Bybit’s VARA licence covers spot trading in Dubai, while its plans to offer derivatives still require separate regulatory approval. The company publicized the approval on October 22, 2026, but VARA’s public licensing register records June 20, 2026, as the issue date for the licence held by Bybit Fintech FZE.
Key takeaways
- Bybit Fintech FZE is licensed for spot exchange services in Dubai.
- The authorization permits retail, qualified and institutional clients.
- Derivatives remain subject to additional regulatory approval.
What Bybit’s VARA licence authorizes
A Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) licence for Exchange Services, covering spot trading, has been granted to Bybit Fintech FZE by Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority. The regulator’s register lists the entity as active under reference VL/26/10/003.
The authorization allows the Dubai entity to serve retail, qualified and institutional investors. It covers the activities specified under VARA’s exchange framework rather than automatically extending to every product on Bybit’s international platform.
Bybit established its international headquarters in Dubai in 2022. The company presents the licence as a further step in developing its business within the emirate’s regulatory framework.
Compliance and oversight underpin Dubai plans
Bybit says it continues to invest in compliance, security and risk management while developing products and services across jurisdictions. It regards locally compliant services and strong relationships with regulators as important to building trust among users and market participants.
Peter Loo, Bybit’s Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, linked the approval to oversight and user protection. “A healthy digital asset market needs strong oversight, sound risk management and a commitment to protecting users,” he said.
Co-founder and CEO Ben Zhou also connected Bybit’s VARA licence to its longer-term presence in Dubai. “Securing our VARA licence is another step in building for the long term,” Zhou wrote on October 22, citing trust, compliance and local commitment.
Derivatives expansion needs further permission
Bybit intends to seek approval to add derivatives to its licensed Dubai activities. That expansion remains conditional on the necessary regulatory permissions; the spot trading authorization does not itself provide that approval.
Loo described derivatives as a major part of Bybit’s global trading business and said the company wants to bring more of its offering to Dubai through the appropriate regulatory process.
The Dubai licence forms part of a wider international licensing effort. During his October keynote, Zhou pointed to five licences and regulatory approvals obtained throughout 2026 in the European Union, the Cayman Islands, Indonesia, South Africa and El Salvador.
Bybit says its global platform serves more than 80 million users. That is a worldwide figure, not a customer count for the Dubai-licensed entity.
Dubai partnerships extend beyond trading
Bybit’s involvement in Dubai also includes blockchain and Web3 partnerships, industry engagement and knowledge-sharing initiatives. The company regards the emirate’s regulatory framework and international reach as important to digital asset development.
Zhou said Bybit intends to continue supporting the local digital asset community and developing its business in line with VARA’s standards. Since opening its international headquarters in Dubai in 2022, the company has participated in initiatives supporting collaboration and knowledge-sharing within the emirate’s blockchain and Web3 ecosystem.
Article produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editorial team.