# Is Bybit or Bitget Available in the US (2026)? KYC Rules & Legal Alternatives

Status: **BLOCKED** | Last verified: 2026-11-12

> **Verdict:** Neither Bitget nor Bybit accepts US citizens or US residents; both require mandatory Level 1 ID verification before depositing or trading. US traders should use Kraken Pro for spot, Coinbase Derivatives for CFTC-regulated futures, or self-custody wallets for on-chain DEXs.

## Official Claim vs. Verified Reality

- **Official claim:** Global derivatives exchanges offer 0.02%/0.06% perpetual futures to international users.
- **Verified reality:** Because the CFTC strictly prosecutes offshore platforms offering unregistered crypto perpetual swaps to US persons, both Bitget and Bybit geoblock US IP addresses and reject US passports and driver's licenses during mandatory KYC.

## Pre-Signup & Pre-Trade Checklist

- If you are a non-US resident (living in India, UK, EU, UAE, Australia, or Nigeria), both Bitget (code A7XRQQTP) and Bybit work with 0.10% spot fees.
- If you are a US resident, use Kraken Pro (0.25%/0.40%) or Coinbase Advanced (0.40%/0.60%) for spot and CFTC-regulated nano BTC/ETH futures.
- For self-custody multi-chain trading from the US, fund OKX Web3 Wallet or Rabby with USDC on Base or Arbitrum.

## Hidden Fees, Withdrawal Holds & Regulatory Gotchas

- Since 2023, neither Bitget nor Bybit allows unverified 'no-KYC' deposits or trading — every new account must pass government ID + facial liveness.
- Attempting to buy third-party KYC accounts online triggers automated facial re-verification locks whenever you withdraw larger balances.

## Side-by-Side Comparison

| Platform | Accepts US Passport / ID? | US IP Access | Spot Maker / Taker | Best For |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Bitget | No (Mandatory Non-US KYC) | Geoblocked | 0.10% / 0.10% | Non-US spot, perps & copy trading |
| Bybit | No (Mandatory Non-US KYC) | Geoblocked | 0.10% / 0.10% | Non-US Unified Margin derivatives |
| Kraken Pro | Yes (47 US States) | Full Access | 0.25% / 0.40% | Lowest-fee legal US spot book |
| Coinbase Advanced | Yes (49 US States + NY) | Full Access | 0.40% / 0.60% | NY residents, $0 USDC & CFTC futures |

## Recommended Exchanges & Wallets

- **[Kraken Pro](https://cryptoexchangein.com/go/kraken)** — *Best legal US exchange for low spot fees (47 states)* (0.25% maker · 0.40% taker (Pro)): 0.25% maker / 0.40% taker on Kraken Pro with free USD ACH deposits. *(Note: No offshore 100x altcoin perpetuals for US retail accounts.)*
- **[Coinbase Advanced](https://cryptoexchangein.com/go/coinbase)** — *Best for CFTC-regulated US futures & 49-state USD banking* (0.40% maker · 0.60% taker (Advanced)): Offers CFTC-regulated perpetual-style and dated futures via Coinbase Financial Markets for eligible US accounts. *(Note: Higher spot fees (0.40%/0.60%) than Kraken Pro.)*
- **[OKX Web3 Wallet](https://cryptoexchangein.com/go/okx-wallet)** — *Best non-custodial multi-chain wallet for US on-chain traders* ($0 wallet · 10% DEX fee rebate via code JNZ26) [Referral code: `JNZ26`, direct: https://web3.okx.com/join/JNZ26]: Self-custody wallet with built-in DEX routing across 100+ chains and 10% fee discount via code JNZ26. *(Note: You manage your own seed phrase and gas fees.)*

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Did Bitget or Bybit ever allow no-KYC trading?

Prior to mid-2023, both exchanges permitted limited withdrawals without KYC. Today, both enforce mandatory Level 1 government ID verification before you can deposit, trade, or use P2P.

### Can I use Bitget if I am an expat with non-US residency?

If you hold a non-US passport and proof of residential address in a supported jurisdiction (such as the UAE, EU, Australia, or India), Bitget verifies accounts based on your supported ID and residence.

Source: https://cryptoexchangein.com/us/is-bybit-or-bitget-available-in-us
