As crypto markets evolve, so do the tactics used by fraudsters and market manipulators. To keep users safe and preserve market integrity, crypto exchanges must constantly enhance their risk controlAs crypto markets evolve, so do the tactics used by fraudsters and market manipulators. To keep users safe and preserve market integrity, crypto exchanges must constantly enhance their risk control

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Balancing Security and Accuracy: Dynamic Logic of Risk Control Systems

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Dec 18, 2025MEXC

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As crypto markets evolve, so do the tactics used by fraudsters and market manipulators. To keep users safe and preserve market integrity, crypto exchanges must constantly enhance their risk control and security systems. But this comes with a long-standing challenge: when risk rules become too strict, false positives increase, which impacts legitimate users. When rules are too lenient, malicious actors slip through.

MEXC's Q3 2025 security and risk control report highlights how complex this balance has become:

45,513 coordinated fraud attempts were identified and blocked, significantly reducing organized market manipulation.
Violations in Southeast Asia fell 59% after enhanced withdrawal verification and improved detection of suspicious linked accounts, with Indonesia seeing a 72% drop.
In the CIS market, the implementation of enhanced transaction-pattern analytics led to a 31% decline in multi-account collusion and illicit arbitrage.
KYC accuracy increased sharply, particularly against Deepfake-based identity fraud attempts.
Approximately $900,000 in user assets were recovered through on-chain tracking and cooperation with law enforcement.

These results show the essential role of modern risk engines in protecting users and maintaining a healthy trading environment. But they also raise the questions: if users are compliant, why do some still get flagged? How are risk control systems structured and implemented?

1. Why Legitimate Users Sometimes Trigger Risk Control Alerts

Account restrictions can be frustrating, especially when no apparent violation has occurred. These situations are known as false positives, cases where behavior resembles known risk patterns even though no violation occurred.

This happens due to two main reasons: the conservative design of security systems and the inherent limitations of current detection technology.

1.1 Key Principle in Risk Control Design: Safety Above All

Crypto platforms face enormous consequences if they miss a major money-laundering or fraud incident. A single oversight can create legal exposure, reputational damage, and user losses.

To avoid this, platforms set their risk control systems to be deliberately sensitive, choosing to review borderline cases rather than allow real threats to pass unnoticed. Like a smoke detector that triggers even with light kitchen smoke, the system prioritizes user protection, even if this occasionally inconveniences compliant traders.

Different exchanges adjust their sensitivity levels based on their user base, liquidity profile, and regulatory footprint. Higher sensitivity means stronger security but inevitably increases the chances of false positives.

1.2 Technical Limitations: Behavioral Similarities and AI Interpretation

Why might normal trading be flagged as suspicious?

Advanced trading strategies can, at times, mimic the data patterns typically associated with suspicious behavior. For example, a professional trader executing high-frequency transactions may be indistinguishable from an automated bot engaged in market manipulation. Similarly, a user carrying out rapid arbitrage across multiple trading pairs can generate activity that resembles the layering techniques often linked to money-laundering operations.

Risk engines powered by machine learning can detect patterns with precision, but they cannot always infer intent. When normal activity overlaps with a risk model's parameters, the system takes the safer route and temporarily restricts the account.

To reduce unnecessary disruption for legitimate users, leading crypto exchanges continually enhance both their technology and operational processes. Advanced machine learning models improve accuracy and reduce false positives, while streamlined KYC and AML procedures, coupled with dedicated appeal channels, allow users to quickly verify their identities and regain access to their accounts.

The goal is simple: protect users and the market without interfering with legitimate trading.

2. MEXC's Risk Control Upgrade: From Reactive to Proactive Protection

Balancing security and user experience is a long-term challenge.

Achieving this balance requires continuous improvement. Guided by its "Users First" philosophy, MEXC has introduced a next-generation risk control framework shaped by feedback from traders, industry experts, and institutional partners.

The biggest shift is moving from reactive responses to proactive risk prevention, stopping threats early while minimizing disruptions for legitimate users.

The upgrade is built around four key areas:

Authorized API access to replace blanket restrictions on automated trading
Independent third-party review mechanisms for fair and transparent decision-making
A dedicated risk control priority channel in customer support
More predictable compliance processes, including a 180-day limit on account restrictions

Below is a detailed breakdown of the upgrade across the four areas:

2.1 Automated Trading: Controlled Access Through Authorized APIs

Automated and high-frequency trading can improve liquidity, but it also opens doors for market abuse if left unchecked.

Instead of prohibiting all automated trading, MEXC has shifted to a conditional authorization model. Approved quantitative traders and market-making teams regain API access through a regulated, permission-based system.

This approach offers several key advantages. It enhances liquidity and ensures smoother execution for everyday users, incorporates risk screening during the onboarding process, and focuses on prevention rather than reacting after incidents occur. In this way, proactive risk management is put into practice, filtering out potential bad actors before they enter the system.

2.2 Third-Party Review: Independent Oversight for Fair Decisions

To strengthen accountability and fairness in risk control decisions, MEXC is introducing an independent review committee composed of industry specialists and third-party institutions.

This model ensures that appeals are evaluated impartially, decisions are made with transparency and consistency, and the platform avoids conflicts of interest by not acting as both player and referee.

For users, this means greater confidence that every risk control action is justified, reversible, and independently reviewed.

2.3 Optimizing Support: Priority Risk Control Channel for Quicker Response

Customer experience plays a crucial role in trust and brand reputation. To reduce friction for users affected by false positives, MEXC now offers a risk control priority channel monitored by senior support managers.

This approach ensures faster identity verification, clear communication, and the rapid restoration of account access. With false positive rates already below 0.1%, the combination of improved risk models and expedited support results in fewer disruptions and quicker resolutions for users.

2.4 Market Manipulation and Compliance: Predictable Timelines and Enhanced Due Diligence

MEXC has also optimized its compliance workflow for market manipulation and rule violations. The maximum account restriction period has been reduced to 180 days, making the process more predictable without weakening enforcement.

The shorter restriction period still allows for the submission of SAR and STR reports, the conduct of enhanced due diligence (EDD), and full cooperation with regulators and law enforcement.

Meanwhile, more resources are invested in continuous monitoring and early detection, helping maintain a clean, fair trading environment.

Conclusion

MEXC's latest upgrade spans technology, governance, and user support, reflecting a clear shift toward proactive, user-centric risk management.

For traders, this translates to stronger protection, fewer disruptions, and faster resolution when issues arise. For the exchange, it represents a long-term commitment to transparency, fairness, and market integrity, which are the core elements that underpin user trust.

MEXC maintains that the strongest foundation for any crypto exchange is not only technology or liquidity, but the trust users place in its security, fairness, and predictability. That trust is the driving force behind every risk control enhancement.