Is Bitfinex available in the United States?
As of June 2026 Bitfinex is not available to United States persons. The Bitfinex terms of service prohibit use by United States citizens and United States residents, and the platform does not onboard United States customers. Residents should use a platform that is registered to serve users in the United States.
Information, not advice. This is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Verify the current rules with a qualified local professional and the official regulator before acting.
How we checked this. We set this status by reading the platform's own terms of use and country eligibility, and the public register kept by the named regulator, then dated the result. Availability can change, so confirm directly with the platform and the regulator before acting. As of 26 June 2026.
As of June 2026 Bitfinex is not available to United States persons. The Bitfinex terms of service state that United States citizens and United States residents cannot use the platform, a restriction the company links to United States regulation. In the United States the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) have roles in this area, and the New York Attorney General reached a settlement with the operators of Bitfinex in February 2021. Because the platform is not available here, we do not list an exchange comparison for it on this page.
Is the platform available to residents
As of June 2026 Bitfinex is not available to United States persons. The Bitfinex terms of service prohibit use by United States persons, a category the company describes as including United States citizens, United States residents, holders of a United States passport, and United States permanent residents. The platform states that it does not provide its services to these users.
Attempting to access the platform from the United States, including through a virtual private network, would run against the terms of service and is not a route this page suggests. United States residents who want to use crypto should choose a platform that is registered or licensed to serve users in the United States.
The regulator and the framework
In the United States several authorities have roles in crypto markets. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) oversees commodity derivatives and has treated certain crypto assets as commodities, the Securities and Exchange Commission addresses crypto assets that are securities, and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) applies anti money laundering rules to money services businesses (as of June 2026).
Bitfinex has a regulatory history in the United States. In February 2021 the Office of the New York Attorney General announced a settlement with the operators of Bitfinex and the affiliated stablecoin issuer that ended its inquiry, required a payment of 18.5 million dollars, and barred trading activity with people and entities in New York. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission also entered an order against the operators in 2021. These actions are part of why the platform does not serve United States persons (as of June 2026).
What this means for residents
United States persons cannot open or use a Bitfinex account as of June 2026. There is no compliant local on ramp, funding method, or product set for United States users, because the platform does not onboard them.
Residents who want to buy, sell, or hold crypto should use a platform that is registered to serve users in the United States and that meets the applicable federal and state requirements. See the page on the best exchanges in the United States for platforms that are available here.
Tax treatment
Tax on crypto for taxpayers in the United States is administered by the Internal Revenue Service, which treats crypto as property for federal tax purposes. This page does not give tax advice. For how crypto is treated in the United States in general terms, see the United States tax page, and confirm your own position with a qualified local professional before filing.
Bitfinex is not available to United States persons, so we do not list it as an available exchange here and we do not link to it for users in the United States. Compare the platforms that are genuinely registered and available to residents before you choose.
Regulator and sources
The relevant authorities include the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, with the Internal Revenue Service responsible for tax.
- Bitfinex, its terms of service and its United States Person frequently asked questions, which set out that United States persons cannot use the platform.
- Office of the New York Attorney General, its February 2021 announcement of a settlement with the operators of Bitfinex and the affiliated stablecoin issuer.
- Commodity Futures Trading Commission, its 2021 order concerning the operators of Bitfinex.
- Internal Revenue Service, its guidance treating crypto as property for federal tax purposes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bitfinex legal in the United States?
As of June 2026 Bitfinex does not serve United States persons. Its terms of service prohibit use by United States citizens and residents, so the platform is not available here. This is general information, not advice.
Can United States residents use Bitfinex?
No. As of June 2026 the Bitfinex terms of service state that United States persons, including citizens and residents, cannot use the platform. Residents should choose a platform registered to serve users in the United States.
Why did Bitfinex settle with the New York Attorney General?
In February 2021 the Office of the New York Attorney General announced a settlement with the operators of Bitfinex and the affiliated stablecoin issuer that required a payment of 18.5 million dollars and barred trading activity with people in New York. Confirm the details in the official announcement.
Can I use a virtual private network to access Bitfinex from the United States?
Using a virtual private network to bypass the location restriction would run against the Bitfinex terms of service, and this page does not suggest it. United States users should use a platform that is available to them.
Which exchanges serve users in the United States?
Several platforms are registered to serve users in the United States. See the page on the best exchanges in the United States for the current options, since availability changes over time.
Rules change frequently. Platform availability and the rules for crypto in the United States change frequently, and several federal and state authorities are involved. The position on this page is dated June 2026. Confirm the current status with the platform and the relevant regulators before you act.
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