Bitget Exits Japan as Account Restrictions Begin in November

TLDR

• Bitget ends new Japan registrations and starts account restrictions on November 1.
• Japanese users must complete Level 2 verification by the November 1, 2026 deadline.
• Unverified accounts will automatically be classified as belonging to Japan residents.
• All remaining open positions will face forced closure after December 31, 2026.
• Japanese regulators previously warned Bitget over unregistered crypto services.

Bitget will end services for Japanese residents and begin restricting affected accounts from November 1, 2026. The exchange stopped accepting new registrations from Japan after August 3, following its latest compliance review. Meanwhile, users must verify their residential status or prepare to manage their assets before final closures.

Bitget Sets November Deadline for Account Verification

Bitget asked users flagged as Japanese residents to complete Level 2 identity verification before November 1. The process requires address verification and other identity documents confirming each account holder’s current residential status. Therefore, affected users who live outside Japan must submit accurate documents to retain full account access.

The exchange will classify unverified accounts as belonging to Japanese residents after the November deadline. Those accounts will face gradual service restrictions under the company’s planned withdrawal process. Bitget has not detailed every restriction, but it will provide further instructions through registered email addresses.

Users should review their personal details and complete the required verification before restrictions take effect. They should also confirm that their submitted address matches their official identification and supporting documents. This process will help Bitget distinguish overseas users from customers currently residing within Japan.

Japanese Accounts Face Gradual Service Restrictions

Bitget will begin limiting services for confirmed Japanese residents on November 1, 2026. The exchange will allow users time to manage funds and close active positions before final enforcement. The company plans to explain available withdrawal procedures and asset management steps through direct communications.

Any positions remaining open after December 31, 2026, will face forced closure under the announced timeline. As a result, users must settle leveraged trades, derivatives positions, and other active products before year-end. They should also transfer available assets before account functions become unavailable or significantly restricted.

The phased approach gives Japanese residents several months to prepare for the full service withdrawal. Still, the exchange has not published detailed timelines for each product restriction or account function. Bitget said future emails will outline required actions as implementation dates approach.

Regulatory Warnings Precede Bitget’s Japan Exit

Japan requires crypto platforms serving local residents to secure registration from the Financial Services Agency. The regulator previously warned Bitget about allegedly offering crypto services in Japan without the required approval. Those warnings formed part of Japan’s broader enforcement against overseas exchanges serving residents without registration.

The Financial Services Agency issued warnings involving the exchange in March 2023 and November 2024. Both notices addressed concerns that the platform provided digital asset services to Japanese residents without authorization. The latest withdrawal reflects growing regulatory pressure on unregistered overseas cryptocurrency businesses.

In June 2025, the Kanto Local Finance Bureau issued another warning linked to the Bitget name. The bureau named BTG Technology Holdings Limited over alleged solicitation of unregistered online derivatives transactions. Bitget has now chosen a complete market exit rather than continuing services under increasing regulatory scrutiny.