Bitget to Exit Japan Market, Force-Close Accounts by Year End

Crypto exchange Bitget announced it will stop serving residents of Japan, rolling out account restrictions in phases before shutting down remaining accounts entirely. The company confirmed Monday that it has already stopped accepting new sign-ups from Japan-based users, with existing account limitations set to begin November 1.

Timeline for Account Closures

Any positions still open on December 31 will be forcibly closed by the exchange. Users who believe they were wrongly classified as Japan residents must complete Level 2 identity verification, including proof of address, by November 1, or their accounts will be treated as belonging to Japanese residents by default. Bitget said affected users will receive further instructions by email on how to manage their assets before the deadline.

Repeated Regulatory Warnings Preceded the Exit

The decision follows a string of warnings from Japan’s Financial Services Agency, which flagged Bitget in March 2023 and again in November 2024 for allegedly offering crypto services to Japanese residents without proper registration. A regional finance bureau also issued a separate warning in June 2025 against a company operating under the Bitget name for offering unregistered derivatives trading.