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Belarus Cuts Off Bybit, OKX, Bitget Under Media Law Order

Officials used the mass media law to justify ISP blocks, citing “inappropriate advertising.”

Overview

  • The Ministry of Information ordered the December 10 blocks, which BelGIE enforced at the telecom level with notices referencing the Mass Media Act.
  • The action traces to a Minsk City Executive Committee notification under Article 51, and access could be restored if platforms remedy alleged violations.
  • Enforcement was patchy, with some sites briefly reachable, while Binance and KuCoin remained accessible, highlighting selective application.
  • Users increasingly turned to VPNs to bypass restrictions, but legal commentators warned this may breach exchange rules and trigger account freezes.
  • The step extends Belarus’s pivot toward tighter crypto oversight after bans on using foreign platforms and new wallet-tracking tools, adding uncertainty for firms serving Belarus-linked flows.