BTC Markets has just emailed all users announcing a significant change to its terms and conditions. Users have been given less than half a day to act – if they do not withdraw their crypto within that window, they are deemed to have accepted the new terms by default.
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The change is particularly concerning because BTC will now stake digital assets held on behalf of users, while retaining all staking rewards. This shifts additional risk onto account holders without offering any corresponding benefit or clear assurance that these risks will be covered.
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Most troubling is the timeframe. Providing only a few hours for users to review the changes, assess the risks, and potentially move their assets elsewhere is an unreasonably short window for a decision of this magnitude.
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Full email reads:
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Staking Your Digital Assets (new)
The updated Terms of Service include the ability for BTC Markets to stake digital assets it holds on your behalf on supported proof-of-stake networks, and to retain all rewards generated from that staking. The manner in which we intend to perform these activities, and the risks associated with them, are set out in clause 13 of the updated Terms. **By continuing to use your account after 12:00pm AEST 28 April 2026, you expressly consent to these staking activities.** If you do not consent, you can withdraw your digital assets to a wallet under your own control (self-custody) at any time, or close your Account before the effective date.
By continuing to use BTC Markets after 12:00pm AEST 28 April 2026, you agree to the updated Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. By agreeing to these documents, you also expressly consent to the staking activities described in clause 13 of the Terms and to the cross-border disclosures described in the Offshore Disclosure Consent. If you do not agree with the changes, you can close your account before 12:00pm AEST 28 April 2026 by contacting our support team, and we’ll help you withdraw any fiat currency and digital assets before closure.
