Growing Restrictions Shake Local Crypto Access
Belarus has tightened its grip on the digital asset sector after blocking access to major global exchanges such as Bybit, OKX, and Bitget. The Ministry of Information issued the order on December 10, and the state telecom regulator BelGIE carried it out under the national Mass Media Act, which lets officials restrict platforms accused of improper advertising. Local users now encounter government notices instead of exchange homepages, and regulators have not explained the alleged violations.
Sudden Policy Shift Raises Questions
The move surprised many in the crypto community because Belarus promoted digital asset growth earlier this year. President Alexander Lukashenko encouraged tokenization projects and asked banks to explore crypto payments to support the economy. However, the new restrictions signal a shift toward stronger oversight. Officials appear concerned about capital flight and noncompliance as more citizens turn to foreign platforms.
Key factors driving the shift include:
- A push to route crypto activity through approved domestic operators
- Rising regulatory pressure on offshore exchanges
- Efforts to keep liquidity and payment flows within state-monitored channels
Selective Blocks Create Market Uncertainty
The inclusion of Bitget shows how wide the crackdown has become. Some platforms like KuCoin and MEXC remain partly accessible, while Binance still works inside the country. This selective enforcement has led analysts to consider whether technical or compliance issues drive the differences. Traders now face serious challenges as access to global liquidity shrinks. Many may turn to VPNs or decentralized services, although these options raise legal and security risks.
The coming weeks will reveal whether Belarus plans to extend the restrictions to more exchanges or adjust rules for local platforms. Market participants are watching closely since the new controls could reshape how crypto trading operates throughout the country.
