Bitget Secures Georgia Licence to Boost Europe Expansion
Key Takeaways
Regulatory Green Light in Georgia:
Bitget obtained a licence to operate in the Tbilisi Free Zone, offering regulated crypto exchange and custodial wallet services.
Strengthening European Presence:
The move aligns with Bitget’s broader strategy to expand across Europe, joining other licensed operations in countries like Italy, Poland, and Lithuania.
Tapping into a Crypto-Friendly Hub:
Georgia’s favourable regulatory environment and tax incentives make it an attractive base for Bitget’s regional operations and user growth.
In a landmark development for global crypto expansion, Bitget has obtained regulatory approval to operate within Georgia’s Tbilisi Free Zone (TFZ), marking a significant step in its journey across Eastern Europe.
Overview
On June 19 2025, the company announced that it had received a licence in the Tbilisi Free Zone to operate as a digital asset exchange and custodial wallet provider. The TFZ, located in Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, is designed to attract fintech and blockchain ventures by offering streamlined regulations, tax advantages, and supportive infrastructure. Bitget CEO Gracy Chen emphasised that Georgia’s regulatory clarity and forward-thinking environment make it
“an example of how strategic policymaking can open doors for growth while guarding users’ safety and increasing accessibility”
.
Under this licence, Bitget can now provide Georgian users with a full suite of services—including spot trading, futures, copy trading, and custodial wallets—within a regulated, locally compliant framework. The TFZ offers a rare combination of low taxes, streamlined compliance processes, and operational flexibility—making it a magnet for digital‑asset firms. This move strengthens the crypto exchange’s compliance credentials and aligns with its ambition to establish a regulated global presence.
Eastern Europe: A Crypto-Friendly Frontier
Georgia’s TFZ has rapidly emerged as a preferred destination for international crypto companies. The region’s rosy regulatory environment, high per‑capita crypto mining, and growing blockchain adoption have attracted investor interest.
Eastern European countries have begun offering clarity that many larger markets still lack. Georgia’s free‑zone regime—backed by the Georgian Innovation and Technology Agency—encourages blockchain initiatives and grants to startups. Georgian authorities also aim to align with global financial standards, making the country’s business environment simultaneously crypto‑friendly and internationally credible.
Bitget’s move taps directly into this momentum. With its licence in Tbilisi, users can now access advanced products such as futures and copy‑trading within a compliant infrastructure, further bridging the gap between global regulations and localised service offerings.
Strengthening a Global Regulatory Footprint
The Georgia licence is part of Bitget’s systematic strategy to secure licences across multiple continents. The exchange already operates under regulatory frameworks in Australia (AUSTRAC), Italy (OAM), Poland, Bulgaria, Lithuania, the Czech Republic (as a Virtual Asset Service Provider), and the UK via FCA-authorised Archax Ltd. Additionally, Bitget holds operational licences in Latin America—Argentina and El Salvador—as well as in the Asia–Pacific region.
In April, for instance, Bitget secured licensing in El Salvador, enabling it to offer full spot and derivatives trading, yield‑bearing products, and custodial services. The Georgia licence underscores the company’s intentional pivot toward markets that balance growth, consumer safety, and regulatory reliability.
Gracy Chen has reiterated that expansion isn’t just about market size—it’s about building tomorrow’s financial infrastructure. She said,
“Regions with strong crypto‑friendly frameworks are creating the foundation for the next era of finance.”
By plugging into jurisdictions like Georgia, Bitget is positioning itself to lead in regions where innovation and compliance intersect.
Looking Ahead: What This Expansion Means
For Bitget, entering the Georgian market isn’t merely a regulatory checkbox—it provides a scalable base to serve both retail and institutional users in Eastern Europe. The TFZ’s operational benefits—such as tax breaks and simplified compliance—offer Bitget a strategic platform to deepen user adoption.
This development also highlights a larger trend: crypto platforms are increasingly setting up in smaller, agile jurisdictions offering clarity and speed, away from the red tape and indecision in larger markets like the EU or the US. As European regulators implement frameworks like MiCA, neighbouring regions like Georgia have surged by providing proactive engagement and direct incentives.
Bitget’s licence in Georgia strengthens its position as a globally regulated crypto powerhouse. With this new foothold, the company can tap into Eastern Europe’s growing crypto appetite while continuing its global mission of scaling responsibly across jurisdictions, prioritising regulation and innovation.