Bitget, a cryptocurrency exchange, has officially registered as a financial service provider in New Zealand. This registration covers five different types of business activity and comes as Bitget grows its offerings to include tokenized stocks and direct access to U.S. stock markets.
Summary
- Bitget registered for five financial service categories in New Zealand and joined the IFSO dispute scheme.
- The registration supports Bitget’s rToken and Stock+ services covering tokenized and direct U.S. equities.
- Bitget plans a regulated U.S. return while keeping its platform restricted in Singapore.
As an analyst tracking crypto exchange regulations, I’ve noted that Bitget recently registered with New Zealand’s Financial Service Providers Register. This registration covers a range of financial services they offer, including foreign currency exchange, both local and international money transfers, holding client assets, managing portfolios and money, and executing trades in financial products and foreign exchange on behalf of their clients. They publicly announced this registration on July 23rd.
Bitget is pleased to share that we are now officially registered as a Financial Service Provider with New Zealand’s Financial Service Providers Register (FSPR). This registration is an important step in building the strong operational and compliance systems needed for our…
— Bitget TradFi (@Bitget_TradFi) July 23, 2026
In addition to registering, the exchange is now part of the Insurance & Financial Services Ombudsman (IFSO) Dispute Resolution Scheme. The IFSO Scheme offers a free, independent, and fair way for customers to resolve issues with financial services companies that participate in the scheme.
Simply being listed on the Financial Service Providers Register (FSPR) doesn’t mean Bitget is officially licensed or regulated in New Zealand. According to New Zealand’s Companies Office, FSPR registration doesn’t indicate government endorsement or ensure ongoing oversight of the provider.
As a crypto investor, I’ve been looking into Bitget, and it seems they haven’t publicly stated whether they have the specific New Zealand financial services licenses required by the Financial Markets Authority or Reserve Bank. The Companies Office says these licenses are necessary for certain financial activities, but Bitget only listed what types of services they *are* registered for – not that they’re actually licensed in New Zealand.
Registration covers trading, custody and money transfers
Bitget is authorized to offer currency exchange and send payments both domestically within New Zealand and internationally. They are also able to securely hold customer funds, manage investment portfolios, and complete trades involving stocks and ETFs.
Participating in the IFSO Scheme means customers have a formal way to file complaints, in addition to existing services. According to New Zealand’s financial advice rules, most businesses providing services to individual customers are required to be part of an approved dispute resolution scheme, unless they qualify for an exemption.
Bitget explained that the registration process is part of its commitment to following regulations. They highlighted their licenses in El Salvador and South Africa, which allow them to operate legally under each country’s specific financial rules.
Bitget operates under different rules in countries where it doesn’t have official permission. The company stated on July 22nd that it isn’t currently licensed, approved, registered, authorized, or overseen by the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
Bitget wants to be clear that it doesn’t have any license, approval, or regulation from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). We’re sharing this to be fully transparent about our regulatory status.
— Bitget (@bitget) July 22, 2026
Bitget has officially confirmed it doesn’t offer its services to anyone in Singapore and isn’t actively trying to attract residents there. The country is still on Bitget’s list of prohibited locations, meaning people within Singapore cannot access the platform.
Commenting on Bitget’s regulatory approach, CEO Gracy Chen said:
Bitget is growing around the world, and we’re dedicated to following all local laws while creating a safe and reliable experience for our users.
Singapore’s financial regulator, MAS, maintains a list of companies that might appear to be officially authorized but aren’t. In June 2026, they added decentralized exchange Hyperliquid to this list. However, Hyperliquid clarified that it never said it had been approved by MAS, as reported by crypto.news.
Tokenized stocks support Bitget’s expansion plans
Bitget recently registered in New Zealand as it expands ways for customers to invest in the U.S. stock market. Its rToken product lets people gain exposure to U.S. stocks and ETFs through tokens, and Stock+ offers eligible users direct access to buy and sell actual securities with the help of licensed brokers.
Bitget explains that rTokens, created by Reality, are designed to represent a one-to-one value of assets they hold in safekeeping. These tokens follow the price of things like Nvidia, Apple, Tesla, and the SPDR S&P 500 ETF, but owning an rToken isn’t the same as directly owning the stock through a standard brokerage – it doesn’t give you the same ownership rights.
Bitget offers rTokens representing over 500 popular U.S. stocks and ETFs, with some available for trading 24/7. These tokens can also be used in various financial activities like margin trading, as collateral, or for lending – depending on the specific product and your location.
Stock+ provides access to over 10,000 U.S. stocks and ETFs, catering to a different type of investor. According to Bitget, you can buy fractions of shares – as little as 0.0001 – receive dividends, and trade during regular U.S. market hours. Availability varies based on your location and whether you qualify.
Bitget is planning to re-enter the U.S. market. They had previously paused expansion plans after the failure of FTX in 2022 and increased regulatory scrutiny. According to a July 22 report, Bitget’s CEO, Chen, stated the company will proceed with its U.S. entry plans even if the CLARITY Act isn’t passed by Congress.
Before launching in the U.S., Bitget intends to create a separate, locally-based company and obtain the necessary licenses for handling money, trading derivatives, and acting as a broker-dealer. The company hasn’t announced when it will begin U.S. operations, stating that it needs to finish the approval process first.
In a recent conversation with crypto.news, Chen revealed that trading in tokenized versions of traditional assets made up 20% to 30% of Bitget’s total spot trading volume last quarter. She also noted that over half (52%) of Bitget’s users invest in both stocks and cryptocurrencies, and that the platform’s tokenized stock offerings now hold over $100 million in assets.
Now officially registered in New Zealand, Bitget continues to expand its global financial services while ensuring its products comply with local regulations. Expansion in the United States hinges on receiving individual approvals, and restrictions in Singapore will continue until authorization from MAS is granted.
2026-07-24 00:20