Bybit has obtained a Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) license from Austria’s Financial Market Authority (FMA), allowing the exchange to expand into the European market.
The approval allows Bybit EU, registered under commercial number 636180i, to operate as a regulated crypto asset service provider (CASP) and extend its services across all 29 European Economic Area member states.
As part of its expansion, Bybit has officially established its European headquarters in Vienna, Austria, according to a May 29 news release shared with Cointelegraph.
The move enables the platform to serve nearly 500 million Europeans under MiCA’s harmonized framework, which is designed to promote regulatory consistency, prevent illicit activity and protect consumers.
“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. “We are actively collaborating with regulators and pursuing licenses globally to ensure our users can access our innovative platform with the highest levels of regulatory and compliance assurance.”
Related: Crypto swapper eXch shows signs of life after post-Bybit shutdown
Bybit to hire over 100 in Vienna
Bybit will also hire over 100 staff in Vienna to support its European operations and offer localized crypto services tailored to EU regulations. “Vienna is now the home of Bybit Europe,” said Mazurka Zeng, CEO of Bybit Europe:
“We’re proud to contribute to Austria’s forward-looking financial environment by investing in talent and innovation.”
The firm also plans to work closely with universities across the region through its Blockchain for Good Alliance (BGA) initiative to promote blockchain technology.
The MiCA framework became enforceable in early 2025, prompting crypto companies to establish regulated bases within the bloc to legally expand their services across borders.
Related: Bybit recovers liquidity levels 30 days after hack — Kaiko
Bybit becomes second-largest exchange
Founded in 2018 and now based in Dubai, Bybit ranks as the second-largest crypto exchange by trading volume, according to CoinMarketCap. The company relocated its global headquarters from Singapore to Dubai in 2022.
The regulatory win comes after Bybit suffered a massive breach in February 2025. The attack led to the loss of $1.5 billion in assets, making it the largest crypto theft on record.
On May 9, German law enforcement seized 34 million euros ($38 million) in cryptocurrency from eXch, a cryptocurrency platform allegedly used to launder funds stolen during the Bybit hack.
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