Key Insights
- Bybit received the MiCAR license from Austria’s Financial Market Authority, enabling regulated crypto services across 29 EEA countries.
- The company established its European headquarters in Vienna and plans to hire over 100 professionals to support expansion.
- Bybit aims to foster local blockchain innovation through partnerships with universities via its Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA).
VIENNA (MarketsXplora) – Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, has received its Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) license from Austria’s Financial Market Authority (FMA), marking a significant step in its European expansion strategy.
The MiCAR license authorizes Bybit to operate as a fully regulated crypto-asset services provider across the European Economic Area (EEA), enabling the company to offer its crypto products and services to nearly 500 million users across 29 member states through its regional hub based in Vienna, Austria.
“Securing the MiCAR license in Austria is a testament to our compliance-first approach at Bybit,” said Ben Zhou, co-founder and CEO of Bybit. He emphasized the company’s commitment to working closely with regulators and obtaining licenses worldwide to deliver its platform with the highest standards of regulatory and compliance assurance.
MiCAR is a regulatory framework introduced by the European Union aimed at establishing harmonized rules for digital financial services. The license requires firms to uphold stringent consumer protection measures, transparency, and safeguards against illicit activities.
In line with its regulatory compliance, Bybit announced plans to invest substantially in Austria by hiring over 100 professionals in Vienna. This move supports the company’s goal of providing localized, fully regulated services to its European users.
Mazurka Zeng, Chief Executive Officer of Bybit Europe, said the company is proud to contribute to Austria’s progressive financial ecosystem by investing in talent and innovation.
“Obtaining the MiCAR license demonstrates our commitment to compliance and transparency, aligned with Europe’s high regulatory standards,” she said.
Zeng also highlighted Bybit’s dedication to fostering a strong local crypto community. Through its Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA), the company aims to collaborate closely with universities across the region to nurture the next generation of blockchain innovators and explore impactful, real-world applications of the technology.