Bybit announced on October 22, 2026, that its Dubai entity had received a full license for exchange services, including spot trading. The Bybit Dubai license is listed as active, but the company says it must complete regulatory launch steps and operational requirements before starting the service.
Key Takeaways
- VARA has granted Bybit Fintech FZE an active license for exchange services.
- The authorization permits retail, qualified and institutional investors.
- Spot trading has not launched under the approval, and Bybit has not announced a start date.
Table of Contents
- What the Bybit Dubai license permits
- Active authorization does not mean trading has started
- The earlier federal license belongs to a separate entity
- Conclusion
What the Bybit Dubai license permits
Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority lists Bybit Fintech FZE in its public licensing record as an active virtual asset service provider authorized for exchange services. The permission covers institutional investors, qualified investors and retail investors.
Bybit said the authorization includes spot trading. That marks a change from its earlier in-principle approval, which a company spokesperson said was non-operational and did not allow the entity to serve customers in Dubai.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Dubai license holder | Bybit Fintech FZE |
| License reference | VL/26/10/003 |
| License issue date | October 20, 2026, as recorded by VARA |
Active authorization does not mean trading has started
A Bybit spokesperson said the entity still needs to complete VARA’s launch process and satisfy operational requirements before opening spot trading services. The company did not provide a launch date.
The distinction matters for prospective customers: the register confirms the entity’s licensing status and permitted investor categories, but it does not establish that the remaining launch conditions have been completed or that customers can already trade.
The earlier federal license belongs to a separate entity
Bybit previously secured a full Virtual Asset Platform Operator license from the United Arab Emirates’ Securities and Commodities Authority in October 2025. That approval applies to Bybit Virtual Asset Platform Operator LLC, rather than the newly licensed Dubai entity.
The service restrictions for the SCA-licensed entity exclude Dubai from the jurisdictions it serves. The spokesperson declined to explain how the two approvals differ or whether the earlier federal license permitted services in Dubai. The two authorizations therefore should not be treated as interchangeable evidence of customer access.
Conclusion
The license advances Bybit’s Dubai spot-trading plans, but it is not a service-opening announcement. The next milestone is completion of VARA’s launch process and operational requirements; no date has been announced.
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