The trading volume of centralized exchanges experienced a substantial decline in May 2023, reaching its lowest point since October 2020. This decline reflected a notable 27% decrease from the previous month, amounting to a staggering $440 billion.

One of the primary factors contributing to this decline is the mounting concern surrounding trust issues associated with centralized exchanges. The market was shaken when FTX, the second-largest and fastest-growing crypto exchange, suddenly collapsed due to a takeover by its rival Binance. This development followed a pattern seen earlier with the abrupt closures of other prominent crypto firms, including Celsius and Voyager.

In addition to trust issues, the withdrawal of large firms from centralized exchanges has also played a role in the overall decline in trading volume. Amidst the decline in centralized exchanges, a notable trend has emerged: the rise of decentralized exchanges (DEXs) as a viable and attractive option for traders.

Operating on blockchain networks, DEX platforms offer increased security, privacy, and control over funds by enabling users to trade directly with each other, bypassing intermediaries. The surge in the number of users across various DeFi platforms in May 2023 suggests that this trend is here to stay.