Dubai-based cryptocurrency exchange JPEX has slammed regulators and “third-party market makers” for a liquidity crisis that has seen the platform hike withdrawal fees and suspend certain operations. 

In a Sept. 17 blog post, JPEX said “unfair treatment” from certain institutions in Hong Kong, along with negative news, caused its third-party market makers to “maliciously” freeze funds.

“They demanded more information from the platform for negotiation, restricting our liquidity and significantly increasing our daily operating costs, leading to operational difficulties.”

Blaming the liquidity crisis, JPEX announced that all operations affiliated with its Earn product would be “delisted” by Sept. 18. Users will no longer be able to place any new Earn orders and existing Earn orders will only continue until the product end date, it said.

Regular spot trading activity appears to remain functional at the time of publication, however, JPEX users are alleging that the platform is currently charging a 999 Tether (USDT) fee for withdrawals, on a maximum amount of 1,000 USDT.

JPEX did not specifically address the high withdrawal fee but pledged to gradually adjust the withdrawal fees “back to normal levels” after it finishes negotiations with the third-party market makers.

“We promise to recover liquidity from third-party market makers as soon as possible and gradually adjust the withdrawal fees back to normal levels,” JPEX said in a statement, noting the details will be announced after negotiations conclude.

In addition to shuttering its Earn product, JPEX…