Key Takeaways:
- Bybit secured a full Virtual Asset Platform Operator License from the UAE’s Securities and Commodities Authority, enabling full operations within the country.
- The approval follows recent regulatory progress in Austria and India, reinforcing Bybit’s global compliance push.
- The UAE continues to attract major crypto firms with its evolving regulatory framework and strategic oversight harmonization between SCA and VARA.
Cryptocurrency exchange Bybit has secured a full Virtual Asset Platform Operator License from the UAE’s Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), eight months after receiving initial approval.
The license allows Bybit to offer its complete suite of global products and services within the UAE, marking a significant milestone in its international compliance drive.
JUST IN: 🇦🇪 Bybit becomes the first fully operational licensed crypto exchange in the UAE. pic.twitter.com/PxOAnLb1q2
— Watcher.Guru (@WatcherGuru) October 9, 2025
This follows regulatory progress in Austria and India, where the company registered earlier this year after resolving a compliance issue and paying a $1 million fine.
CEO Ben Zhou said the approval underscores Bybit’s commitment to transparency and governance, praising the UAE’s leadership in digital asset regulation.
The country has recently sought to unify oversight of crypto activities, with Dubai’s VARA and the SCA forming a partnership to coordinate licensing frameworks.
Bybit had previously obtained a non-operational license from VARA in September and has now achieved full authorization.
The UAE continues to attract major crypto firms through its favorable regulations and investor-friendly environment.
However, Bybit also faced challenges earlier this year when it was hacked by the Lazarus Group, losing over $1.4 billion in Ether.
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