Bad news.
Yes, I totally agree with your suggestion.
Anyone who invests in Xel should have a backup to register into a new market.
Because it would be very fatal consequence if bittrex removes XEL in trading.
Another exchange would be good as a backup, especially when Upbit is a subsidiary of Bittrex, but ultimately, there's always Heat exchange that worked quite good in the early days when there was nothing else available for trading.
Upbit is a bittrex subsidiary.
If bittrex removes XEL most likely Upbit also delete it.
I suggest binance or okex which is a backup of XEL exchange in the future.
In order to be listed on Binance you would need to fill in the following 10-pages form
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfhibOzGG7I-JIw0Ofj3kFEj9oMhnR-GkajMPhJp7H1URyHJA/viewform
First issue is on 1st page :-)
-CEO
-Founder/Co-Founder
...and XEL has no CEO and no Founder.
I didn't go through to next pages, but you can be sure there're more obstacles, so it's unlikely XEL will ever get listed on Binance.
Would setting up a foundation would solve the problem? Since it´s a community/ open source project it could be done from a volunteer isn't it? I think there would be surely be some support for some kind of foundation fund to pay some devs( I know EK doesn't want to be paid) but to attract some more or start some kind of hackaton