ABFinance, the crypto finance platform founded by former Bybit co-CEO Helen Liu, said on Aug. 15 that it has suspended operations and will not proceed with its planned launch, only months after being introduced as a U.S.-based, compliance-focused venue. The company did not disclose a reason or clarify whether the suspension is temporary or permanent. Liu had unveiled ABFinance in March 2026 on X as a platform built with compliant U.S. licenses from the outset, marking a break from the offshore exchange model associated with Bybit. The shutdown leaves unresolved whether a compliance-first approach can by itself support a durable new U.S. exchange business, where state licensing, banking access, custody arrangements and staffing create high fixed costs before meaningful trading volume is established. The lack of detail on affected services, customer withdrawals and fund handling also leaves key operational questions unanswered.