The cryptocurrency trading platform, currently ranked fifth on CoinGecko, has ceased new registrations and aims to close all remaining operations by December 31.
By Olivier Acuna|Edited by Sheldon Reback Aug 3, 2026, 12:03 p.m. 2 min readMake preferred on ShareShare this articleCopy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmailMake preferred on Residents of Japan will lose access to Bitget's services by December 31. (Erik Eastman/Unsplash)SummaryShow- Bitget will terminate its cryptocurrency trading services for users in Japan, having already halted new registrations in light of local regulatory compliance.
- The platform aims to conclude all existing positions by December 31.
- This decision follows Japan's increased scrutiny of unregistered foreign crypto platforms and the introduction of new regulations that classify cryptocurrencies as financial instruments, carrying significant penalties for noncompliance.
Bitget has announced it will cease operations for its Japanese user base to align with local regulations.
The exchange, which is ranked fifth on CoinGecko with a trading volume of approximately $714.7 million in the past 24 hours, stopped accepting new registrations from Japanese users as of Sunday, according to a statement released on Monday.
Following legislative changes approved by the Japanese parliament in mid-July, cryptocurrencies have been redefined as financial instruments. The impending regulations are set to be enforced next year and will impose fines around $62,800 and potential prison sentences of up to ten years for operating without the required registration.
Users of Bitget who believe they have been misclassified as Japanese residents must complete a Level-2 identity verification, including a proof of address, by November 1. Failure to do so will result in their accounts being treated as Japanese.
Starting November 1, those accounts will enter a close-only mode, meaning users will not be able to initiate or increase positions or utilize services such as spot trading, futures trading, copy trading, trading bots, and earn products. However, deposits, subject to limits, and withdrawals will still be permitted.
All remaining positions will be forcibly closed on December 31, and card services will be suspended. Users will still be able to withdraw their assets after this date.
The Seychelles-based company did not specify any particular regulatory change that prompted this decision and did not respond to CoinDesk's request for additional details.
Japan mandates that crypto trading platforms serving its residents adhere to regulations overseen by the Financial Services Agency (FSA). The country has taken a firm stance against foreign crypto platforms that operate without local registration.
Bitget, along with other exchanges such as Bybit, BitForex, and MEXC, received a warning in 2023 for conducting operations in Japan without proper registration, thereby violating the country’s fund settlement laws.
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