Bitget users in Thailand now have a date for the planned access block. The exchange’s proposed purchase of a licensed local company remains subject to regulatory approvals, with the transfer scheduled for November 30.
Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed a criminal complaint against Bitget operator BG Limited for allegedly running the crypto exchange without a licence. In its November 5 announcement, the regulator said access to Bitget’s website, other domains and app from Thailand would be blocked from December 5, 2026. The SEC asked investors to consider what to do with their assets on the platform before access is cut off.
What activities does the SEC complaint cover?
The complaint concerns Bitget’s activities between 2022 and 2025. The SEC says the company operated a system for trading and exchanging digital assets as a regular business and charged fees. It also offered a Thai-language website, displayed values in Thai baht and promoted its services in Thai, according to the regulator.
The SEC identifies Bitget’s website, the “Bitget Thailand” account on Twitter, now X, the “BGB Thai Holder” Telegram account and “bitgetthailand” on TikTok as promotional channels. The regulator says those activities constitute a digital asset exchange business under Section 3 of Thailand’s 2018 Emergency Decree on Digital Asset Businesses. It alleges a breach of Section 26 and cites Section 66 for the penalties.
The SEC also named Kritsana Kritsananuwat in the complaint. It alleges that he promoted Bitget’s services and sales campaigns through the “Srisiam” Facebook page and “SRISIAM” YouTube channel, helping the company conduct the alleged unlicensed business. The allegation against Kritsana cites the decree and Section 86 of the Criminal Code.
The complaint was submitted to the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD). A criminal complaint is not a conviction. Investigators will examine the case, after which prosecutors will decide whether to bring charges in court. Any case that proceeds to trial will be decided by the court. The SEC says it will follow the proceedings and cooperate with the authorities.
What does the access block mean for users?
The SEC sent information on Bitget’s website, other domains and app to the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (MDES). Under Thailand’s 2025 technology-crime measures, the ministry can order access to unlicensed digital asset platforms to be blocked. The SEC says the power is intended to protect investors and stop criminals using unlicensed platforms to launder money. The specific complaint against Bitget concerns operating an exchange without a licence.
The restriction applies to access from Thailand. The regulator has not announced a worldwide Bitget shutdown or a freeze on customer balances. December 5 is the access-blocking date; the SEC has not set a common final withdrawal time for all accounts. The announcement does not set out how individual accounts will be handled, how long withdrawals will take or the exact time access will end.
Bitget’s October 17 decision to end services for certain users was a separate announcement. It said affected accounts would receive individual withdrawal instructions and deadlines, without giving country-by-country user numbers. Those account notices do not replace the access timetable now announced by Thailand’s SEC.
Investors can check licensed operators on the SEC’s website or through its SEC Check First app. The regulator directs users to its Investor Alert list for people and businesses outside its supervision. It names its 1207 hotline, official Facebook page and SEC Live Chat as channels for reporting suspicious activity. The announcement gives neither the number of affected accounts nor the value of customer assets.
The local exchange acquisition still needs approval
Bitget said in its October 20 announcement that BTGT Management (Thailand) Ltd, a local company in which Bitget has an interest, planned to buy GMO-Z.com Cryptonomics (Thailand) Co., Ltd. According to the exchange, the company being acquired holds Thai digital asset exchange and brokerage licences. The buyers still need regulatory approvals and must meet the other conditions before completing the sale.
According to Bitget, GMO Internet, Inc., GMO-Z.com Holdings (Thailand) Co., Ltd and other sellers will transfer their entire holdings to BTGT or its designated entity when the sale closes. CEO Gracy Chen described Thailand as an important market for long-term growth and said Bitget wanted to build a lasting local business with local expertise. The company plans to introduce its platform to Thai users after the acquisition is completed and the necessary change-of-control approval is obtained.
| Date | Announced step |
|---|---|
| September 24, 2026 | Board resolution and signing of the share-transfer agreement, according to GMO’s updated schedule. |
| October 30, 2026 | GMO moved the expected transfer date from October 31 to November 30. |
| November 5, 2026 | The SEC announced its complaint against BG Limited and one person. |
| December 5, 2026 | The announced date for blocking access to Bitget’s website and app from Thailand. |
GMO Internet Group explained the delay in its October 30 update. Its subsidiary GMO Internet is consulting Thai regulators, preparing applications and working to obtain approvals and complete the other required steps. GMO expects to transfer the shares on November 30; it has not reported completing the sale.
Bitget has not announced a firm launch date or an account-migration timetable for Thai users. The SEC has not announced in its November 5 statement that it will cancel the access block or withdraw the complaint because of the proposed acquisition.
