Bybit Hosts Institutional Gala in Abu Dhabi, Unveils 2026 Strategy After Securing Key UAE and EU Licenses

Bybit, the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, hosted its high-profile Bybit Institutional Gala in Abu Dhabi. The event brought together key executives, global regulators, banking partners, liquidity providers, and institutional clients to discuss the future of digital markets and set the stage for the company's 2026 strategy.

The gala followed Bybit's recent regulatory milestones: securing a full Virtual Asset Platform Operator (VAPO) license from the UAE's Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) and a MiCAR license across the entire European Economic Area (EEA). Co-founder and CEO Ben Zhou stated, "With our regulatory foundation in the UAE and EEA, plus a unified liquidity engine built around transparency and resilience, Bybit is committed to powering the next phase of institutional digital finance."

Zhou highlighted the exchange's retail strength as a core advantage fueling institutional services. In its first year, the Bybit Card surpassed 1.8 million cards issued across 13 regions. The wealth and asset management business saw Assets Under Management (AUM) grow from $40 million in Q2 to $200 million in Q4. Furthermore, asset inflows surged from $1.3 billion in Q3 to $2.88 billion in Q4.

Robert MacDonald, Chief Legal & Compliance Officer, emphasized compliance as a "new institutional trust product," noting its role in strengthening banking relationships and reducing friction for professional investors.

Yoyee Wang, Head of Business to Business, unveiled major institutional offerings for 2026. These include an upgraded INS Credit Suite that integrates Bybit Custody with Real-World Asset (RWA) yield products, allowing institutions to earn returns on custodial assets while accessing credit with 5x leverage. The company also launched a Market Maker Gateway (MMGW), reducing round-trip latency from 30ms to 2.5ms for high-frequency trading clients. INS loan notional grew by 26% quarter-over-quarter.

The event featured a cross-regional dialogue moderated by Dimitrios Psarrakis, Head of Global Affairs, and included participants like Jean-Marc Laventure from Standard Chartered Bank, highlighting the convergence of traditional finance and digital assets.

The gala concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing institutional partners and liquidity providers, including Wintermute, Amber Group, GSR, Cumberland, and others.