Is Bitget Legal in India? FIU Status and Hack Explained
Bitget is not FIU-registered and is on the government's takedown list. See what that means, how the $387.5 million hack affects you and what to do.
No, Bitget is not a legal, compliant option for Indians. It is not on the government's list of 54 crypto platforms registered with FIU-IND, and it is entry 14 on the list of 53 offshore platforms that FIU-IND has directed to have their apps and websites taken down, both tabled in the Lok Sabha on 30 March 2026. Crypto itself is legal in India, but Bitget gives you none of the safeguards of a registered platform.
Key takeaways
- Bitget is not among the 54 VDA service providers registered with FIU-IND as of 9 March 2026.
- It is entry 14 on the government's list of 53 offshore platforms whose apps and URLs FIU-IND directed to be taken down for operating illegally in India.
- Bitget paused new sign-ups from India on 6 February 2026, saying it was aligning with FIU-IND requirements. Existing users kept access.
- On 24 September 2026 attackers took about $387.5 million from Bitget's hot and warm wallets. Bitget says user balances were not changed and withdrawals reopened in stages from 28 September.
- Profits made on Bitget are still taxable in India at 30% plus 4% cess, whether or not TDS was deducted.
Bitget in India at a glance (3 October 2026)
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Registered with FIU-IND? | No. Not on the list of 54 registered providers (as of 9 March 2026) |
| On the government's takedown list? | Yes, entry 14 of 53 |
| Named in the 2023, 2025 or 2026 press releases? | No. It is not among the 9, 25 or 15 platforms named in those announcements |
| Indian app stores | Removed from Apple's India App Store in January 2024 |
| New sign-ups from India | Paused since 6 February 2026, 4 PM IST |
| Website from India | Did not load when we checked from an Indian broadband connection on 3 October 2026; the internet provider redirected it to a block address |
| Recent hack | About $387.5 million on 24 September 2026; withdrawals reopened from 28 September |
| Our rating | Not rated. We only rank platforms that can legally serve Indians |
Is Bitget registered with FIU-IND?
No. Every platform that offers crypto services to people in India has had to register with the Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) since March 2023, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). On 30 March 2026 the Minister of State for Finance answered Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 5805 with the full list of 54 registered VDA service providers as of 9 March 2026. Bitget is not on it. The large offshore exchanges that are on it, KuCoin, Binance and Bybit, each paid an FIU-IND penalty and then registered.
Bitget has talked about registering for a long time. In July 2024 it said it was in "active discussions" with FIU-IND and could not distribute its app through the Google Play Store and Apple App Store in India because it had no registration. In February 2026 it paused new Indian sign-ups to align with FIU-IND requirements, shortly after FIU-IND updated its anti-money-laundering guidelines for VDA service providers on 8 January 2026. Talks and pauses are not registration. If anyone tells you Bitget is FIU-registered, ask for the registration number (it starts with "VA") and the legal entity name, and compare them with our FIU-registered exchanges list.
Is Bitget banned in India?
Crypto is not banned in India, and there is no rule that names you as an offender for holding a Bitget account: the legal duty to register falls on the platform. But Bitget itself is treated as operating illegally. The same Lok Sabha answer says FIU-IND directed the takedown of the apps and URLs of 53 offshore platforms "found to be operating illegally in India" without following the PMLA, and lists Bitget as entry 14.
That list is cumulative and covers takedown directions over the past ten years, so it is wider than any single announcement. Bitget was not among the nine exchanges FIU-IND named in December 2023, the 25 it named in October 2025, or the 15 it named in September 2026. Our story on FIU-IND's action against 15 offshore exchanges lists that September group, and Bitget is correctly absent from it. The Lok Sabha answer does not give the date of the direction against Bitget, but the effect is visible: its app was pulled from Indian app stores, and its main website did not load on the Indian connection we tested.
Bitget and India: a timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| March 2023 | Crypto platforms serving Indians become reporting entities under the PMLA and must register with FIU-IND. |
| January 2024 | Bitget's app is removed from Apple's India App Store, alongside apps of several offshore exchanges. |
| July 2024 | Bitget says it is in "active discussions" with FIU-IND to register. |
| 8 January 2026 | FIU-IND updates its AML and CFT guidelines for VDA service providers. |
| 6 February 2026 | Bitget pauses new sign-ups from India; existing users keep access to balances, deposits and withdrawals. |
| 30 March 2026 | The government's Lok Sabha answer shows Bitget missing from the 54 registered providers and on the takedown list. |
| 24 September 2026 | Attackers drain about $387.5 million from Bitget's hot and warm wallets. |
| 28 September to 2 October 2026 | Withdrawals reopen in stages at 08:00 UTC (1:30 PM IST) each day. |
Is Bitget safe after the hack?
Here is what is known, from Bitget's own statements and our coverage at the time.
- What happened: on 24 September 2026 attackers used a weakness in a third-party security product to get access credentials, then fed forged withdrawal commands into Bitget's wallet system. Bitget says private keys were not stolen and that cold storage was not touched. Our report on the loss rising to $387 million has the details.
- How much: the first estimate was about $351.6 million. Bitget later raised it to about $387.5 million after finding affected assets on the Zcash and TRON networks. Only about $318,000 in stablecoins was frozen by issuers in time.
- Who pays: Bitget says its User Protection Fund, worth more than $464 million before the hack, covers the loss and that user balances were not changed. Its own reserve report later showed an overall ratio of 131% across 19 assets, which our September 2026 hacks round-up covers.
- Withdrawals: bitcoin reopened on 28 September, ether on 29 September and USDT on 30 September. Bitget scheduled all other tokens, fiat and P2P for 2 October. See our withdrawal schedule report, and check the withdrawal screen in your app before you assume a coin is open.
Covering a hack from a fund is better than passing it to users, as WazirX did in 2024. But it does not change Bitget's position in India. If Bitget ever froze your account, you would have no Indian regulator to complain to and no registered Indian entity to take to court. Our guide on what happens to your crypto if an exchange shuts down explains why that matters.
What this means for you
If you opened a Bitget account before February 2026, Bitget says you keep access, but you should plan an exit rather than add money. Here is a sensible order:
- Close or reduce leveraged positions first. Futures and copy-trading positions can be liquidated if you cannot reach the platform when markets move.
- Withdraw crypto, not rupees. Send coins to a wallet you control or to a registered Indian exchange. Moving crypto between your own accounts is not a sale, so it does not trigger tax or TDS. Our guide to moving crypto between exchanges shows the steps and network choice.
- Sell for INR on a registered platform. Then use our guide to withdrawing crypto to your bank account. Avoid P2P sales to strangers, which can lead to bank freezes.
- Do not use a VPN to sign up or to get round the blocking. Giving a false location can break the platform's terms and get an account frozen, with your funds inside.
- Download your full trade history now. You will need it for Schedule VDA, and it may be harder to get later.
Tax on Bitget trades
Gains on crypto are taxed at a flat 30% plus 4% cess under the rules introduced as Section 115BBH, wherever you trade. Only the cost of buying is deductible, and losses cannot be set off against other income or carried forward. A registered platform deducts 1% TDS on sales and reports it to the Income Tax Department; if a platform does not, the tax is still yours to pay and every trade still goes in Schedule VDA. Under its NUDGE campaign, the Income Tax Department has sent more than 44,000 messages to people whose crypto trades were missing from their returns.
| Example | Amount |
|---|---|
| Profit on a coin bought and sold on Bitget | ₹80,000 |
| Tax at 30% | ₹24,000 |
| 4% cess | ₹960 |
| Total tax due | ₹24,960 |
| Losses on other coins that you can deduct | ₹0 |
Futures profits raise extra questions, covered in our page on crypto futures trading in India. If you have already had a tax message, read what to do about a crypto income tax notice.
Registered alternatives to Bitget
| If you used Bitget for | Registered option | Our score |
|---|---|---|
| Spot trading with INR | CoinDCX | 8.4/10 (#1) |
| Spot trading, wide coin list | KuCoin (offshore, registered) | 6.9/10 (#11) |
| Futures | Delta Exchange India or Pi42 (INR withdrawals only) | 7.2/10 each |
| Global futures | Binance or Bybit (both registered after penalties) | Binance 7.5/10 |
Our best crypto futures apps in India page compares the futures options, and our guides on KuCoin, Pi42 and Bybit cover each one's status.
How to check any exchange
- Find the legal company name and FIU-IND registration number (starting "VA") in the platform's terms or compliance pages. No number is a red flag.
- Check the company against the 54 registered providers tabled in the Lok Sabha on 30 March 2026, which our FIU list reflects.
- Search for FIU-IND penalty orders, show-cause notices and blocking notices that name it.
- Check that the app is in the Indian Play Store and App Store and the website opens without a VPN.
- Check whether it asks for your PAN and deducts 1% TDS.
The same checks applied to other names give different answers: see MEXC (blocked, services suspended) and WazirX (registered, hacked in 2024).
Related guides
- Is Kraken legal in India?: what the FIU block means.
- Is BingX legal in India?: the FIU takedown and your funds.
- Is Gate.io legal in India?: ban status and what to do.
FAQ
Is Bitget legal in India?
No. Bitget is not registered with FIU-IND and is on the government's list of 53 offshore platforms directed to be taken down, tabled in the Lok Sabha on 30 March 2026.
Is Bitget FIU registered?
No. It is not among the 54 VDA service providers registered with FIU-IND as of 9 March 2026, and it paused new Indian sign-ups on 6 February 2026.
Is Bitget banned in India?
Its app and website are blocked under an FIU-IND takedown direction. Crypto itself is not banned, and the duty to register falls on Bitget, not on you.
Is Bitget safe after the hack?
Bitget says its User Protection Fund covered the $387.5 million loss and balances were unchanged, and withdrawals reopened from 28 September 2026. It still offers Indian users no local legal protection, so keep balances small or move them out.
Can I withdraw my money from Bitget in India?
Existing users kept access after the February 2026 pause, and withdrawals reopened in stages after the hack. Withdraw crypto to your own wallet or a registered Indian exchange, then sell there.
Do I pay tax on Bitget profits?
Yes. Profits are taxed at 30% plus 4% cess and must be reported in Schedule VDA, even if no TDS was deducted.
What is the Bitget token price today?
Bitget Token (BGB) is at ₹190.73 right now; see our BGB price page. The token's price says nothing about the platform's legal status.
This article is AI-assisted, educational and general in nature. It is not financial advice and never a guarantee of profit. Every trade is at your own risk on your own exchange. See our risk disclosure and editorial policy.
