The Belarusian government has suddenly banned four major centralized crypto exchanges (CEXs): Bitget, OKX, Bybit, and KuCoin, by ordering state-controlled internet providers to block access for citizens.
Local media reports the reason for the ban is the exchanges allegedly breaching the country’s Media Act through “inappropriate advertising,” although no specific examples of misconduct have been provided by officials.
This unexpected move forces Belarusian crypto users to debate which Virtual Private Network (VPN) to use to bypass the restriction. However, constantly using a VPN could potentially lead to account suspensions or rigorous document checks by the CEXs themselves.
The ban is a significant and sudden reversal from Belarus’s previously known pro-crypto mining stance. It highlights how quickly and easily strong legal decrees can restrict citizen access to the crypto market, raising concerns about geopolitical influence on financial freedom.
