Crypto exchange customers lack the protections that bank customers have, such as FDIC insurance that safeguards bank deposits. If a crypto exchange goes bankrupt, customers risk losing their assets because exchanges often treat deposited crypto as company property. While some exchanges offer "custody" accounts to hold assets separately, these are rare and legally complex. The collapse of exchanges like FTX has exposed the lack of consumer protections, spurring calls for stronger regulations to prevent similar situations in the future.