Overview
- Bybit announced Thursday that Bybit Fintech FZE has a Virtual Asset Service Provider licence from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority for exchange services covering spot trading.
- VARA’s public register lists the Dubai unit as an active VASP with reference VL/26/10/003 and authorizes the company to serve retail, qualified and institutional investors.
- The licence covers only spot exchange services and does not permit derivatives trading, which Bybit says it will seek through separate VARA approvals.
- Bybit has strengthened its compliance push in 2026 by hiring former VARA executive Peter Loo as chief legal and compliance officer and by reporting five other licences or approvals across jurisdictions this year.
- VARA issues activity-specific licences, so Dubai customers will access Bybit’s local, regulated spot services first while any leveraged or futures products must meet separate client eligibility, margin and risk-management rules before they can be offered.