Belarus Bans Bybit, OKX, Bitget and Others Over ‘Inappropriate Ads’

Why Did Belarus Block Bybit, OKX, Bitget and Others?

Belarus’ Ministry of Information has blocked access to several major global crypto platforms, including Bybit, OKX, Bitget, Gate, Bingx and Weex. The ministry said the restrictions were issued under Article 511 of the Law on Mass Media, citing “inappropriate advertising” across their global domains. The announcement, published Thursday, offered no detail on what type of advertising triggered the decision or whether the ban is temporary.

Crypto platforms have been accessible to Belarusian users despite periodic warnings from authorities. The latest move, however, reflects a formal step to curb access at the domain level. The platforms named in the order did not respond to requests for comment at the time of publication.

Belarus has maintained strict control over online portals for years, and crypto platforms often fall into the grey zone between financial regulation and online media rules. The action also arrives as the country continues to align itself closely with Russia on economic policy and digital-asset oversight.

Investor Takeaway

How Is Russia Adjusting Its Crypto Policy at the identical Time?

The announcement in Belarus coincided with comments from Vladimir Chistyukhin, first deputy chairman of the , who told state outlet RIA Novosti that the institution “agreed to allow qualified investors” into the crypto market. His remarks follow months of reports indicating that Russian authorities were preparing to loosen parts of their long-standing resistance to .

Under earlier proposals, Russia planned to restrict trading to “super-qualified investors” — individuals who met thresholds of over 100 million rubles ($1.2 million) in assets or an annual income above 50 million rubles ($630,000). Chistyukhin’s comments suggest the central bank is considering a broader definition that includes roughly one million people currently classified as qualified investors.

He pointed to crypto’s rising role in cross-border transfers, saying a “crucial point that cannot be ignored” is that digital assets are used not only for investment but also for payments. He added: “We certainly want to protect Russian retail investors as much as possible from transactions with such a risky asset. On the other hand, we understand that, under the current circumstances, some international payments can only be made using cryptocurrency.”

This dual role — limiting domestic risk while enabling sanctioned cross-border movement — has shaped Russia’s recent stance on digital assets. Authorities have been looking for controlled channels to allow crypto use within a narrow framework of regulated intermediaries.

What Limits Will Russia Place on Crypto Access?

Chistyukhin noted that around one million Russian investors currently qualify for access to crypto assets. He said the central bank plans to assess investors’ knowledge before granting access and that only “the most liquid instruments” would be available to non-qualified users if the rules expand further.

He also said Russian regulators support “establishing strict restrictions and prohibitions” around digital-asset activity, adding that crypto transactions are expected to occur “primarily through existing market participants, under existing licenses,” and that “anything outside this framework will be considered illegal.”

The comments hint at a model where access is widened but tightly controlled, with oversight limited to licensed Russian entities that can monitor flows. This contrasts sharply with Belarus’ decision to block platforms outright but reflects parallel attempts by both countries to direct crypto activity within government-defined boundaries.

Investor Takeaway

What Comes Next for Users in Belarus and Russia?

For Belarusian users, the immediate issue is access. Domain-level blocking restricts direct , though the ministry did not clarify whether IP-based blocks or secondary domains are included. The action may push users toward smaller offshore platforms or domestic alternatives, despite limited liquidity in local markets.

In Russia, the broader question is how “qualified investor” rules will be applied, how platforms will be licensed, and whether access will expand to non-qualified users in limited form. Russia is under heavy sanctions, and officials have increasingly acknowledged that workarounds. The central bank’s latest comments reflect this balancing act.

For the region, the two announcements show how digital-asset rules are diverging even among politically aligned countries. Belarus is tightening access through media law, while Russia is carving out a path to regulated participation. Both approaches suggest that unregulated crypto activity will face heavier scrutiny — but through very diverse mechanisms.