A new report from MEXC and CoinGecko reveals that trading of traditional financial assets on centralized crypto exchanges has exploded, with combined monthly volume surging more than 100-fold from $3.46 billion in January 2025 to $393.15 billion in June 2026. The report, titled "How Crypto Exchanges Are Reshaping Traditional Asset Trading," highlights a rapid shift in investor behavior as crypto-native users and traditional finance veterans alike flock to multi-asset platforms.
Perpetual futures dominate TradFi activity
The overwhelming majority of TradFi volume on centralized exchanges (CEXs) came from perpetual futures, which accounted for 98.5% of total June volume, or $387.39 billion. Spot trading, by contrast, represented just $5.75 billion. This indicates that users are primarily engaging with traditional assets through leveraged, highly liquid derivatives products rather than outright ownership.
US stocks overtake precious metals
Precious metals initially drove the market's growth, peaking at $236.76 billion in March 2026. However, by June, volume had fallen 48.2% to $122.59 billion. In a dramatic shift, US stock volume surged 337.4% month-over-month to $189.84 billion, capturing a 48.3% market share and overtaking precious metals as the largest TradFi category. The report attributes this to growing interest in semiconductor stocks, major tech companies, and anticipated listings such as SpaceX. For context, the broader market has seen significant moves, including a silver surge toward $60, but the pivot to equities marks a new phase.
Investor migration accelerates
The report, which combines exchange data with a global survey of 6,185 users across 13 languages, found that 61.9% of crypto-native users have already traded traditional assets on a CEX. Among users with traditional finance experience, 74.2% have moved some or all of their trading activity to crypto exchanges. Across all respondents, 83.3% plan to further increase their TradFi volume on these platforms. Key advantages cited include always-on access, lower friction, faster execution, and the ability to manage multiple asset classes through a single account.
MEXC builds on early TradFi focus
MEXC, which identified TradFi as a growth area early, saw its monthly TradFi volume increase approximately 59-fold from $1.54 billion in November 2025 to $91.12 billion in May 2026. The exchange ranked second among the six exchanges surveyed—Binance, MEXC, Bitget, OKX, Gate, and Bybit—for five consecutive months from January to May 2026. MEXC also led in precious metals trading for two consecutive months, recording $72.12 billion in April and $85.15 billion in May. The broader market has seen other notable moves, such as a Dow surge of 546 points, but the TradFi-on-CEX trend is reshaping how investors access these assets.
Implications for multi-asset trading
The report underscores that crypto exchanges are evolving beyond crypto-only platforms into multi-asset gateways covering equities, precious metals, and commodities. Vugar, CEO of MEXC, stated: "Traditional assets are becoming a core part of how users engage with crypto exchanges, rather than an experimental product category." MEXC plans to expand its TradFi product suite, focusing on broader asset coverage, deeper liquidity, and reducing friction between crypto and traditional markets. As investor demand shifts, platforms that integrate these offerings may capture a growing share of global trading activity. Meanwhile, other market developments, such as the Hang Seng surging 14%, highlight the interconnected nature of global markets.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
