Bybit VARA License Issued to Bybit Fintech FZE for Dubai Spot Trading

Bybit Fintech FZE received an active Virtual Asset Service Provider license from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority on October 20, 2026. The approval covers exchange services limited to spot trading and permits the company to serve institutional, qualified, and retail investors.

Bybit VARA License Details and Permitted Activities

The license carries reference number VL/26/10/003 and lists an active status on the VARA public register. Bybit Fintech FZE operates from Office TO4-Floor 10-10.01, The Office 4, One Central, Dubai World Trade Centre. The entity established its Dubai headquarters in 2022 and now holds full regulatory clearance for spot trading activities.

Scope remains restricted to spot trading. Derivatives products stay outside the current approval and will require separate future authorizations. The license explicitly authorizes services to three investor categories without geographic restrictions inside the UAE.

Bybit announced the decision on October 21–22, 2026, framing the step as part of ongoing compliance efforts. The company operates globally for more than 80 million users and continues to pursue licenses across multiple jurisdictions.

Regulatory Progress and Market Context

The active license follows earlier provisional approvals recorded under different reference numbers in 2024. VARA’s framework requires licensed firms to complete a launch process that includes operational readiness checks before customer-facing services begin. No date has been set for live trading in Dubai.

Bybit’s 2026 regulatory record includes approvals or licenses in the European Union, Indonesia, South Africa, El Salvador, and the Cayman Islands. Dubai’s VARA regime, introduced in 2023, maintains a public register that lists all active and pending virtual asset service providers.

Spot trading under the new license will allow direct purchase and sale of virtual assets against fiat or other virtual assets. The exchange services category does not extend to lending, staking, or custody arrangements beyond what is necessary for settlement of spot trades.

Operational Requirements Before Service Launch

Bybit Fintech FZE must satisfy remaining VARA conditions related to technology infrastructure, compliance staffing, and client onboarding procedures. The regulator typically conducts final inspections before permitting public access to licensed platforms.

Market participants in Dubai now have an additional licensed venue for spot trading once the launch process concludes. Existing global users of Bybit will continue to access services through the company’s other regulated entities while Dubai operations prepare for activation.