It's April 2, 2026. Step 3 of Bitget's shutdown for French users has officially been reached. Since March 31 at 09:00 AM (UTC+2), all remaining positions have been liquidated, all pending orders have been canceled, and French accounts have been switched to restricted mode.
If you already withdrew your funds before the deadline: congratulations, there's nothing left to do. Your crypto is safely on the regulated platform or wallet you chose.
If you haven't don't panic. Your funds are not lost. This article explains exactly what's happening now, what Bitget is doing with your assets, and how to recover them step by step.
Recap: Where Are We in the Shutdown Timeline?
Here are the steps Bitget outlined for its gradual exit from the French market. We're now at step 3, the final phase.
| Step | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 1. New registrations closed | January 16, 2026 | ✅ Done |
| 2. Deposits & trading halted | March 16, 2026, 10:00 AM | ✅ Done |
| 2b. Earn/Lending products terminated | March 25, 2026, 09:00 AM | ✅ Done |
| 3. Position liquidation & transfer | March 31, 2026, 09:00 AM | ✅ In progress |
| 4. Asset transfer to licensed CASP begins | April 6, 2026 | ⏳ In 4 days |
The key takeaway: the transfer of your assets to the third-party provider (licensed CASP) starts from April 6, 2026. Until then, your funds remain on Bitget's servers in secured mode.
Scenario 1: You Withdrew Your Funds Before March 31
This is the best-case scenario and there's nothing more to do. Your crypto is already on the regulated platform or personal wallet you selected.
A few recommendations going forward: make sure to download your full Bitget transaction history if you haven't already. This data will be necessary for your 2026 tax filing. Log in to Bitget one last time (if access is still available) to verify there's no residual balance, and consider permanently closing your account to avoid leaving personal data (KYC documents, ID) on a platform you no longer use.
Scenario 2: You Still Have Funds on Bitget
This is the situation causing the most anxiety, and that's understandable. But Bitget has communicated a clear process. Here's what's happening in practice.
What Bitget Has Already Done Automatically
Since March 31 at 09:00 AM (UTC+2), several operations were automatically triggered on French user accounts:
All open positions have been liquidated. If you still had positions on derivatives, pending spot orders, or unexecuted trades, they've been liquidated or canceled at market price. This is irreversible you can no longer intervene on these positions.
All Earn and Crypto Lending products have been fully terminated. This process started on March 25. All French users received the full value of their positions, including accumulated returns up to the closure date. This is good news: Bitget did not cut accrued yields.
Unsupported assets have been converted to USDC. If you held tokens that the licensed CASP (the third-party platform) doesn't support, Bitget converted them to USDC at the market rate in effect at the time of conversion. Bitget's standard trading fees apply to this conversion. Note that this conversion may have tax implications keep thorough records.
What Happens Starting April 6
From April 6, 2026, Bitget begins transferring your assets to the licensed CASP (Crypto-Asset Service Provider). This is the AMF-authorized third-party platform that Bitget has appointed to take over.
Here are the rules governing this transfer:
If your total balance exceeds 10 USDC (or the crypto equivalent): your assets will be transferred in full to the licensed CASP. No termination fee will be charged by Bitget. Only standard on-chain gas fees will apply to the transfer.
If your total balance is 10 USDC or less: Bitget reserves the right to retain this amount as a termination fee upon account closure. In practice, if all you have is a few dollars of trading dust, you likely won't recover anything.
How to Recover Your Funds Through the Licensed CASP
Bitget has indicated that detailed instructions will be provided separately regarding access to the licensed CASP. Here's what we know at this stage and the actions you can take now.
Step 1: Wait for Bitget's Official Communication
Bitget needs to provide the third-party platform details, account creation instructions, and the specifics for accessing your funds. This communication may arrive by email or through Bitget's announcements page. Check your inbox regularly (including spam) and Bitget's support page.
Step 2: Create an Account on the Licensed CASP
You'll be able to create an account on the third-party platform at any time. Prepare your standard KYC documents now (valid ID, proof of address) to speed up verification once you receive the instructions.
Step 3: Access Your Assets and Withdraw Them
Once your account is created and verified on the licensed CASP, the assets transferred by Bitget will become accessible. You can then withdraw them to the platform of your choice (a regulated exchange like Kraken, a hardware wallet, or any other compatible wallet).
Step 4: Don't Leave Them Sitting There
Once you've recovered your funds through the licensed CASP, transfer them immediately to your permanent custody solution. The goal is to minimize the time your assets spend on a platform you didn't choose.
What to Watch (and What Shouldn't Worry You)
What Should NOT Worry You
Your funds are not lost. Bitget has stated repeatedly that all assets remain secure. The transfer to a licensed CASP (meaning a provider authorized by financial regulators) means your funds are in the hands of a supervised entity, not some obscure company.
The process is regulated. Bitget's shutdown in France was carried out in coordination with the AMF (France's financial markets authority). The transfer to a licensed CASP is precisely the mechanism provided by regulation to protect investors in this type of situation. This is not an FTX scenario where funds vanish it's an organized transition.
You'll receive the full value of your positions. Bitget confirmed that Earn products and accumulated yields are fully returned. There is no haircut on your assets.
What You Should Watch
Phishing scams. Bitget's shutdown is prime hunting ground for scammers. Do not click on any link claiming to come from Bitget or the licensed CASP without verifying its authenticity. Only use Bitget's official channels (website, app, verified email) to get recovery instructions. When in doubt, contact customer support directly.
The forced USDC conversion. If some of your tokens were automatically converted to USDC, the conversion rate applied was the one on March 31. During periods of high volatility, this rate may not be optimal. This is an inherent risk of the process that you can no longer change, but you need to document it for tax purposes.
Delays. The transfer process begins April 6, but Bitget hasn't specified how long it will take for all users. Be patient, but stay alert.
Potential tax impact. The automatic liquidation of your positions and the conversion of certain tokens to USDC may constitute taxable events. Keep all statements, screenshots, and transaction confirmations. Consult a crypto-specialized tax advisor if you have any doubts.
Summary Checklist: Where Do You Stand?
You withdrew your funds before March 31:
- Verify no residual balance remains on Bitget
- Download your complete transaction history
- Consider closing your Bitget account permanently
- Keep all records for your 2026 tax filing
You still have funds on Bitget (balance > 10 USDC):
- Don't panic your funds will be transferred to the licensed CASP starting April 6
- Monitor your emails and Bitget's official announcements for access instructions
- Prepare your KYC documents for the third-party platform
- Create an account as soon as instructions become available
- Withdraw your assets to your permanent platform without delay
- Document every step for tax purposes
Your balance is ≤ 10 USDC:
- Bitget may retain this amount as a termination fee
- There's likely nothing to recover
- Download your transaction history anyway
After Bitget: Choosing Your Next Platform
If you're in scenario 2 and recovering your funds through the licensed CASP, the logical next step is choosing a regulated crypto platform to transfer your assets to. The number one criterion in 2026 is a MiCA license that's your guarantee that the platform has the right to operate in France and meets European investor protection standards.
FAQ
Can the third-party platform (licensed CASP) charge me additional fees?
Bitget has stated that no additional management fees will be charged for the transfer, except for on-chain gas fees. However, once your assets are on the licensed CASP, that platform's own terms of service will apply. Withdrawal or conversion fees may be charged when you transfer to your permanent platform. These details will be clarified in the instructions Bitget provides separately.
What happens if I never create an account on the licensed CASP?
Detailed instructions haven't been communicated on this specific point yet. In principle, your assets should remain on the licensed CASP pending your claim. However, it's strongly recommended not to delay dormant account regulations could apply after a certain period of inactivity. Act as soon as instructions become available.
My tokens were converted to USDC is that normal?
Yes. Bitget announced that assets not supported by the licensed CASP would be converted to USDC at the market rate at the time of conversion. Bitget's standard trading fees apply. This conversion may create exposure to USDC price fluctuations between the conversion date and when you recover your funds. This is an important point to document carefully for your tax filing.
Will Bitget come back to France?
Bitget has expressed its desire to return to the European market once it obtains a MiCA license. No timeline has been provided. If it does happen, it will likely be through a separate European entity, similar to what some competitors have done (Bybit in Austria, for example). In the meantime, don't count on a quick return.
