Bitget Withdraws From Japan as Crypto Regulation Tightens

• Bitget has stopped accepting new sign-ups from Japan-based users, effective immediately.
• Existing Japan-linked accounts must complete Level 2 verification by November 1, 2026.
• Open positions on affected accounts will be forcibly closed by December 31, 2026.

Bitget, a Seychelles-registered cryptocurrency exchange offering copy trading and futures trading services, is withdrawing from the Japanese market, according to a notice published on August 3, 2026.

The move follows increasing regulatory pressure in Japan, where crypto-asset service providers must register with the Financial Services Agency (FSA) to serve local users.

Japan Users Face a Six-Month Transition Period

According to the notice, Bitget immediately stopped accepting new registrations from users based in Japan.

Existing users identified as potential Japanese residents have until November 1, 2026, to complete Level 2 identity verification (KYC), including proof of address, to demonstrate that they are not subject to the restriction.

Users who fail to complete the verification process by the deadline will be classified as Japan-based residents. Bitget said restrictions on those accounts will then be introduced in phases starting November 1, 2026.

By December 31, 2026, any remaining open positions in affected accounts will be automatically closed. Bitget said it will provide account-specific withdrawal instructions to affected users by email.

Bitget described the move as part of its “ongoing commitment to regulatory compliance” but did not identify a specific regulatory change or FSA action that triggered the decision.

Why Japan Is Becoming a Test for Global Crypto Exchanges

Japan has one of the most stringent cryptocurrency regulatory frameworks among major markets, with strict requirements covering licensing, custody, consumer protection, and compliance for crypto-asset service providers.

Bitget was previously identified by Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) as an unregistered foreign exchange operator. Japan requires crypto-asset exchange service providers serving domestic users to register under the Payment Services Act.

In November 2024, the FSA issued a warning to Bitget alongside five other exchanges, including KuCoin, MEXC Global, and Bybit.

Following regulatory pressure, Bitget’s app was removed from Japan’s App Store, although existing users retained access through web and Android platforms.

Bitget reported more than 100 million users globally across Bitget and Bitget Wallet as of 2024. However, the exchange has not publicly disclosed how many Japanese users it served, what percentage of its global customer base came from Japan, or how much trading volume was generated by Japanese accounts.

Why This Matters

Bitget’s exit highlights growing friction between offshore cryptocurrency exchanges and jurisdictions with strict licensing regimes. The move reflects a broader industry trend in which global platforms must choose between investing in local regulatory compliance or withdrawing from markets where compliance costs are considered too high.

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