Key Highlights
- Bitget will enforce compliance measures against 16 platforms including HTX and EXMO through a three-stage rollout on August 7, 13, and 23.
- These restrictions align with Binance’s approach and stem from US OFAC sanctions and the EU’s 21st sanctions package targeting Russia.
- HTX disputes the measures, with Justin Sun claiming they impact only UK and EU users, as negotiations with regulators persist.
- The platform has grown its Stock Dual Investment offerings from 6 to over 20 tokens linked to U.S. equities and ETFs.
- New additions include tokens tracking Nvidia (NVDA), Tesla (TSLA), Apple (AAPL), Coinbase (COIN), Meta (META), and leveraged chip sector ETFs.
Bitget executed two significant strategic initiatives this week, implementing stricter compliance protocols against sanctioned cryptocurrency platforms while simultaneously broadening its range of stock-backed investment instruments for international users.
Exchange Aligns with Binance on Sanctioned Platform Restrictions
The exchange announced it will implement enhanced compliance measures against 16 designated platforms through a phased approach across three dates.
Beginning August 7, the initial phase encompasses Aban Tether Exchange and Shelbit. US OFAC sanctions allege these entities facilitated cryptocurrency transactions related to Iranian sanctions circumvention, including operations linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Phase two, launching August 13, focuses on A7 Africa, A7 Nigeria, and PilotFinance Ltd.
The third and most extensive phase, taking effect August 23, encompasses HTX, EXMO, ABCeX, Aifory Pro, BitPapa, Exnode, Monease, NoOnecrypto, Rapira, Tradex, and WhiteBird. These entities are covered by the European Union’s 21st sanctions package addressing Russia, which was implemented in July 2026.
Binance revealed virtually identical restrictions just one day prior, featuring the same entity roster and matching implementation dates. This synchronized approach indicates both platforms are addressing identical regulatory mandates.
The exchange cautioned that any transactions involving these designated entities may result in transaction denial, account investigation, or complete closure.
HTX has issued rebuttals to these measures. Justin Sun stated on X that the limitations exclusively affect UK and EU clients and that HTX maintains no operations within those territories.
British authorities countered this position. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation determined that the designation encompasses the HTX platform due to its ownership by Huobi Global SA. HTX maintains it continues negotiations with both UK and EU regulatory bodies.
Platform Scales Stock Dual Investment Beyond 20 U.S. Tokens
In a parallel development, the exchange enhanced its Stock Dual Investment suite on August 14, expanding from 6 offerings to more than 21 products in less than a month following its July 25 debut.
The expanded portfolio now features tokens representing Nvidia (NVDA), Tesla (TSLA), Apple (AAPL), Meta (META), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Intel (INTC), Taiwan Semiconductor (TSM), Coinbase (COIN), Circle, and Strategy (MSTR). Additionally, two leveraged semiconductor ETF tokens, rSOXL and rSOXS, have been integrated.
The Buy Low mechanism allows participants to subscribe using USDT, select a desired price point, and obtain the token if that threshold is reached at settlement. When the target remains unmet, participants recover their USDT with accrued interest. The Sell High alternative functions inversely, with participants depositing a token and receiving USDT upon achieving the price objective.
Settlement timing was adjusted to 11:30 p.m. UTC+8, positioning it 90 minutes following the 9:30 a.m. ET opening of Nasdaq and NYSE.
The platform designates Dual Investment as a non-principal-protected product. Capital remains locked until expiration, and participants may receive an alternative asset based on prevailing market dynamics.
CEO Gracy Chen revealed in July that tokenized conventional assets constituted 20 to 30 percent of spot trading volume during the previous quarter, and that stock-linked products surpassed $100 million in cumulative volume.
The Stock Dual Investment offering remains unavailable to U.S. residents at present. Chen indicated the organization intends to pursue U.S. money-transmitter, derivatives, and broker-dealer registrations prior to accommodating American clients, though no specific timeline has been announced.
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