Regulatory Pressure Forces Bybit to Phase Out Services for Japanese Residents

Bybit will phase out most offerings for Japanese residents, moving to close-only mode on March 23 and closing open positions by July 22 under tighter Japanese regulatory rules.

Rich by Coin

2026-01-23

Bybit announced a phased shutdown of its services for Japanese residents: starting at 11:00 AM on March 23, accounts will be converted to “close-only” mode, prohibiting new account openings or additional positions, and most products will be discontinued, with only BTC/ETH/USDC swaps and withdrawals remaining. Starting at 11:00 AM on July 22, all open positions will be forcibly closed and card services will be suspended, against the backdrop of stricter regulations from the Japanese Financial Services Agency on overseas exchanges.

Bybit has announced a phased shutdown of its services for Japanese residents, with accounts entering a ‘close-only’ mode starting at 11:00 AM on March 23, prohibiting new account openings or additional positions. Most products will be discontinued, leaving only BTC, ETH, and USDC swaps and withdrawals. On July 22 at 11:00 AM, all open positions will be forcibly closed and card services will be suspended, as the company moves to align with tighter Japanese Financial Services Agency regulations on overseas exchanges.

This move underscores ongoing regulatory tightening affecting crypto platforms operating in Japan and highlights the shifting landscape for residents and exchanges alike. Users should monitor official updates from Bybit and Japanese authorities for further guidance.