MEXC is cutting off users in Russia and Belarus

What the exchange said. In its announcement MEXC says it is ending service for users in Russia or Belarus as part of its compliance work. It says user assets are safe. Affected users will get personal notices with timelines and steps for closing positions and withdrawing. Anyone without a notice can keep using the account as before.

What deadlines are reported. The announcement itself has no dates. Bits.media reports that notices list 24 October (no new orders or positions), 28 October (open positions force closed) and 4 November (recommended withdrawal deadline). Dates may differ per user, so go by your own notice.

Not the first exchange. Bitget added Russia and Belarus to its restricted countries on 16 October. The Moscow Times reports that from 18 October its clients there cannot open new trades. BestChange analyst Nikita Zuborev, speaking to RBC and cited by The Moscow Times, linked this to the threat of secondary sanctions and rising compliance costs.

What it means. When an exchange closes positions itself, it does so at the current price, not when it suits you. If you hold futures or margin trades, closing them early is safer. And remember: the exchange never asks for transfers or your seed phrase in private messages.

Confirmed facts

• MEXC said it is ending service for users in Russia and Belarus, citing regulatory requirements.^[1][3][5]
• Users get timelines and steps for closing positions and withdrawing in personal notices. Without a notice, per the exchange, the account is not affected.^[1][4][5]
• Per Bits.media, the notices list 24 October (no new orders), 28 October (positions closed) and 4 November (recommended withdrawal deadline).^[2]
• Bitget added Russia and Belarus to its restricted countries on 16 October.^[2][4]
• Per The Moscow Times, Bitget clients in Russia and Belarus cannot open new trades from 18 October.^[3]
• Per Vedomosti, on 17 October Bitget restricted users in Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan: no new positions from 18 October, with open ones to be closed and assets withdrawn by 21 October.^[5]

Implications

• ConfirmedMEXC users in Russia and Belarus who got a notice will have to close positions and withdraw funds.
• Our readingOther big exchanges may follow MEXC and Bitget.

Still unknown

• Whether deadlines are the same for every user: the announcement itself has no dates.
• How the exchange decides who is affected: by documents, IP or other data.

Who it affects

Russia, Belarus. Users of MEXC and other foreign exchanges in Russia and Belarus

Sources

1. MEXC: Service Update for Users in Russia or Belarus October 20, 2026 · official
2. Bits.media: Криптобиржа MEXC прекращает обслуживать жителей России и Беларуси October 20, 2026 · media
3. The Moscow Times: Crypto Exchanges Bitget, MEXC End Services for Customers in Russia and Belarus October 20, 2026 · media
4. Код Дурова: Криптобиржа MEXC перестанет обслуживать россиян и белорусов October 20, 2026 · media
5. Ведомости: Криптобиржа Mexc прекратит обслуживание пользователей из России и Белоруссии October 20, 2026 · media