Bitget has stopped accepting new registrations from Japan residents, effective immediately. The exchange is dealing with a strict regulatory environment in the country and cited compliance with local rules.
Existing accounts identified as belonging to Japan residents will face restrictions starting Nov. 1, 2026. From that date, those accounts enter close-only trading mode, limiting users to liquidating current positions.
Users must complete Level 2 identity verification—including proof of address—by the Nov. 1 deadline if they believe their residency status was incorrectly identified. Failure to verify will result in account limitations.
Any open positions remaining on affected accounts will be forcibly closed by Dec. 31, 2026. That hard deadline forces all Japan-linked users to manage their holdings before year-end.
Bitget confirmed that crypto withdrawals will remain available for Japan residents even after Dec. 31, allowing users to recover assets from the platform.
Japan has maintained a rigorous approach to digital asset oversight, particularly following high-profile exchange hacks in prior years. Regulators have issued warnings to exchanges operating without proper licensing and pushed for clearer frameworks for digital asset service providers, prompting several platforms to reassess their market presence.
For users in Japan, this means a significant disruption to trading on Bitget. They must either complete the required verification, close positions or prepare for forced liquidation within the next five months.
Bitcoin trades at $63,231, up 0.3 percent over 24 hours. Ethereum sits at $1,855, up 0.1 percent. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index registers 28, indicating fear, reflecting ongoing market uncertainty driven partly by regulatory developments and their impact on exchange access in key jurisdictions.
