New blow to Hungary’s crypto scene: Two additional providers pull out of the country!

Citing changes to the regulatory environment, Strike is effectively withdrawing from Hungary with immediate effect, according to RevB. The popular Bitcoin trading application informed its users in a message sent on Thursday morning.

Hungarian lawmakers amended the rules governing cryptocurrency trading and the handling of crypto assets at the end of 2025. From this year onwards, such activities may only be carried out with the involvement of a so-called “validator”. However, it remains unclear what the validator’s exact role will be, or who will fulfil this function.

As a result of the legislative changes, Revolut first suspended its crypto services in Hungary in December, followed shortly afterwards by CoinCash. Now, Strike (known for its fast Bitcoin transactions and simple interface) appears to be following the same path.

According to RevB, users received a notification stating that they can actively manage their portfolios until midnight today, after which the “Buy” and “Sell” buttons will become inactive. From that point on, users will only be able to withdraw the cryptocurrency held in their accounts.

Strike halts trading in Hungary with immediate effect

Hungarian users were taken by surprise by Strike’s Thursday morning announcement. Referring to the changed domestic regulatory environment, the popular Bitcoin app is essentially exiting the Hungarian market. Trading will cease from tomorrow, 9 January 2026.

The difficulties faced by crypto service providers in Hungary appear to be continuing. No sooner had the wave of withdrawals in December 2025 ended than another setback emerged. Strike, founded by Jack Mallers and known for its Lightning Network-based Bitcoin transactions and user-friendly design, notified Hungarian customers that it is suspending its trading services in the country.

An “Important account update” message appeared in users’ accounts, brief but unambiguous:

“Due to new regulations in Hungary, your account will not support trading from 9 January 2026. You may withdraw your EUR and BTC assets at any time.”

In practice, this means Hungarian users have less than 24 hours left to actively manage their positions within the app. From tomorrow, the “Buy” and “Sell” buttons will be disabled, and the application will effectively function as a basic wallet from which funds can only be withdrawn.

MoonPay also exits Hungary

The domino effect continues: MoonPay, another crypto service provider, has also suspended its operations for Hungarian users. According to the company, the move is a direct response to the legal changes introduced earlier this year, Revb reports.

Hungarian users can still access limited functionality and withdraw their crypto assets to external wallets. However, withdrawing fiat funds is no longer straightforward: MoonPay asks users to contact customer support to process these transactions.

Hungary now joins MoonPay’s list of unsupported countries, which includes Afghanistan, Cuba, Russia, China, and North Korea.

Not out of the blue: Hungary’s crypto domino effect

For regular observers of the Hungarian fintech and crypto sector, Strike and MoonPay’s decisions come as little surprise. It fits neatly into a larger pattern seen in recent months, as strict domestic regulations (in some cases more rigid than international standards) continue to deter global players. This is particularly true of the requirements imposed by the Supervisory Authority for Regulated Activities (SZTFH).

• Revolut: The popular neobank had already indicated earlier that crypto services would be removed from its Hungarian entity.
• CoinCash: One of the pioneers of the domestic market was forced to suspend operations due to the prolonged absence of a compliant IT auditor (validator), a legal requirement for continued operation.
• eToro restrictions: The global trading platform also took similar steps, sharply limiting Hungarian users’ access to crypto assets.
• Kriptomat exit: More recently, Kriptomat also withdrew, citing regulatory difficulties.

Although Hungary has since approved its first domestic crypto validator company, this appears to have come either too late for global providers, or the costs and administrative burden of compliance simply do not justify maintaining operations in a relatively small market.

• Breaking: Revolut suspends crypto services in Hungary today, another financial provider follows

What should users do now?

According to RevB, the most important point is that there is no need for panic: funds remain secure. Strike has made it clear that withdrawals (both in euros and in Bitcoin) will continue to be available.

Nevertheless, affected users are advised to take the following steps:

• Do not delay: While withdrawals are possible “at any time”, customer service and technical processes often slow down during market exits.
• Withdraw Bitcoin: Transferring BTC to a personal, non-custodial wallet (such as a hardware wallet, Muun or Phoenix) is recommended. As Strike supports the Lightning Network, transaction fees are minimal.
• Withdraw euros: Fiat funds should be transferred back to users’ bank accounts.

What lies ahead for Hungary’s crypto market?

Strike’s departure is a regrettable but logical move in an environment where regulatory tightening (though introduced under the banner of consumer protection) ultimately reduces user choice and places the country at a competitive disadvantage. While much of Europe is aligning with the EU’s MiCA regulation, Hungary’s local regulatory approach continues to filter out market participants.

Following the tightening of domestic crypto regulation, investors’ attention may increasingly turn to so-called crypto trackers, or ETPs. These are exchange-traded products that track the price of crypto assets without requiring direct ownership. Among these, Bitcoin ETPs and Ethereum ETPs remain relatively accessible options.