When you hear the name VCC Exchange, you might think it’s still up and running - a quiet player in the crypto world. But here’s the truth: it’s gone. VCC Exchange isn’t just inactive. It’s officially closed. And if you’re looking for a crypto exchange to use today, this isn’t one you should waste time on.
Back in 2019, VCC Exchange launched with a clear goal: serve the Southeast Asian market, especially users in Singapore and Vietnam. It wasn’t trying to beat Binance or Coinbase. It wanted to be the go-to platform for people in those countries who were new to crypto and needed something simple, local, and educational. And for a while, it looked like it might make it.
What VCC Exchange Actually Offered
VCC Exchange didn’t try to be everything. It focused on three major cryptocurrencies: Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Tether (USDT). You could trade those against over 100 other coins - including lesser-known ones like VITE, TROY, and SOL. But here’s the catch: it didn’t support five of the top 20 coins by market cap. No Cardano (ADA). No Polkadot (DOT). No Litecoin (LTC). No Terra (LUNA). No Avalanche (AVAX). If you were holding any of those, you couldn’t trade them on VCC. That’s a big deal for anyone serious about diversifying their portfolio.
The platform was built for mobile. Most traders in Southeast Asia use phones, not desktops. VCC knew that. Its app was clean, responsive, and easy to navigate. You didn’t need to be a tech expert to buy your first Bitcoin. The interface didn’t overwhelm you with charts and indicators. It kept things simple - which was great for beginners.
But the real standout feature? The "Learn & Earn" program. You’d watch a short video or read a guide about a crypto project - like Alpaca Finance or Vite - then take a quick quiz. If you passed, you got free tokens from that project. No deposit. No trading. Just learning. It was rare to see an exchange invest this much in education. Most platforms just want your money. VCC wanted to teach you first.
Who Was It For? And Who Was It Not For?
VCC Exchange was made for two types of people:
- People in Singapore or Vietnam who were new to crypto and wanted a trusted local platform.
- Traders who valued education over complex trading tools.
But if you fell into any of these groups, VCC wasn’t for you:
- If you wanted to trade ADA, DOT, or LTC - forget it.
- If you lived outside Singapore or Vietnam - you couldn’t sign up.
- If you needed high trading volume or deep liquidity - VCC couldn’t deliver.
It wasn’t a platform for day traders. It wasn’t built for arbitrage or margin trading. It was meant to help everyday people get started. And that’s why it had institutional backing. Signum Capital and Axiom Associates Capital - two well-known investors in the region - backed the team. John NG Pangilinan from Signum even said publicly that VCC had "great aspirations" and could become "one of the most prominent digital assets exchanges in the region."
At the time, that sounded promising.
Why Did It Fail?
Here’s the hard truth: VCC Exchange didn’t fail because it was poorly built. It failed because it was too small.
Global exchanges like Binance and Coinbase kept adding coins, lowering fees, and expanding into new countries. They had billions in funding. They could afford to lose money for years just to grow. VCC? It had a regional focus. Limited coins. Limited users. Limited liquidity.
By 2022, even its biggest fan - CaptainAltcoin - admitted the platform had "the negative side" because of its missing top-20 coins. That’s not a small flaw. It’s a dealbreaker for anyone serious about crypto.
And then the silence started. No updates. No new features. No press releases. By 2023, there were almost no user reviews left. Myfxbook, which tracks crypto platforms, started listing VCC under "Closed Crypto Exchanges" alongside other defunct platforms like BQT and Tokencan. By 2025, CryptoTaxCalculator only mentioned VCC in the context of historical tax records - not active trading.
The closure likely happened sometime between late 2022 and early 2025. No official announcement. No email. No social media post. Just gone.
What You Can Learn From VCC Exchange
VCC Exchange’s story isn’t just about a failed platform. It’s a lesson in the crypto market.
First: regional focus isn’t enough. Even with institutional backing and a smart "Learn & Earn" program, VCC couldn’t compete with global giants that offered more coins, more liquidity, and lower fees.
Second: education alone doesn’t build scale. Teaching people about crypto is great - but if you don’t give them the tools to trade what they care about, they’ll leave.
Third: if you don’t keep growing, you die. Crypto moves fast. Platforms that don’t adapt - even ones with good intentions - get left behind.
VCC Exchange was honest in its mission. It didn’t promise the moon. It didn’t run ads with celebrities. It just tried to help people in Singapore and Vietnam take their first steps. And for that, it deserves some respect.
But if you’re looking to trade crypto today? Don’t waste time looking for VCC Exchange. It’s not there.
What to Do Instead
If you’re in Southeast Asia and want a reliable exchange, look at these options:
- Binance - Huge selection of coins, low fees, strong liquidity. Works in Singapore and Vietnam.
- Kraken - Solid security, good for beginners and pros. Supports ADA, DOT, LTC, and more.
- Bybit - Popular in Asia, great for spot and derivatives trading.
All of them have mobile apps. All of them support the top 20 coins. All of them are still active - unlike VCC.
And if you like the "Learn & Earn" idea? Binance and Bybit now offer similar programs. You can still learn and get free crypto - without the risk of the platform vanishing overnight.
Is VCC Exchange still operational?
No, VCC Exchange is no longer operational. As of 2025, it is listed as a "Closed Crypto Exchange" by Myfxbook and other tracking services. There have been no updates, user support, or trading activity since late 2022 or early 2023.
Why did VCC Exchange shut down?
VCC Exchange shut down because it couldn’t compete with global exchanges that offered more coins, lower fees, and higher liquidity. Despite strong institutional backing and a unique "Learn & Earn" program, its limited selection of cryptocurrencies and restricted geographic availability (only Singapore and Vietnam) kept it from gaining enough users to stay viable.
Did VCC Exchange support Cardano, Polkadot, or Litecoin?
No, VCC Exchange did not support Cardano (ADA), Polkadot (DOT), or Litecoin (LTC). It only offered trading pairs for over 100 coins, but notably excluded five of the top 20 cryptocurrencies by market cap. This was one of its biggest weaknesses.
Could users outside Singapore and Vietnam use VCC Exchange?
No. VCC Exchange only accepted users from Singapore and Vietnam due to regional compliance requirements. It did not offer services to users in other countries, which limited its growth potential.
What was the "Learn & Earn" program on VCC Exchange?
The "Learn & Earn" program let users complete short educational modules about crypto projects, pass quizzes, and receive free tokens as a reward. It was designed to help beginners learn about crypto without risking their own money. This feature was considered innovative at the time but wasn’t enough to keep the platform alive.
Is there any way to access my funds if I had an account on VCC Exchange?
No. Since VCC Exchange is permanently closed and no longer maintains servers or customer support, there is no way to access funds or withdraw assets. Any crypto held on the platform is likely lost. This is why it’s critical to only use active, reputable exchanges with strong security and user support.
Can I still use VCC Exchange for tax reporting?
You can use historical data from VCC Exchange for tax reporting if you kept records of your trades before it shut down. Platforms like CryptoTaxCalculator still list VCC as a supported exchange for past transactions - but only for historical records. No new trades can be tracked or imported.