Bitget Restricts 16 Crypto Entities and Expands Stock Token Lineup to 20+ U.S. Assets

TLDR

• Bitget is applying compliance restrictions on 16 entities including HTX and EXMO across three waves: August 7, 13, and 23.
• The move mirrors Binance and is tied to US OFAC sanctions and the EU’s 21st Russia sanctions package.
• HTX contests the restrictions, with Justin Sun saying they only affect UK and EU users, while settlement talks continue.
• Bitget has expanded its Stock Dual Investment product from 6 to more than 20 U.S. stock and ETF-linked tokens.
• Supported assets now include tokens linked to Nvidia, Tesla, Apple, Coinbase, Meta, and leveraged semiconductor ETFs.

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Bitget made two major moves this week, tightening compliance controls on a list of sanctioned crypto entities while also expanding its stock-linked investment products for users outside the US.

Bitget Joins Binance in Restricting Sanctioned Entities

Bitget confirmed it is rolling out enhanced compliance controls on 16 designated entities in three separate waves.

The first wave, effective August 7, covers Aban Tether Exchange and Shelbit. US OFAC sanctions accused both of processing crypto tied to Iran-linked sanctions evasion, including transfers connected to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The second wave on August 13 targets A7 Africa, A7 Nigeria, and PilotFinance Ltd.

The third and largest wave, effective August 23, includes HTX, EXMO, ABCeX, Aifory Pro, BitPapa, Exnode, Monease, NoOnecrypto, Rapira, Tradex, and WhiteBird. This group falls under the EU’s 21st Russia sanctions package, adopted in July 2026.

HTX is aware of the recent developments regarding the UK sanctions designations. The HTX exchange is committed to full compliance with all applicable laws and to cooperation with law-enforcement agencies worldwide.

The UK’s designation arrived today without prior notice or any…

— HTX (@HTX_Global) May 26, 2026

Binance announced near-identical restrictions a day earlier, with the same entity list and the same three dates. The parallel timing suggests both exchanges are responding to the same regulatory directives.

Bitget warned that transactions linked to any named entity could face rejection, account review, or termination.

HTX has pushed back. Justin Sun said on X that restrictions only apply to UK and EU users and that HTX does not operate in those regions.

UK regulators disagreed. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation ruled that the designation covers the HTX platform because Huobi Global SA owns it. HTX said it remains in settlement talks with both UK and EU regulators.

Bitget Expands Stock Dual Investment to 20+ U.S. Tokens

On a separate front, Bitget expanded its Stock Dual Investment lineup on August 14, growing it from 6 products to more than 21 in under a month since launch on July 25.

The product now includes tokens linked to Nvidia, Tesla, Apple, Meta, Advanced Micro Devices, Intel, Taiwan Semiconductor, Coinbase, Circle, and Strategy. Two leveraged semiconductor ETF tokens, rSOXL and rSOXS, are also available.

The Buy Low option lets users subscribe with USDT, pick a target price, and receive the token if it hits that level at settlement. If it does not, they get their USDT back with interest. The Sell High option works in reverse, with users staking a token and receiving USDT if the price target is reached.

Bitget moved settlement time to 11:30 p.m. UTC+8, placing it 90 minutes after the Nasdaq and NYSE open at 9:30 a.m. ET.

The exchange classifies Dual Investment as non-principal-guaranteed. Funds are locked until maturity, and users may receive a different asset than expected depending on market conditions.

Bitget CEO Gracy Chen said in July that tokenized traditional assets made up 20 to 30 percent of spot volume last quarter, and that the platform’s stock-linked products had crossed $100 million in total volume.

The Stock Dual Investment product is not currently available to US residents. Chen said the company plans to apply for US money-transmitter, derivatives, and broker-dealer licenses before serving American customers, but no launch date has been set.