitcoin could become even more “anti-establishment”, and maybe prove its original purpose as a money system outside of state control. Ironically, such a ban might strengthen its ideological value, even if the market price suffers for years.

Also, we shouldn’t forget the difference between centralized exchanges (CEXs) and the broader ecosystem. Even if CEXs like Binance or Bybit are banned, there will still be other ways to buy and sell Bitcoin, decentralized exchanges, P2P platforms, Bitcoin ATMs, broker like Scalable or even direct person-to-person trades. That’s why Bitcoin can’t simply be “shut down” by banning exchanges.

[Synchronice]

What would happen to Bitcoin’s value if all countries banned crypto exchanges together ? Can it survive such an action ?

First of all, keep in mind that government can't just wake up and ban Bitcoin one day. Before that happens, there are rumors, discussions and then decision. Every exchange gets at least 30 days to prepare for the decision. If they ban exchanges, there are alternatives, these exchanges can transform into institutes that will be able to offer Bitcoin ETFs. Or there can be a merger and ETF providers will buy these exchanges. I'm sure that BlackRock can buy Binance and Coinbase together

We don't have to worry about such things but these are good hypothetical question to revive our fantasy. Again, be assured that such a thing won't happen and if that happens, it won't happen overnight, there will be enough time to prepare.

[MArsland]

What would happen to Bitcoin’s value if all countries banned crypto exchanges together ? Can it survive such an action ?

Although it won't happen all at once, I'll play along with your game to provide an answer.
First, the price of Bitcoin will drop drastically.
Second, the country will suffer losses.
Fourth, the exchange will also collapse.
And fifth, you won't get anything if Bitcoin is banned.

The reality is that the world isn't going backward in technology adoption, and Bitcoin is a turning point in the financial revolution.

[Salahmu]

What would happen to Bitcoin’s value if all countries banned crypto exchanges together ? Can it survive such an action ?

There is no need for this question because all the countries cannot banned exchanges, actually so long every exchanges is complying to the principal of the jurisdiction that governs the country they reside on there isn't going to be a problem that will result banning them from the country, actually with the growth of Bitcoin countries who had some kind of banning will start opening doors for exchanges. Have you seen how technology is growing?, changing and replacing a lot of things that usually function manually so actually that is the reflection of exchanges to enable and enhances more individual usage on Bitcoin.

[mirakal]

Why did you have such negative thought? Know that all governments can not ban bitcoin. That is not possible at all. Only what we are experiencing is that more governments want to regulate cryptocurrencies.

If all governments ban bitcoin, the price of bitcoin will fall significantly but bitcoin will remain to exist for the purpose it was created which is P2P and some people will continue to use it.

Bitcoin price may experience sudden price decline but know that it will still recover after and continue to move forward, that’s the unique thing about bitcoin. Although this is very unlikely to happen in the future, especially the technology is always moving forward not backward, but seeing all governments banning bitcoin, it will be a loss of the government itself, while bitcoin will never stop from existing and growing every after downfall.

[uchegod-21]

What would happen to Bitcoin’s value if all countries banned crypto exchanges together ? Can it survive such an action ?

Yes, bitcoin will survive such an action. When Bitcoin was created, exchanges were not originally in the picture,  decentralization was the goal. Truth is that we might have to struggle with a few things like currency conversion; converting from bitcoin to fiat with ease and trading, but the fact remains that bitcoins will not cease to exist, all we would need is a bitcoin wallet. Sending and receiving bitcoins would be made easy.

[Orpichukwu]

What would happen to Bitcoin’s value if all countries banned crypto exchanges together ? Can it survive such an action ?

That will definitely crash down the market for a short period of time, which will take time for Bitcoin to pull out of, but it will also pull altcoins down with it, not just Bitcoin, but since DEXs are still going to be active and not regulated, then there will still be other options where Bitcoin will be traded, but the price will just be affected. Things won't be the same, but with time everyonewill eventually adjust to it.

[kleidysg]

What would happen to Bitcoin’s value if all countries banned crypto exchanges together ? Can it survive such an action ?

no no

[N9_Ninja]

Honestly, even if every government tried to ban centralized exchanges at the same time, Bitcoin wouldn’t just disappear. People forget that BTC was already moving around before big exchanges existed — through OTC deals, P2P trades, even simple meetups.

A global ban would definitely hit the price short-term because liquidity would dry up, institutions would panic, and casual users would exit. But long-term, the value comes from the fact that Bitcoin can be transferred peer-to-peer without permission. If exchanges get shut down, decentralized platforms and P2P networks (Bisq, HodlHodl, even DEX liquidity pools) would see a massive spike in use.

So yeah, BTC would take a heavy punch, maybe even crash hard for a while. But “survive”? 100%. The whole point is that it doesn’t need anyone’s approval to function. In fact, such a ban might only strengthen the narrative of Bitcoin being unstoppable.

[LDL]

What would happen to Bitcoin’s value if all countries banned crypto exchanges together ? Can it survive such an action ?

These are actually unrealistic fantasies, especially when you notice that large companies and countries are constantly deciding to keep Bitcoin in their strategic reserves. How can a country ban all crypto exchanges? I think if you talk about the United States, they have a lot of Bitcoin in their strategic reserves and the ordinary citizens of their country are Bitcoin holders. So if all exchanges are banned in their country, what will be the way for their citizens to have Bitcoin? A country would never want its national resources to be destroyed or wasted, and the government should provide maximum security and facilities to its citizens. The government should not do anything that goes against its citizens.

[FortuneFollower]

What would happen to Bitcoin’s value if all countries banned crypto exchanges together ? Can it survive such an action ?

That will definitely crash down the market for a short period of time, which will take time for Bitcoin to pull out of, but it will also pull altcoins down with it, not just Bitcoin, but since DEXs are still going to be active and not regulated, then there will still be other options where Bitcoin will be traded, but the price will just be affected. Things won't be the same, but with time everyonewill eventually adjust to it.

I agree.

If anyone withstands such a test, it's BTC, however, we probably will never see it happening, fortunately

[Woodie]

Remember Bitcoin started off as some unregulated asset such that some of our unlucky friends found with it have found themselves behind bars and lost their stash to the state , and during this time peer 2 peer trading was common so was decentralized trading..the days of etherdelta etcetera..

So should countries ban crypto as suggested, this simply means we lose access to centralized  access and maybe value goes up too because supply will artificially drop and force price up and we revert back to decentralized exchanges were the middle man is eliminated.

[john_egbert]

Remember Bitcoin started off as some unregulated asset such that some of our unlucky friends found with it have found themselves behind bars and lost their stash to the state , and during this time peer 2 peer trading was common so was decentralized trading..the days of etherdelta etcetera..

So should countries ban crypto as suggested, this simply means we lose access to centralized  access and maybe value goes up too because supply will artificially drop and force price up and we revert back to decentralized exchanges were the middle man is eliminated.

Proper DEXes would become relevant as ever, imo, but I doubt govs would go in such a way with a bang: after all, they want creams from the crypto too.

[finaleshot2016]

What would happen to Bitcoin’s value if all countries banned crypto exchanges together ? Can it survive such an action ?

Yes. Back then it survived without any major CEX that time.

So it'll survive even though the countries banned it, the volume will be gone but there are many DEX out there where we can trade BTC and people will just transfer there. There are bunch of DEX today that has perpetual features and they keep improving, we have a lot of options in cryptocurrency. The volume will just get low and of course the price will react but if people learned to adapt to what's the meta, it'll eventually go back what it deserves. The solid foundation of BTC is the community so better be positive about it.

[hero_the_bossman]

So it'll survive even though the countries banned it, the volume will be gone but there are many DEX out there where we can trade BTC and people will just transfer there. There are bunch of DEX today that has perpetual features and they keep improving, we have a lot of options in cryptocurrency. The volume will just get low and of course the price will react but if people learned to adapt to what's the meta, it'll eventually go back what it deserves. The solid foundation of BTC is the community so better be positive about it.

They would improve even faster due to such a scenario, but I don't think it will ever happen.

[alastantiger]

What would happen to Bitcoin’s value if all countries banned crypto exchanges together ? Can it survive such an action ?

The centralized exchanges will go out of business but then the decentralized exchange will begin to get popular again and that would be a good thing for the market because we can get raid of all the centralized exchanges that has been making the market look controlled. Decentralized exchange are needed to bring back the true identity of the Blockchain. But I don't think the government will do this because they already know how it'll play out.

The government wants to control the actions of the market hence they'll want more centralized exchanges than banning them. Probably they'll ban only those that won't want to be loyal to the government censorship. The government wants control and they'll do everything to get that control.

[Cookdata]

What would happen to Bitcoin’s value if all countries banned crypto exchanges together ? Can it survive such an action ?

Yes, bitcoin will survive such an action. When Bitcoin was created, exchanges were not originally in the picture,  decentralization was the goal. Truth is that we might have to struggle with a few things like currency conversion; converting from bitcoin to fiat with ease and trading, but the fact remains that bitcoins will not cease to exist, all we would need is a bitcoin wallet. Sending and receiving bitcoins would be made easy.

That's our own problem and ignorance we have refused to admit for long. P2P fiat system is there before the credit card and other options came in, people are buying Bitcoin with OTC and settled without involving any banks or any fiat platform. If Banks refused to support Bitcoin trade today, it's going to be like they never implemented it in the first place because as long as people can send money from account to another, they can trade Bitcoin unless if they label transactions reference with Bitcoin details or maybe paying of taxes.

We can do anything with Bitcoin without involving any centralized platforms but what I have observed over the years is this, more than 60% of investors are too confortable with centralized platforms, they like it and if you the only way to get them is through the platforms. They can do that but they should also need to learn how to practice self custody, they need it so that when there is a need they don't have to worry about it, I have seen a die hard fan of exchanges all of a sudden don't like to keep coins on the exchange because of the way they treated him, his now a full custody person.

[HelliumZ]

What would happen to Bitcoin’s value if all countries banned crypto exchanges together ? Can it survive such an action ?

If that happens, there will be a massive price drop in the Bitcoin market and in some cases, people will lose faith in Bitcoin and they will want to sell Bitcoin very quickly. It is hypothetical that all countries will not ban Bitcoin exchanges together and that they will make an announcement before banning them, as the general public will then create selling pressure on Bitcoin. If selling pressure is created, the price of Bitcoin will definitely start to fall sharply. This is my hypothetical idea, but it is unlikely to become a reality.