Australia’s securities regulator took down several Yepbit websites on Wednesday. It also said Yepbit’s excuse for blocking customer withdrawals, that the regulator itself had frozen the funds, was false.
The Australian Securities and Investments Commission said it had received multiple reports from investors who could not withdraw money from Yepbit, an unlicensed platform offering digital-asset and futures trading. Yepbit does not hold an Australian financial services licence and is not registered with AUSTRAC as a virtual asset service provider, ASIC said, meaning it isn’t authorized to offer those services in Australia.
ASIC Rejects Claims It Froze Yepbit Investor Funds
Yepbit told investors that ASIC had frozen their funds while it completed an audit. ASIC said that never happened. “These statements are false,” the regulator said. “They are designed to deflect requests for refunds.”ASIC
The action comes as Australian authorities continue to scrutinize online platforms and digital services, with Australia eSafety Telegram also reflecting broader concerns around platform oversight, user protection, and regulatory compliance.
ASIC Issues Multiple Warnings Against Yepbit Domains
Wednesday’s action was the fourth Investor Alert List warning ASIC has issued against Yepbit domains in just over five months.
- March 9: The regulator first flagged ybtaa.com.
- March 12: That listing also appeared on the I-SCAN alert database run by the International Organization of Securities Commissions.
- Last week: ASIC added two more domains to its list.
Wednesday: ASIC took down four sites outright:
- yepbit6.com
- ybtaa.com
- yepbit.xyz
- yepbit.net
Other Regulators Had Already Warned Against Yepbit
Other regulators had already moved against Yepbit. The Philippines’ Securities and Exchange Commission issued a fraud advisory against Yepbit and a partner it named as Fidelity Capital Investment Group on Jan. 26, then ordered both to stop soliciting investors on Feb. 4. Ghana’s Securities and Exchange Commission followed on July 15, warning that Yepbit and a second platform, BonChat, were suspected fraudulent schemes operating without its approval. These actions come as Australia crypto exchange rules and licensing requirements face increased scrutiny, particularly for platforms providing digital-asset services to Australian users.
Yepbit Regulatory Warning Timeline
The pattern, in order:
- Jan. 26, 2026: Philippines’ SEC issues a fraud advisory against Yepbit and FCIG
- Feb. 4, 2026: Philippines’ SEC orders both to stop soliciting investors
- March 9, 2026: ASIC lists its first Yepbit domain
- July 15, 2026: Ghana’s SEC warns against Yepbit and BonChat
- Aug. 12, 2026: ASIC takes down four Yepbit-linked domains
Yepbit’s Claimed UK Registration
Yepbit built part of its public credibility on a claimed UK registration. A December 2024 quoted a spokesman, Henry Thompson, saying the company’s “UK company registration” gave users “a stronger foundation of trust.”UK corporate records show the company behind that claim, Yepbit Co. Ltd, was dissolved on Sept. 30, 2025.
The UK Companies House record identifies Yepbit Co. Ltd under company number 15799159. The company was incorporated on June 24, 2024, but was later dissolved on Sept. 30, 2025, before the Philippines’ first action against Yepbit in January 2026 and well before ASIC’s latest warning.
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