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Bitget to end services for Japan residents, citing compliance requirements

Bitget to end services for Japan residents, citing compliance requirements

The exchange stopped new registrations on Aug. 2 and will shift affected accounts to close-only mode on Nov. 1 before forcibly closing remaining positions on Dec. 31.

Fact Check
Both official Bitget support articles (Announcement 12560603890270 and FAQ 12560603890271) confirm the August 3, 2026 cutoff for new Japan-resident accounts, the November 1, 2026 shift to Close-Only mode, and the December 31, 2026 forced liquidation of open positions — all attributed to regulatory compliance. The official BitgetJP X account posted the announcement on the same date, and CoinPost independently corroborated it. All material elements of the claim match the primary sources.
Summary

Bitget will stop providing services to residents of Japan as part of what it described as efforts to comply with local regulations, halting new registrations from Japan on Aug. 2 and moving affected accounts into close-only mode from Nov. 1. Under the phased shutdown, users classified as Japan residents will be unable to open new positions or add to existing ones, and access to spot and futures trading, copy trading, automated trading and yield products will be restricted, while withdrawals will remain available during and after the transition. From Dec. 31, remaining open positions will be forcibly closed and Bitget's card service discontinued, though users will still be able to withdraw assets. The move comes as Japan prepares to implement rules passed last month that classify cryptocurrencies as financial products, with unregistered operators facing penalties of as much as 10 years in prison or a fine of about $62,800.

Terms & Concepts
  • close-only mode: An account restriction that allows users to reduce or exit existing positions but prevents opening new trades or increasing exposure.
  • yield products: Services that let users earn returns on crypto holdings, often by lending, staking or similar arrangements.
  • copy trading: A feature that lets users automatically mirror the trades of other traders on a platform.