Founded in 2018, Bitget is a crypto exchange that lets you trade futures and copy other traders. The Seychelles-based cryptocurrency exchange has over 20 million users in more than 100 countries and supports many cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Polkadot, Bitcoin Cash, Tron, USDT, and more.
But before you sign up for Bitget, you need to know if it is available and legal in the US, Canada, or the UK. There are many regulations and restrictions that apply to crypto exchanges in different countries, and not all of them are compliant with the rules.
By the end of this article, you will have a clear idea of whether you can use Bitget in your country and what are the advantages and disadvantages of doing so. Let’s dive in!
List of Bitget Supported Countries
Bitget is supported in more than 100 countries and regions. Some of the countries where Bitget is popular include Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Russia, Turkey, Brazil, and India. Besides being available in some regions of Africa and Oceania, Bitget is generally accessible throughout much of North America, Asia, and Europe. With more than 10 million members and accessibility in virtually every nation on the globe, the exchange has a significant number of users.
However, it can be difficult for anyone to use Bitget’s services if they are on sanctions lists, such as those created by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) or the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Furthermore, residents of unstable political environments could face some restrictions.
Additionally, Bitget may expand these restrictions to particular regions where regional laws make it difficult to conduct Bitcoin transactions. Users should be aware that Bitget has the right to modify these limits as the regulatory framework changes.
Bitget Restricted & Banned countries
Some countries are completely banned from using Bitget, while others are partially restricted or have limited features. Here is the list of Bitget restricted and banned countries:
Banned countries: These are the countries where Bitget is not available at all and users cannot access the website or the app. These include the United States, Singapore, Canada (Ontario, Quebec), Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Crimea, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Ecuador, Kyrgyzstan, Bermuda, the Republic of Congo, Yemen, and Italy.
Restricted countries: These are the countries where Bitget is available but with some limitations or conditions. For example, some countries may require users to verify their identity or comply with local laws before using Bitget. These include China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Russia, Turkey, Brazil, India, and more.
Not all countries can access and use Bitget due to various reasons, such as legal regulations, political sanctions, or technical issues. If you are not sure whether your country is supported or restricted by Bitget, you can check the official website. You can also use a VPN to bypass some of the restrictions and access Bitget from anywhere in the world.
Is Bitget Regulated?
Bitget is licensed and regulated in multiple countries, including US, Canada, and Singapore, to name a few. Bitget has obtained the following licenses and registrations:
United States: Bitget is registered with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) of the United States Department of the Treasury as a Money Services Business (MSB). This means that Bitget has to comply with the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and other anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) regulations.
Canada: Bitget is listed as a Money Services Business (MSB) with the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC). This means that Bitget has to comply with the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA) and other AML and CTF regulations.
Singapore: Bitget is authorized and regulated by the Singapore Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (ACRA) under the name Bitget Global Pte. Ltd. Bitget also holds a Payment Services Act (PSA) license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), which allows it to provide digital payment token services.
Australia: Bitget is authorized and regulated by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) under the name Bitget Australia Pty Ltd. Bitget also holds an Australian Financial Services License (AFSL) from ASIC, which allows it to provide financial services related to derivatives and foreign exchange contracts.
Is Bitget available in the US?
Bitget is not available to residents of the United States. However, these US citizens might have to use a VPN in order to access the site because of certain regional internet limitations. To operate in the United States, exchanges have to apply for and receive approval from multiple agencies, such as FinCEN.
Is Bitget legal in the US?
Bitget is legal to use in the US. Bitget may still operate in the US under its own terms and conditions, and provide a secure and reliable platform for traders to buy, sell, and store their digital assets.
However, it also means that Bitget users in the US may not have the same level of protection and recourse as users in other regulated countries. For example, if Bitget were to be hacked or go bankrupt, users in the US may not be able to claim compensation or seek legal action.
Can you use Bitget in the US?
If you are a resident of the United States, you may not be able to use Bitget. Users who attempt to sign up from the US will be IP restricted from signing up. While users can use a VPN to bypass the IP restrictions, they will not be able to complete the KYC verification in order to access all the features of the exchange.
Using a VPN to access Bitget is not recommended, as it may involve some risks and challenges. Users may also violate the terms and conditions of Bitget, which may result in account suspension or termination. Users may also face legal consequences if they are caught using Bitget in the US without proper authorization.
Can I use Bitget in Canada?
If you are a resident of Canada, you may not be able to use Bitget fully. Bitget is only partially available in Canada. Bitget is registered with the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) as a Money Services Business (MSB). This means that Bitget has to comply with the Proceeds of Crime (Money Laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLTFA) and other AML and CTF regulations.
However, Bitget is not authorized to operate in some provinces of Canada, such as Ontario and Quebec. Users from these provinces who try to sign up will have their IP addresses blocked.
Can I use Bitget in the UK?
Bitget is available and legal to use in the UK. UK citizens are allowed to sign up and use the trading services offered by Bitget. Bitget also has a dedicated website for UK users, where they can find more information and promotions.
However, Bitget is not regulated by the UK authorities, such as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), which regulates the financial services industry in the UK. This means that Bitget does not have to comply with the rules and standards set by the FCA.
Do you need a VPN for Bitget?
Bitget strongly advises its customers to obey local laws and regulations, even though utilizing a VPN as a bypass is technically doable. If it is illegal where you are, using VPNs in this way may have legal repercussions.
