You probably heard the pitch. Launching a crypto exchange is supposed to be as easy as buying a pre-made suit. You pick the style, pay the fee, and suddenly you are the next big name in finance. However, as we move through 2026, the reality on the ground is a bit more complicated. While the market is bigger than ever, the path to a smooth launch has more than a few hidden speed bumps.

Let’s look at the numbers for a second. In 2025, the global crypto market cap officially sailed past the $4 trillion mark. Stablecoins alone handled a staggering $46 trillion in transaction volume. Even the “suits” from traditional finance have joined the party, with over 170 public companies now holding Bitcoin on their balance sheets. The…