Bitget Bans Users From Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan

Updated Oct 17, 7:17 AM ET: expanded with background on the September hack and Bitget Wallet status.

Cryptocurrency exchange Bitget updated its terms of service on October 16, adding Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan to its list of prohibited jurisdictions, Interfax reported. Cointelegraph confirmed the exchange is implementing the change in what it called a "one-off exercise" affecting certain users.

Details

Affected users are receiving individual notifications by email and in-app message. Key deadlines from those notices:

• October 18 at 2:00 AM ET (10:00 Moscow time) — new trades, orders, and subscriptions blocked;
• October 21 at 2:00 AM ET — deadline to close positions and withdraw funds; remaining positions will be force-closed and account access restricted.

Bitget described the action as a "one-off exercise concerning only certain users," and said funds remain safe throughout the process. Accounts that have not received an official notification can continue operating normally. Bitget's customer support team is available to assist with pending orders, withdrawals, and related account questions.

Bitget Wallet, a separate self-custody product operating at web3.bitget.com and supporting 130+ blockchains, is not covered by the exchange restrictions. The two products operate under distinct branding and infrastructure.

Bitget has not given a public explanation for the move, naming neither a regulatory body nor a specific sanctions list in its communications.

What it means for the market

In September 2026, Bitget was involved in the quarter's largest exchange breach, with unauthorized transfers from hot wallets totaling approximately $387 million. Bitget has not officially linked that incident to the current restrictions — the chronological proximity is noted without drawing a causal conclusion.

For users in Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan, the situation demands immediate action: all positions must be closed and funds withdrawn to an external wallet or another exchange before October 21 at 2:00 AM ET. Bitget warns users to rely only on official company channels, as scammers typically intensify activity during events like this.

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