
Bybit wins Dubai VARA licence for spot crypto trading
Bybit's Dubai unit secured a VARA licence for spot exchange services on October 22, adding a sixth regulatory approval to its 2026 tally — derivatives are not covered.
Founded 2018 by Ben Zhou. Dubai-headquartered, top-5 global spot volume, strong in derivatives.

Bybit's Dubai unit secured a VARA licence for spot exchange services on October 22, adding a sixth regulatory approval to its 2026 tally — derivatives are not covered.

Bybit CEO Ben Zhou says the world's second-largest exchange will seek an established US broker partner to challenge Robinhood — and sees the UK as its next untapped market.

On October 12, Bybit switched on US stock and ETF trading for eligible users — over 1,000 securities, settled in USDC, with real shares held in custody by Alpaca.

Coinglass data shows smart-money accounts for XRP have gone extremely bearish on Binance and Bybit — even as the token recovers to $1.40 from its $1.31 low.

Bybit says chief executive Ben Zhou will headline a global 'Make Your Move' address on October 13 at 7AM UTC, previewing new product launches.