Overview
- Bybit, OKX, Bitget, BingX, Gate and Weex were added to the national restricted-access list on December 9–10, cutting off Belarus-based users.
- The Ministry of Information ordered the blocks for “inappropriate advertising” under Article 51/51.1, with details withheld and the option to restore access if issues are remedied.
- BelGIE and state provider Beltelecom enforced the blocks at the internet level, with users seeing official restriction notices and reports of inconsistent accessibility.
- Binance and KuCoin were not blocked, raising questions about selection criteria as some platforms briefly appeared reachable before access was removed again.
- Users are resorting to VPNs despite warnings of potential account freezes, while analysts say the move fits broader HTP-centric controls, a new wallet registry, and heightens compliance risks for brokers and payment firms connected to Belarus.