Bybit has secured the UAE’s first-ever Virtual Asset Platform Operator License from the country’s Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), becoming the only fully operational, licensed crypto exchange in the Emirates.
The approval allows Bybit to legally offer virtual asset trading, brokerage, custody, and fiat conversion to both retail and institutional clients under the UAE’s comprehensive regulatory framework. The move marks a major step in the country’s ambition to become a global hub for digital assets and Web3 finance.
Bybit CEO Ben Zhou called the achievement “a testament to our commitment to compliance and transparency,” adding that the UAE’s forward‑thinking approach to regulation “sets a model for how digital asset oversight should work.”
Co‑CEO Helen Liu credited the SCA’s clarity and structure for making the approval possible, saying that Bybit plans to scale its regional presence by hiring over 500 employees in Abu Dhabi and Dubai while expanding Web3 education and local partnerships.
Bybit Extends Its Global Compliance Playbook
The UAE license follows a string of regulatory milestones for Bybit in 2025, including securing its MiCAR license in Europe and resuming full operations in India after resolving compliance issues with local authorities.
In India, Bybit paid a $1.06 million fine to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and re‑registered under the country’s Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), allowing it to restore trading for Indian users in September. CEO Ben Zhou described it as “a new chapter,” signaling Bybit’s intent to rebuild trust and expand responsibly across Asia.
The twin approvals, in India and the UAE, highlight Bybit’s pivot toward jurisdictional legitimacy as a competitive edge. While many exchanges retreat amid tightening global oversight, Bybit is aligning itself with national regulators to secure long‑term operating certainty.