Updated Rules checked 2026-10-29
Which countries does Bybit restrict? According to the “Service Restricted Countries” page in the Bybit Help Center (updated 2026-10-16), Bybit does not offer services in the United States, mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Canada, North Korea, Cuba, Iran, Uzbekistan, Sudan, Syria, the Crimea region of Ukraine (including Sevastopol), or the non-government-controlled areas of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. Dubai applies only to Bybit’s UAE operating entity. Clause 11.3 of the Bybit Platform Terms and Conditions, effective the same day, adds Australia and France to the list.
Bybit has no automatic exchange rebate. This extra rebate is paid by Fee Otter, not by the exchange and not by Kevin Wu; the rate is whatever Fee Otter's page shows (checked 2026-10-22).
The list changes, and the Terms state that Bybit can add other regions at any time at its own discretion. Two other rules are easy to miss. Bybit’s KYC FAQ states that country restrictions are based on nationality, not on where you currently live. And if Bybit finds that you misrepresented your location or place of residence, it can terminate your account immediately and close your open positions.
Below, I compare the restricted lists in three official Bybit documents side by side, then cover the regions where only some services are restricted, such as Japan, the European Economic Area and New Zealand. Finally, I explain what happens if you use a VPN and what to do with your assets if the list changes. Every item comes with its official source.
Key points:
1. The 2026-10-16 version of the Bybit Help Center page lists 13 countries or regions where Bybit does not offer services (Crimea counts as 1 entry, and the non-government-controlled areas of Donetsk and the other three regions count together as 1), including the United States, mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Canada.
2. Clause 11.3 of the Bybit Platform Terms and Conditions (Bybit Technology Limited), effective 2026-10-16, adds Australia and France to the Help Center list, for 15 entries. Clause 3.4 of the terms of Bybit’s UAE operating entity adds the United Kingdom, France and Dubai, for 16 entries.
3. Bybit’s KYC FAQ (updated 2026-08-20) states that country restrictions are based on the user’s nationality, not on their current place of residence.
4. Since 2026-07-22, users in Japan can only use Convert (into BTC, ETH or USDC only), crypto withdrawals and fiat withdrawals. For residents of 29 European Economic Area countries, some services on Bybit’s global platform are being restricted step by step; Malta is out of scope.
5. Bybit’s Account Termination addendum sets a termination fee of 10 USD. If the account balance is under 10 USD, all remaining assets are forfeited.
The information below was checked against official pages on 2026-10-29 (date of fact-check) and is provided for reference.
Bybit restricted countries: the full list
Bybit’s restricted regions appear in three places, and the lists are not identical: the Service Restricted Countries page in the Help Center, clause 11.3 of the Bybit Platform Terms and Conditions of Bybit Technology Limited, and clause 3.4 of the BVAPO platform terms of Bybit Virtual Asset Platform Operator (BVAPO), the UAE operating entity. The Help Center page cites the two sets of terms and adds “as applicable”.
| Country or region | Help Center page (updated 2026-10-16) | Bybit Platform Terms 11.3 (effective 2026-10-16) | BVAPO terms 3.4 (updated 2026-10-16) |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Not served | Not served | Not served |
| Mainland China | Not served | Not served | Not served |
| Hong Kong | Not served | Not served | Not served |
| Singapore | Not served | Not served | Not served |
| Canada | Not served | Not served | Not served |
| North Korea, Cuba, Iran | Not served | Not served | Not served |
| Uzbekistan | Not served | Not served | Not served |
| Crimea, Ukraine (including Sevastopol) | Not served | Not served | Not served |
| Non-government-controlled areas of Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions | Not served | Not served | Not served |
| Sudan, Syria | Not served | Not served | Not served |
| Australia | Not listed | Not served | Not listed |
| France | Not listed | Not served | Not served |
| United Kingdom | Not listed (appears only in a reference to sanctions lists) | Not listed (appears only in a reference to sanctions lists) | Not served |
| Dubai | Not served (BVAPO only) | Not listed | Not served |
| Total (Crimea and the four regions count as 1 entry each) | 13 entries, plus Dubai (BVAPO only) | 15 entries | 16 entries |
Source and date: the three official documents above, read on 2026-10-29. The Bybit Platform Terms and Conditions are version 18. I counted the entries from the original text myself; they are not an official count. All three documents end with a catch-all for any other region where Bybit decides, from time to time and at its own discretion, to stop offering services, so a region missing from the list is not guaranteed to be supported.
Besides the country list, the Terms define a group of “Prohibited Parties” that Bybit does not serve: individuals and entities on the US Treasury OFAC Specially Designated Nationals list, the EU consolidated financial sanctions list or the UK sanctions list; entities 50% or more owned or controlled by such parties; and individuals from Seychelles. International business companies incorporated under Seychelles’ International Business Companies Act 2016 are exempt. Bybit also does not provide services that involve or benefit these parties.
Age is also an eligibility condition. Clause 5.1 of the Bybit Platform Terms and Conditions requires users to be at least 18, and clause 5.2 states that Bybit may accept or refuse a registration at its own discretion. Among the common reasons for a rejected identity verification, the KYC FAQ also lists being under 18 and being from a service-restricted country.
Where are only some Bybit services restricted?
Some regions are not on the list of unserved regions, but official announcements or addenda limit which products are available there. Clause 15.5 of the Bybit Platform Terms and Conditions also states that products and services on the platform may not be offered to residents of certain countries or to certain categories of investors because of regulatory restrictions. These are the restrictions Bybit currently states officially:
| Region or product | Officially stated restriction | Source (date) |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | Remediation measures for Japanese residents (started in October 2025) were completed on 2026-07-22. Since then, only Convert, crypto withdrawals and fiat withdrawals remain. Convert is crypto-to-crypto only, and only into BTC, ETH or USDC | Japan remediation completion announcement (2026-07-24) |
| 29 European Economic Area countries | Some services on Bybit’s global platform will be restricted step by step for EEA residents. Before each step, affected users will be notified of the timeline for handling existing and new positions, and they can still access the assets held in custody in their accounts in the meantime. Residents of Malta are out of scope because Bybit EU’s licence is not currently passported to Malta | Notice for users in the European Economic Area (2026-06-29) |
| New Zealand | New Zealand users now contract with Kono Group Limited and can only use products within the scope of “New Zealand Supported Services”, a scope that Kono decides and may change | Addendum for New Zealand users (2026-03-24) |
| Derivatives (inverse perpetual and futures contracts) | At least Standard identity verification is required, and some regions require Advanced verification first. You must not be located in a service-restricted region or in a region where derivatives trading is not available | Inverse Contract FAQ (updated 2026-08-05) |
| All products | Every product and service requires at least Standard-level identity verification first; some regions and products require a higher level | Individual KYC FAQ (updated 2026-08-20) |
Source and date: the official pages in the table, read on 2026-10-29. The 29 countries listed in the EEA announcement are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
The announcement does not give the date or products of each step; it only says affected users will be notified individually. France is a special case: it is on the EEA list and is also listed as an unserved region in the Bybit Platform Terms and Conditions, and a separate addendum for French users covers the remaining assets (see below).
When Bybit restricted services in specific regions
Dates are those of the addendum or notice; EEA users will be notified of each stage separately
- Addendum for France, service ends
- New Zealand moves to Kono Group
- EEA services to be restricted step by step
- Japan left with Convert and withdrawals only
If a region isn’t in the Terms, can you definitely use Bybit there?
Not necessarily, because local regulators can also step in. One example is the Securities Commission Malaysia announcement of 2024-12-27: the SC ordered Bybit to disable its website, app and other digital platforms in Malaysia within 14 business days from 2024-12-11, and to stop advertising to local investors immediately. The announcement states that Bybit has complied with all the directives. Malaysia is not on any of the three lists above. Blocks and warnings from other countries’ regulators are compiled in the crypto exchange restricted countries table. Rules differ from country to country; your local regulator’s announcements take precedence.
What happens if you sign up for Bybit with a VPN or a false nationality?
The word “VPN” does not appear in the Bybit Platform Terms and Conditions, but the relevant rules are clear:
- Nationality is what counts: the KYC FAQ states that country restrictions are based on the user’s nationality, not on their current place of residence. Bybit also accepts only photo IDs issued by your country of origin (passport, national ID card, residence permit, driver’s license), and does not accept internal passports, student visas, work visas or tourist visas.
- One verified account per person: if the system finds that the same ID details have already verified another account, verification fails.
- The platform collects location data: clause 17.5 states that Bybit may collect device information such as your IP address, mobile carrier and time zone, and may obtain your precise location through GPS, Wi-Fi and cell tower triangulation.
- Consequences of misrepresentation: clause 11.3 states that if Bybit finds a user has misrepresented their location or place of residence, or concealed that they are a Prohibited Party, Bybit can take appropriate action, including terminating the account immediately and closing open positions.
- No reason required: clause 23.2 lists the situations in which Bybit can restrict, freeze or terminate an account, including being unable to verify the information a user provided and instructions from authorities. Clause 23.3 states that Bybit has no obligation to explain the grounds for a freeze or for closing positions. Clause 23.5 states that a terminated user may not regain access under the same or a different account name without Bybit’s written consent.
Derivatives positions carry the greatest risk. Leveraged positions can be liquidated, and if your account is suddenly restricted you may not have time to adjust your positions, so you could lose all of your margin. What to do once an account is frozen is covered in what to do if your exchange account is frozen.
What happens to your assets if you move to a restricted region or the list changes?
Clause 11.3 requires users to notify Bybit “immediately” if they become a resident of a listed region. What happens next depends on Bybit’s official notice. Official documents currently describe three scenarios.
The first is that withdrawals stay open. After the Japan remediation was completed, accounts kept only Convert and withdrawals, so that users could take their assets out. The EEA announcement also states that users can still access assets held in custody while restrictions are in place.
The second is account termination with a fee. The Account Termination addendum (2026-03-24) states that when an account is terminated, open positions may be closed by the user or by Bybit. Where practicable, Bybit will notify the user so they can withdraw within a specified period. If the user does not withdraw within that period, Bybit deducts a termination fee of 10 USD, and if the balance is under 10 USD, the whole balance is forfeited. In numbers: an account with 8 USDT left goes to zero if you don’t withdraw before the deadline; an account with 50 USDT has about 40 USDT left after the termination fee.
The third is transfer to another provider for custody, and France is the example. The addendum for French users (2026-01-16) states that Bybit stopped serving French users at the request of France’s financial markets authority (AMF), and that users must withdraw within a specified period. After the deadline, accounts with a balance of 10 USDC or less are terminated and the balance is kept as a termination fee. Above 10 USDC, the assets are first converted into USDC and then moved to the French provider Coinhouse for custody, which charges a monthly custody fee of whichever is higher: 0.16% of the value of each asset, or a minimum of 1 USDC per asset. Using the official example: 1,000 USDC is charged 1.6 USDC in the first month, and if left untouched for a year, about 19 USDC is deducted. If only 10 USDC is left at Coinhouse, the minimum fee of 1 USDC a month uses it up in about 10 months.
All three scenarios lead to the same conclusion: as soon as you receive a notice, withdraw your assets to a wallet you control or to another platform, and don’t wait until the deadline has passed. The withdrawal steps are in how to deposit and withdraw on Bybit, and self-custody is covered in the crypto wallet guide.
FAQ
Can you use Bybit in the US?
No. The United States is on the unserved list in the Bybit Help Center page, clause 11.3 of the Bybit Platform Terms and Conditions and clause 3.4 of the BVAPO terms (all three in the 2026-10-16 version). Bybit’s KYC FAQ states that country restrictions are based on nationality, so what matters is the nationality on your identity verification, not just where you are.
Which countries does Bybit support?
Bybit does not publish a list of supported countries, only a list of regions it does not serve. The 2026-10-16 Help Center page lists 13 entries, and clause 11.3 of the Bybit Platform Terms and Conditions lists 15 (adding Australia and France). For regions outside the list, you still need to check product restrictions in announcements such as those for Japan and the European Economic Area, and whether you can pass identity verification.
Can you use Bybit in Hong Kong, Singapore or mainland China?
No. Hong Kong, Singapore and mainland China are on all three of Bybit’s 2026-10-16 restriction lists: the Help Center page, clause 11.3 of the Platform Terms and clause 3.4 of the BVAPO terms.
Can you still use Bybit in Japan?
Only to take your assets out. Bybit’s 2026-07-24 announcement states that remediation for Japanese residents was completed on 2026-07-22. After that, only Convert (crypto-to-crypto only, into BTC, ETH or USDC), crypto withdrawals and fiat withdrawals remain, for users who have not yet withdrawn their assets.
Can you use Bybit in Europe? What about France and Germany?
It depends on the country. France is listed as an unserved region in clause 11.3 of the Bybit Platform Terms and Conditions. For Germany and the other European Economic Area countries, the 2026-06-29 announcement says some services on Bybit’s global platform will be restricted step by step, with timelines notified individually. Malta is not in scope this time. The Terms do not list the United Kingdom as an unserved region, but the BVAPO terms of the UAE operating entity do.
Can you sign up for or use Bybit with a VPN?
It is very risky, and the Terms spell out the consequences. Clause 17.5 of the Bybit Platform Terms and Conditions states that Bybit may collect your IP address and precise location such as GPS, and clause 11.3 states that Bybit can terminate the account immediately and close positions if you misrepresent your location or place of residence. KYC is also based on nationality, so changing your IP does not change the result of identity verification.
Bybit rejected my KYC because I’m from a restricted country. What can I do?
First check whether the issuing country of your ID and your nationality are on the list. The KYC FAQ lists “from a service-restricted country” and “under 18” as rejection reasons that breach the Terms of Service, and country restrictions are based on nationality. If you think the decision is wrong, you can submit a case through the official web form to ask customer support. How to prepare your documents and resubmit is covered in the Bybit KYC guide.
My Bybit account was terminated. What happens to my money?
Withdraw it within the deadline given in Bybit’s official notice. The Bybit Account Termination addendum (2026-03-24) states that if you don’t withdraw within the deadline, a termination fee of 10 USD is deducted, and if the balance is under 10 USD, all of it is forfeited. Open positions may be closed by Bybit.
The restricted regions of 13 exchanges and country-by-country regulatory blocks are compared in the crypto exchange restricted countries table. Bybit’s identity verification steps are in the Bybit KYC guide, an overview of the platform is in the Bybit review, and how fee rebates work is explained in Bybit fee rebate.
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