Updated Rules checked 2026-10-29
Which countries does Bitget restrict? Under the “Prohibited Countries” definition in Clause 1 of Bitget’s English Terms of Use (updated 2026-10-20), 33 entries are prohibited: 28 countries or regions, plus 5 regions of Ukraine (Crimea, Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia). The ones people ask about most are all on it: the United States (including its territories), Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, France, Germany, Austria and Russia.
Keep in mind that this is not Bitget’s only list. Bitget’s official identity verification (KYC) page lists 34 entries under “Why can’t I select my country/region?”. That list adds India, Italy and Spain, which the terms leave out, but it does not include Malaysia or Thailand. Bitget’s article on KYC rejection reasons also lists the United Arab Emirates. The terms also say the list can include other locations designated by Bitget from time to time, and French users were moved off the platform as a group in 2026.
Below, the three official lists are compared side by side, followed by the regions where only some services are restricted, what happens if you use a VPN or enter the wrong country of residence, and how accounts are handled when the list changes. Every item comes with its official source.
Key points:
1. Bitget’s Terms of Use (2026-10-20 version) list 33 prohibited countries, including the United States (with territories such as Puerto Rico and Guam), Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, France, Germany, Austria, Russia, Belarus and 5 regions of Ukraine.
2. The list of countries Bitget does not serve on its KYC page has 34 entries. It also excludes India, Italy and Spain, but does not list Malaysia or Thailand. Combined, the two lists come to 36 entries, or 37 with the UAE, which appears in the KYC rejection-reasons article.
3. Clause 8.6 of the terms says that if you are in a prohibited country, access to the services may be blocked, which can affect trading and viewing your orders and positions. You also may not use a VPN to change your IP address to get around the restriction.
4. Bitget stopped accepting new users from France and Germany on 2026-01-16. Services for French users ended on 2026-03-31: remaining positions were closed, and assets that had not been withdrawn were transferred to a licensed crypto-asset service provider.
5. If the information you provided is wrong, out of date or incomplete, Clause 8.2 of the terms allows Bitget to restrict your account, limit withdrawals or close positions without prior notice.
The information below was checked against official pages on 2026-10-29 (fact-check date) and is provided for your reference.
What is Bitget’s full list of prohibited countries?
I split the two lists, from the Terms of Use and the KYC page, by region. The first column shows entries on both lists; the last two show entries that appear on only one of them:
| Region | On both lists | Terms of Use only | KYC page only |
|---|---|---|---|
| North America and the Caribbean | United States (including Puerto Rico, Guam, the US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands and 9 minor outlying islands), Canada, Cuba, Haiti | — | — |
| Europe | Austria, France, Germany, Belarus, Russia | — | Italy, Spain |
| Ukraine (certain regions only) | Crimea, Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia | — | — |
| East and Southeast Asia | Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, North Korea | Malaysia, Thailand | — |
| South and Central Asia | Afghanistan, Kazakhstan | — | India |
| Middle East | Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen | — | United Arab Emirates (KYC rejection-reasons article only) |
| Africa | Libya, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea-Bissau | — | — |
| Total | 31 | 2 (33 in the terms) | 3 (34 on the KYC page, 35 in the rejection-reasons article) |
Sources and dates: Clause 1 definitions of Bitget’s English Terms of Use (updated 2026-10-20), Bitget’s KYC verification page (undated), and common reasons a KYC review is rejected (published 2024-04-27), all viewed on 2026-10-29. The regional grouping is mine; the official lists are not split by region.
The two lists serve different purposes. The Terms of Use are a contract. Clause 2 sets out the eligibility requirements for registering: you must not use the services in a jurisdiction where they are not permitted, restricted or illegal, and you must not be a Restricted Person; individual users must also be at least 18. Restricted Persons include people on the sanctions lists of the UN Security Council, the US OFAC, the UK, the EU and Canada, as well as people or entities that reside in, are established in or operate in a prohibited country. The KYC page, on the other hand, answers the question “why can’t I find my country in the drop-down menu?”, so it shows what the verification process actually blocks. According to the KYC page, you can’t deposit, trade or withdraw until you finish Level 1 identity verification, so a country missing from the menu effectively can’t open a usable account.
If you want the most conservative reading, combine the two lists: that gives 36 entries, or 37 with the UAE from the KYC rejection-reasons article. The terms also add a passage on the United States: Bitget has a method for determining whether a corporate entity is a US user, and its compliance staff may contact that entity to ask for more information.
Do the Traditional Chinese terms match the English version?
The list is the same, but the date and clause numbers differ. When I checked on 2026-10-29, the header of the Traditional Chinese Terms of Use still said it was last updated on June 16, 2026, yet its definition of prohibited countries/regions already matched the 2026-10-20 English version, including Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Belarus, Russia and the 5 Ukrainian regions. Clause 8.6 of the English version, “Access in other jurisdictions,” is numbered 8.5 in the Traditional Chinese version, so check which version you are quoting. Where the two versions differ, I go by the English one.
Which regions can only use some services?
Clause 8.6 of the Terms of Use states that residents of certain countries may only be able to access some of the services, and that the available services may change from time to time. Bitget has no complete table of product restrictions. Here is what the terms and announcements for each product say:
| Product or region | What Bitget says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Futures | Users declare that they do not reside in a prohibited country under the Terms of Use, or in any other jurisdiction where Bitget restricts the provision of any services, “including but not limited to Spain” (Clause 10.1(f)); some products and features may be unavailable or restricted in certain jurisdictions (Clause 2.6) | Futures Service Agreement (updated 2026-08-14) |
| Earn | Earn products are offered only to certain users in certain countries (Clause 2.1); no countries are listed | Earn User Agreement (updated September 2025) |
| US stock trading and stock futures | Offered only to eligible users in supported regions; contract availability, margin assets, trading hours, fees and leverage vary by region; no regions are listed | US stock trading FAQ (2026-07-16) |
| P2P | The page lists 37 supported fiat currencies, does not list regions where P2P is unavailable, and notes that the content is time-sensitive | P2P supported currencies (2025-10-30) |
| Germany | No new registrations from 2026-01-16; existing German users will be notified in advance of any further changes to their services (Germany is also on the prohibited list in the 2026-10-20 terms) | Registration update for France and Germany (2026-01-16) |
| United Kingdom | Not on the prohibited list. A 2024-05-03 announcement temporarily restricted new UK registrations; the UK entry on Bitget’s official license page describes a platform approved by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) working with an authorized person | Announcement for UK users, regulatory license page |
| European Union | Bitget EU has applied to Austria’s Financial Market Authority (FMA) for authorization as a crypto-asset service provider under MiCAR; the timing, scope and outcome are up to the FMA’s review. Services for existing Bitget Global users continue under their existing contractual arrangements | MiCAR authorization update (2026-07-02) |
Sources and dates: the official page in each row, viewed on 2026-10-29. “No countries/regions are listed” means the page does not say, not that there are no restrictions. Which products you can actually use is whatever your screen shows after you log in.
Spain is not on the prohibited list in the Terms of Use, yet it appears on both the KYC page and in the Futures Service Agreement, so reading only the terms would miss it. As for the UK, I could not find any follow-up in Bitget’s Help Center after the 2024 registration restriction, and the range of products available to UK users is not officially stated.
What happens if you use a VPN or a fake nationality?
The terms expressly prohibit it, and if Bitget finds out, it can restrict the account without prior notice. These are the relevant clauses:
- Clause 8.6: you may not get around regional restrictions by any means, including using a virtual private network (VPN) to change your IP address.
- Clause 11.1(xiv): using anonymous proxy servers is prohibited. Clause 11.1(xvii) prohibits accessing the services, directly or indirectly, from any jurisdiction Bitget considers high-risk, including but not limited to the prohibited countries.
- Clause 5.3: the information you provide must be complete, accurate and true, and you must update it when it changes.
- Clause 8.2: if a user no longer meets the eligibility requirements, provides information that is wrong, false, out of date or incomplete, or if there are legal or regulatory restrictions, Bitget can terminate, suspend or restrict the services and the account, limit withdrawals, close open orders and positions, sell or force-sell the assets in the account, and convert assets into stablecoins or other assets. All of this can be done immediately or at any time afterward, without prior notice. Clause 8.3 adds that these decisions may be based on risk-control criteria that are not made public.
KYC also checks where you live. Under the official process described in my Bitget KYC guide, you have to select your country/region of residence and the country/region that issued your ID during verification, and you can’t submit if your country is not in the menu. For regulatory and compliance reasons, Bitget may also ask some users for proof of address issued within the last three months, with a name that matches the KYC ID (How to upload proof of address). So entering another country’s nationality or address not only breaks the terms; the information also has to pass a check against your ID and address documents.
Once an account is restricted, futures positions are hit hardest. Futures use leverage, and if you can’t adjust your positions in time while the account is restricted, they may be liquidated and you may lose all of your margin. Clause 8.6 of the terms also states that a block may leave you unable to view your existing orders and positions. For how frozen accounts are generally handled, see what to do if your exchange account is frozen.
What if you move to a restricted region or the list changes?
Clause 11.1(xvii) of the terms states that a change in your place of residence or in applicable law may put you in breach of local legal or regulatory requirements, and that making sure your trading stays legal is your own responsibility. After a move, you have to update your information under Clause 5.3; if your account shows a prompt to “update your country/region of residence,” you do so from the identity verification page via “Update now.” In its France exit announcement, Bitget also reminded other users to make sure their identity information is correct and up to date, and to submit the required documents through customer support when they need to update it.
The list itself also changes. Clause 17.1 states that Bitget can amend the terms at any time; changes are posted on the website and may also be announced separately by email or in the app. Changes made to meet legal or regulatory requirements can take effect immediately (Clause 17.2), and continuing to use the services counts as accepting the new terms (Clause 17.3). For how Bitget handles pulling out of an entire country, France is the most complete official record so far:
| Date | What it meant for French users |
|---|---|
| 2026-01-16 | Bitget announced it would end all services for residents of France (including its overseas territories) and stopped accepting new French users. The scope covered Quick Buy, P2P, all spot and derivatives, copy trading and all Earn products |
| 2026-03-16 | No more new orders or deposits from French users; orders already placed were processed as usual. Bitget asked users to close all positions and start withdrawing |
| 2026-03-25 09:00 (CET) | Bitget began terminating subscriptions to Earn and wealth management products, stating that it would pay out the full value plus earnings up to the termination date |
| 2026-03-31 09:00 (CEST) | Bitget began force-closing all remaining positions (including derivatives); users who wanted to hold their own assets had to withdraw before this |
| After 2026-03-31 | Accounts entered a restricted state with all trading functions disabled. Remaining assets were transferred to a licensed crypto-asset service provider; coins that provider does not support were converted into USDC at the prevailing price, with standard trading fees charged |
| From 2026-04-08 | Assets could be accessed on the platform that took them over |
Sources and dates: announcement ending services for French users (2026-01-16) and update for French users (2026-03-13), viewed on 2026-10-29. The first announcement says unwithdrawn assets worth more than 10 USDC would be transferred; it does not say what happens to amounts of 10 USDC or less.
Timeline of Bitget's exit from France
About 10 weeks from the end of new sign-ups to forced closures, and only 15 days once new orders stopped
- End of service announced, no new sign-ups
- No new orders or deposits
- Earn subscriptions start ending
- Remaining positions force-closed
- Assets available on the receiving platform
From the end of new registrations to the forced closures, French users had about 10 weeks (2026-01-16 to 03-31), and only 15 days once new orders were no longer accepted. The list can also change in the other direction: on 2026-10-20 Bitget announced a plan to acquire GMO-Z.com Cryptonomics (Thailand) in Thailand. The deal first needs local regulatory approval, and only after it closes does Bitget plan to launch a trading platform for users in Thailand (Bitget acquisition announcement). When I checked on 2026-10-29, Thailand was still on the prohibited list in the Terms of Use.
FAQ
Can I use Bitget in the US?
No. The United States is on the prohibited lists in Bitget’s Terms of Use (2026-10-20 version) and on its KYC page, and the scope also covers Puerto Rico, Guam, the US Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands and 9 minor outlying islands such as Baker Island and Wake Island. The terms also state that Bitget determines whether a corporate entity counts as a US user; if it does, it is prohibited as well.
Which countries does Bitget support?
Bitget does not publish a list of supported countries, only lists of where it does not provide service: 33 entries in the Terms of Use and 34 on the KYC page, 36 combined. Countries that are not on either list may still have access to only some services (Clause 8.6 of the terms); for example, US stock trading and Earn are open only to eligible users in certain regions. Which products you can actually use is whatever your screen shows after you log in.
Can I use Bitget in Japan, Hong Kong or Singapore?
No, none of the three. All of them are on both the Terms of Use and the KYC page lists. For Singapore there is also a separate official statement (2026-07-21): Bitget is not licensed or regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), does not offer products or services to people in Singapore, and access to the platform from Singapore will be restricted (statement regarding MAS).
Can I use Bitget in Malaysia or Thailand?
Not under the Terms of Use: both Malaysia and Thailand are on the prohibited list in the 2026-10-20 version. Neither appears on the KYC page list, but the terms are the contract, so the terms take precedence. As for Thailand, Bitget announced on 2026-10-20 a plan to acquire a licensed local exchange. Regulatory approval is required before the deal can close, and the announcement gives no launch date.
Why can’t I select my country during Bitget KYC?
If you can’t select it, that usually means the country is on Bitget’s list of places it does not serve. The 34 entries on the KYC page include India, Italy and Spain; these three are not on the Terms of Use list, but they can’t be selected either. You can’t deposit, trade or withdraw until you finish Level 1 identity verification; for the verification steps, see the Bitget KYC guide.
What happens to my Bitget account if I travel to a prohibited country?
The services may not be available, and access may be blocked. Clause 8.6 of the Terms of Use states that this can affect trading and viewing your existing orders and positions, and that you may not use a VPN to change your IP address to get around it. If you hold futures positions, it is best to check your positions and margin before you leave, because you may not be able to adjust them while access is blocked.
Can I still use Bitget in Europe?
It depends on the country. Austria, France and Germany are on the prohibited list in the Terms of Use, and Italy and Spain are on the KYC page list; services for French users already ended on 2026-03-31. Bitget EU announced on 2026-07-02 that it has applied to Austria’s FMA for MiCAR authorization, and the outcome is up to the regulator’s review. Rules differ by country, so go by the announcements of your local regulator.
How often does Bitget update its restricted list?
The update frequency is not officially stated. The terms define the list as including other locations designated by Bitget from time to time; changes are posted on the website and may also be announced by email or in the app, and changes made to meet legal or regulatory requirements can take effect immediately. When I checked on 2026-10-29, the English terms were dated 2026-10-20. To confirm the current scope, look at the update date at the top of the terms page.
Restricted regions for 13 exchanges are compared in crypto exchange restricted countries. Bitget’s identity verification steps are in the Bitget KYC guide, its hack history, reserves and licenses are in Is Bitget safe?, and an overview of fees and products is in the Bitget review. If you haven’t signed up yet, see Bitget referral code for how to register.
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