Bitget Shuts Down Japan Operations Amid Regulatory Pressure

Bitget, a Seychelles-registered cryptocurrency exchange, has announced that it will be shutting down its services in Japan. As of November 1, 2026, at 11 a.m. Japan Standard Time (10 p.m. ET October 31), accounts flagged as belonging to Japanese residents will enter close-only mode. This means users can sell existing holdings but cannot open new positions or access other services.

The exchange has set December 31, 2026, as the hard deadline for traders to close their positions. After this date, any remaining open positions will be forcibly closed at prevailing prices, and card services will be suspended. Withdrawals, subject to limits, will remain available after December 31.

Traders who believe Bitget has incorrectly identified them as Japanese residents can complete Level 2 identity verification before November 1 to preserve full account access. This requires submitting address proof such as a bank statement or utility bill.