Is Bybit blocked in Russia? What changed in 2026

Short: blocked — no. RUB rails got more annoying — yes. “The only replacement is BingX” — no, that is one option.

2026-08-23 Checked 23 August 2026. If the exchange changes the rules tomorrow, this table can lie. Trust the date, not a “2026” headline.

What headlines say

The feed loves “Bybit no longer works in Russia”. A user with a live account reads that and thinks they will be zeroed tomorrow. More often it is something else: RU cards have not deposited directly for years, P2P hid bank names, KYC got more mandatory, support answers with a template.

That is inconvenient. It is not the same as “the exchange struck RU passports”. We do not sit on the hot query, because a week later someone shows a live cabinet screenshot — and any eternal “block” looks like a lie.

What to look at in your own account

Does the site open without a VPN. Does already-done KYC still pass. Is there RUB P2P. Can you find a counterparty if the bank is missing from the filter but present in the order text. Does on-chain withdrawal still go.

If all of that works for you — you are not “leaving a sinking ship”. You may still open a backup account. Those are different decisions.

P2P: filters lie more often than the exchange

A beginner sets Sber in the filter, sees empty, concludes “everything is banned”. Often the bank is in the order terms. Annoying 2026 UI, not a death sentence. Ruble-market write-up — RUB P2P.

What to use if the friction is unbearable

BingX — copy trading and a calm on-ramp; we do not hide the 2024 hack. MEXC — spot and listings. OKX — if you are already in the ecosystem. Bitget — no tick of ours yet. Product comparison — BingX vs Bybit.