On 28 July 2025, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) issued an investor warning against Bitget and its related entities, BTG Technology Holdings Limited. The regulator stated that Bitget is offering unlicensed crypto asset futures products to Australian investors without holding an Australian Financial Services (AFS) licence under the Australian Corporations Act 2001 (Cth). ASIC warned that Australians investing in these unlicensed derivative products lose access to statutory rights, including dispute resolution and client money protections. The futures products are marketed as “crypto futures trading” through Bitget’s website and app, available for download in Australia. ASIC emphasised that such futures products involve extreme leverage, with exposure of up to 125:1, far exceeding the 2:1 leverage ratio cap imposed under Australian law for retail clients. The regulator cautioned that trading in highly leveraged unlicensed derivatives exposes investors to significant risks and potential losses.
ASIC confirmed that Bitget does not hold an Australian Financial Services Licence and therefore is not permitted to market or promote futures trading products to Australian residents. The regulator warned that investors engaging with Bitget do not benefit from statutory protections, including internal dispute resolution and client asset safeguarding, provided under Australian financial services law. ASIC’s analysis underscores that unlicensed derivative products marketed with high leverage expose retail investors to substantial financial risk.
Risk Profile of Bitget’s Futures Products
Bitget advertises futures products with leverage levels up to 125:1. By comparison, ASIC restricts crypto asset derivatives for retail clients to 2:1 leverage. This disparity means an investor committing one dollar can be exposed to $125 in notional value, magnifying both profits and losses. The regulator cautioned that trading unlicensed, over-leveraged derivatives increases the probability of severe investor losses.
ASIC noted that its position is consistent with regulatory warnings from multiple jurisdictions. Since 2022, regulators in Spain, Austria, Germany, Canada, France, Cyprus, Malaysia, and Japan have each issued public statements against Bitget or its related entities. These warnings consistently highlight Bitget’s lack of authorisation to conduct regulated activities, with several regulators blacklisting Bitget’s platforms. The Japanese Financial Services Agency most recently listed BTG Technology Holdings Limited in June 2025 as an unlicensed operator soliciting derivative transactions without registration.
