I've posted this same comment on a number of these "problems with online exchanges" posts. Bitshares offers an exchange that is stored on the blockchain. Nobody holds your private keys except you so the only peron to blame for losing funds is yourself.
Unfortunately, a scheme like that would not have worked for what Bitfinex was doing. They had a requirement that the exchange be able to transfer out user funds and they know for sure that funds would be available at particular future points. (I'll add a note to the article.)
Unfortunately BitShares did a horrible job of marketing themselves in the early days. It felt like a pyramid scheme or MLM scam. They may yet recover though.
Yes but other than BTS , all the assets on BitShares have a counterparty risk , no?