Bybit has acquired a Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) license from Austria’s Financial Market Authority (FMA), enabling the exchange to grow into the European market.
This authorization permits Bybit EU, registered under commercial number 636180i, to function as a regulated crypto asset service provider (CASP) and broaden its services across all 29 member states of the European Economic Area.
As a component of its growth, Bybit has formally set up its European headquarters in Vienna, Austria, as stated in a news release on May 29 shared with Cointelegraph.
This initiative allows the platform to cater to nearly 500 million Europeans under MiCA’s standardized framework, designed to enhance regulatory uniformity, deter unlawful activities, and safeguard consumers.
“Obtaining the MiCAR license in Austria is a reflection of our compliance-centered strategy at Bybit,” stated Ben Zhou, co-founder and CEO of Bybit. “We are actively engaging with regulators and seeking licenses worldwide to ensure our users can utilize our innovative platform with the highest standards of regulatory and compliance reliability.”
Related: Crypto exchanger eXch shows signs of recovery after post-Bybit closure
Bybit plans to recruit over 100 in Vienna
Bybit will also hire more than 100 personnel in Vienna to assist its European operations and offer localized crypto services aligned with EU regulations. “Vienna is now the base of Bybit Europe,” remarked Mazurka Zeng, CEO of Bybit Europe:
“We’re honored to contribute to Austria’s progressive financial landscape by investing in talent and innovation.”
The firm intends to collaborate closely with universities in the region through its Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA) initiative to advance blockchain technology.
The MiCA framework will be enforceable starting in early 2025, prompting crypto enterprises to establish regulated bases within the bloc to legally extend their services across borders.
Related: Bybit restores liquidity levels 30 days following hack — Kaiko
Bybit rises to second-largest exchange
Founded in 2018 and currently situated in Dubai, Bybit ranks as the second-largest crypto exchange by trading volume, according to CoinMarketCap. The organization shifted its global headquarters from Singapore to Dubai in 2022.
This regulatory achievement follows Bybit experiencing a significant breach in February 2025. The incident resulted in the loss of $1.5 billion in assets, marking it as the largest crypto theft on record.
On May 9, German law enforcement confiscated 34 million euros ($38 million) in cryptocurrency from eXch, a cryptocurrency platform allegedly utilized to launder funds stolen during the Bybit breach.
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