How to use this skeleton

Replace brackets. Do not add adjectives. Publish on the same channels you normally use for status, then expand when facts land.

Template

Subject / headline [Exchange or product] experiencing [deposits / withdrawals / trading] disruption — [time timezone]

Body At [time timezone] we detected [symptom]. Affected products: [list]. User fund custody status: [secure / under review / unknown — be honest].

We have [paused X / failed over Y / disabled Z]. Customers should [action or "no action"].

Next update by [time timezone] on [status URL].

Optional second graph (only if true) Cause is believed to be [network / vendor / internal], pending confirmation. We will not speculate beyond that.

Crypto notes

  • Separate chain congestion from your matching engine.
  • If withdrawals are safe but slow, say "delayed," not "down," only when accurate.

Afterward

Keep the final postmortem link next to the original statement. Templates start the story; timelines finish it.