Which Countries Does Bybit Restrict?

Under the BVAPO Platform Terms and Conditions (Section 3.4), Bybit lists 16 excluded jurisdictions/regions (not all are sovereign countries), including the United States, Chinese Mainland, Hong Kong, UK, France, Dubai, and several sanctioned territories.

Bybit Restricted Countries List in 2026

Bybit maintains strict blocks on 16 specific global regions:

Why Does Bybit Restrict These Countries?

Bybit implements regional blocks to ensure full compliance with international laws, financial regulations, and strict global trade sanctions across all available markets.

1. Sanctions and Prohibited-Party Compliance

Bybit’s restrictions align with sanctions screening, anti-terror financing, and prohibited-party controls referenced in its terms and KYC policy obligations.

Key compliance drivers mentioned in the terms:

• Sanctions lists: Bybit references screening against the US Treasury, EU, UK, UN, and UAE sanctions frameworks before granting or maintaining access.
• Prohibited parties: Service access may be blocked for designated persons and entities, including those owned or controlled (50%+) by listed parties.
• AML/CFT controls: Terms specifically mention terrorism financing and WMD proliferation-related restrictions, which are core reasons for excluding sanctioned jurisdictions.
• Enforcement risk: Bybit reserves rights to terminate accounts and liquidate positions if users misrepresent residency in restricted jurisdictions.

2. Licensing and Regulatory Perimeter Limits

Bybit states it cannot provide services where it lacks authorization or where offering the platform would conflict with applicable laws.

How jurisdiction-based licensing affects access:

• Authorization scope: In places like the United Arab Emirates and the European Union, services depend on entity-level licensing and scope.
• Local regulator requirements: Regulatory authorities such as the UAE SCA, Dubai VARA, and Austria FMA shape what can be offered.
• Product segmentation: Bybit may restrict certain products or trading pairs depending on a user’s country of residence and applicable rules.
• Regional feature gating: The BVAPO terms also state AED-denominated products/pairs are limited to UAE residents only.

3. KYC, Residency Verification, and Risk Management

Restrictions are also enforced through identity verification, residency checks, and ongoing account monitoring to meet compliance and risk-control requirements.

Operational controls users should expect:

• Mandatory verification: Bybit says at least Standard individual verification is mandatory for all products and services, with higher levels required in some cases.
• Residence checks: Users are expected to notify Bybit if they become residents of excluded jurisdictions, per the terms.
• Withdrawal review controls: Bybit notes withdrawals may require KYC before approval, especially under compliance or risk-review triggers.
• Service-level restrictions: Certain fiat, card, or local payment functions can be enabled only in eligible countries or cohorts.

Bybit Supported Countries

Bybit currently supports over 160 countries globally, providing advanced crypto trading tools to more than 80 million registered users. Traders in these regions can access spot markets, futures, and varied passive income products within a secure environment.

Recent data from Similarweb indicates that Russia accounts for 39.6% of traffic. This is followed by South Korea at 11.22%, Ukraine at 8.44%, Japan at 3.61%, and Belarus at 3.09%.

Key Supported Regions

Bybit’s user base spans Europe, CIS, Asia, MENA, and Latin America, but product access differs by local rules, licensing entity, and KYC level.

Major active regions and markets include:

• Europe (EEA via Bybit EU): Austria, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and other EEA states (MiCA passporting model).
• CIS / Eastern Europe: Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Armenia, and neighboring markets where access remains subject to local limitations.
• East Asia (non-restricted): South Korea, Japan (usage patterns visible in traffic data), plus other eligible markets depending on Bybit entity and service scope.
• MENA (eligible segments): UAE residents can access AED-denominated products; broader availability depends on entity authorization and product eligibility.
• Latin America: Supported fiat and P2P/payment coverage appears across markets such as Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Peru, and Bolivia in help-center fiat flows.

Language & Currency Support

Bybit supports localized user journeys, fiat deposits/withdrawals, and multiple payment rails, but exact options vary by country, KYC level, and payment provider availability.

What users can typically expect today:

• Language support: Bybit and Bybit EU provide multilingual interfaces/support; Bybit EU public materials mention localized service and 24/7 multilingual support.
• Fiat on-ramp currencies: Help-center fiat deposit/withdrawal guides show support examples including USD, GBP, AED, CZK, CHF, CLP, COP, PEN, BOB, and others.
• Payment methods: Bybit supports bank transfer options, card channels, Zen.com, local rails, and P2P methods; P2P documentation references 80+ methods.
• Customer support channels: Bybit maintains a Help Center and support hub, alongside product documentation/support resources for users and API traders.

Is Bybit Available in the USA?

No, Bybit is not available for residents or citizens of the United States. The platform explicitly lists the US as an excluded jurisdiction in its official terms to avoid conflict with federal regulations like the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).

The restriction is due to the regulations managed by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Bybit chooses to block US IP addresses and requires KYC to ensure no individuals from this region access its derivatives or spot services.

Can You Use Bybit in the EU?

Yes, users in the European Union can access the platform through Bybit EU. This specific branch is headquartered in Vienna and operates under a license that complies with the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCAR) regulatory framework.

Traders must register through the dedicated bybit.eu portal to ensure their accounts meet regional safety standards. This entity allows for the legal exchange of crypto for funds and provides custody services across most member states.

However, certain high-leverage products may be restricted based on local member state rules. Bybit EU ensures that all services, including the Bybit Card, are fully compliant with the latest European Union financial stability and transparency laws.

In France, Bybit was recently removed from the AMF's blacklist, where it had been since May 2022 for failing to comply with local regulations. However, the exchange suspended its services in France in January 2025 due to increased regulatory scrutiny and has yet to resume operations.

Is Bybit Licensed and Regulated?

Bybit operates through multiple entities and approvals across jurisdictions, with license scope varying by country, regulator, and products offered to residents.

Key licenses, registrations, and approvals to know:

• Austria / EEA (MiCA): Bybit EU GmbH received MiCA CASP authorization from Austria’s FMA, enabling regulated crypto-asset services and EEA passporting.
• United Arab Emirates (federal): Bybit announced it secured a Virtual Asset Platform Operator License from the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA).
• Dubai (emirate-level pathway): Bybit previously announced VARA milestone approvals in Dubai (including provisional/non-operational progress toward full operational authorization).
• Kazakhstan (AIFC): Bybit Kazakhstan is described by Bybit as operating under regulation in Kazakhstan’s AIFC ecosystem, with AFSA oversight references in Bybit materials.
• Georgia: Bybit announced registration as a VASP with the National Bank of Georgia, expanding its regulated presence in the country.
• Cyprus: Bybit has publicly reported obtaining a Cyprus crypto license for exchange/custody-related services (widely covered in industry media; verify current registry status before relying on it).

Does Bybit Require KYC?

Yes, Bybit requires mandatory Identity Verification (KYC) for all users to access trading services, deposit fiat, and increase withdrawal limits.

Verification Levels & Withdrawal Limits

Identity verification is split into three tiers to balance user privacy with global financial security.

Level 0 (Non-Verified)

• Requirement: Basic registration only.
• Daily Withdrawal Limit: ≤ 20k USDT.
• Features: Restricted access; users cannot deposit fiat or trade until they complete at least Level 1.

Level 1 (Individual Standard)

• Requirement: Government ID and facial recognition.
• Daily Withdrawal Limit: Starting from ≤ 1M USDT.
• Features: Full access to spot trading, derivatives, Earn products, and fiat deposits for most supported regions.

Level 2 (Individual Advanced)

• Requirement: Proof of address document (utility bill or bank statement).
• Daily Withdrawal Limit: Starting from ≤ 2M USDT.
• Features: Increased limits and access to the Bybit Card for residents in the EEA and other eligible regions.

About Bybit

Founded in 2018, Bybit is the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume. Its high-speed matching engine and professional derivatives platform process $30 billion daily. The platform specializes in active trading tools, spot markets, Earn products, and fiat onramps.

Bybit lists 2,500+ cryptocurrencies and supports 125x leverage on major crypto contracts. Its new TradFi feature enables eligible users to trade gold, forex, and stocks with 500x leverage, bridging the gap between digital assets and traditional financial markets.

Final Thoughts

Understanding regional restrictions is essential for safe trading. Bybit maintains a strict list of 16 excluded areas to remain compliant with global laws.

Always verify your local regulations before depositing funds. Bybit EU and licensed regional branches offer the most secure path for regulated digital asset access.