Thousands of French crypto traders face a major disruption this month as Bitget will discontinue services for residents of France and French overseas territories. Bitget first announced1 the change in January 2026, but the deadline rapidly approaches, and traders only have a few more weeks to move funds to other licensed providers.
In this article we’ll briefly explain the timeline and provide several regulated alternatives where French traders can move their funds.
Bitget Crypto Services End for French Users on March 31, 2026
In a latest update2, Bitget confirmed it will fully suspend services for French residents on March 31, 2026 (UTC+2). The decision follows regulatory compliance efforts linked to the EU’s MiCAMarkets in Crypto Assets regulation, legal framework for crypto regulation in entire European Union rules.
The exchange stopped accepting new French account registrations on January 16, 2026. From that point forward, the platform began preparing for a complete service shutdown in the region.
The suspension affects every Bitget product. That includes Quick Buy, P2P trading, spot markets, derivatives, copy trading, and Earn programs.
French traders still holding crypto on the platform must withdraw or transfer funds before the final deadline. Otherwise, Bitget will move remaining assets to a licensed crypto service provider.
Timeline and Deadlines
The shutdown follows a phased timeline designed to give customers time to manage their assets.
Phase 1: Trading Restrictions Begin March 16, 2026
- Starting March 16, 2026, Bitget stops accepting new trading orders from French accounts.
- Existing orders may settle normally. However, traders should close open positions and begin withdrawing assets immediately.
- Deposits are no longer accepted after this phase.
Phase 2: Automatic Liquidation Starts March 31, 2026
- On March 31, 2026 at 09:00 CEST, the exchange begins liquidating all remaining open positions. This includes derivatives positions and any unsettled trades.
- At the same time, all pending orders will be cancelled.
Bitget strongly advises customers to finish withdrawals before this point.
Phase 3: Account Restrictions and Asset Transfers
- After March 31, French accounts enter restricted status. Trading functions will be disabled completely.
- Assets remaining in accounts will move to a licensed crypto-asset service provider approved under French regulations. The transfer process begins April 6, 2026.
Balances above 10 USDC will transfer to the licensed provider. Smaller balances may be forfeited as termination fees.
What Happens to Remaining Assets After the Deadline
French customers who miss the withdrawal window will not lose access to their funds immediately. However, Bitget will automatically move those assets through a structured process. If the receiving platform does not support a specific asset, Bitget will convert it into USDC at the prevailing market rate before transfer.
Standard trading fees may apply to those conversions. Additionally, the conversion may expose funds to short-term price fluctuations before the transfer completes. Once the migration finishes, traders will access their funds through the licensed crypto provider.
Earn Products and Crypto Loans Terminate March 25
The shutdown also affects passive income products. Bitget began terminating Earn subscriptions, wealth management products, and crypto loans on March 25, 2026 at 09:00 CET.
The process continues through March 31. Importantly, the exchange stated affected customers will receive full redemption value. That includes any yield accumulated up to the termination date. After redemption completes, the assets remain available for withdrawal.
Where to Move Funds: Licensed Exchanges in France
French crypto traders searching for a new platform still have several regulated options. Some exchanges hold authorization from the Autorité des Marchés Financiers as licensed crypto-asset service providers. Among the most widely used licensed platforms are:
Binance, Crypto.com and Kraken all operate legally within France’s regulatory system. They also offer spot trading, staking products, and euro on-ramps. Binance doesn’t hold a MiCA license yet, but is approved by French authorities.
Gemini was also licensed in France since January 2024, but has decided to completely exit the European market in February 2026, so it isn’t an option anymore.
Gemini will shut down services in the UK, EU, and Australia by April 6, 2026, as bear market pressure and rising costs force a strategic retreat to the US. Customers must act before March 5, 2026, when accounts switch to withdrawal-only mode.Read Now
For many traders, choosing a locally licensed platform provides the smoothest banking connections and regulatory protection.
MiCA-Compliant Platforms Expanding Across Europe
Beyond locally licensed exchanges, several major trading platforms have MiCA-compliant operations across the European Union. Popular global exchanges that already have full MiCA authorization include:
These platforms can operate across EU member states thanks to their full MiCA authorization and passporting rights. That structure allows a single license to support services across the entire European market.
Customers who are looking for special deposit bonuses can consider OKX. This March, OKX has this special campaign giving users a 4% deposit bonus on any fund transfers, up to a total of $4,000 per person. That makes it a great Bitget alternative in France. OKX has a MiCA license and is fully regulated and available in France.
Another Exchange Already Left the French Market
Bitget is not the first exchange to exit the French market.
In August 2024, the derivatives-focused platform Bybit also stopped serving French customers due to regulatory pressure. Despite having a MiCA license in Malta, Gate is also not supporting French users right now, but all other listed platforms do.
Since then, many exchanges have adjusted operations while seeking regulatory approvals. Regulation is only going to get more strict in the future, so French crypto investors should withdraw funds to licensed French exchanges as soon as possible.
Take Action Before the Final Deadline
The clock continues ticking for French Bitget customers. Withdrawals remain the safest option before March 31, 2026. You can move assets to a private wallet or transfer them directly to another exchange that serves French traders.
Platforms such as Binance, Kraken, and Crypto.com provide immediate alternatives for many traders. These are all safe and reliable platforms licensed to operate in the country. We also listed several other MiCA licensed exchanges, so traders still have several viable Bitget alternatives in France.
Act early, confirm wallet details carefully, and ensure assets land in a compliant platform before the shutdown takes effect.
- Important notice regarding service suspension for French users – https://www.bitget.com/support/articles/12560603848109 (published on January 16, 2026) ↩︎
- Update announcement for French Users – https://www.bitget.com/support/articles/12560603873710 (published on March 13, 2026) ↩︎
