Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, has introduced AI Sub-Accounts, a dedicated account structure designed to enhance security as AI agents become increasingly common in crypto trading. The new account type ringsfences automated trading activity, preventing AI models from accessing users’ primary funds or moving assets across other accounts.
AI Sub-Accounts operate as isolated environments where authorized agents can only execute through APIs, with no login access. Users can configure strict boundaries—leverage caps, asset exposure limits, transfer restrictions, and permitted commands—before connecting trading agents. A read-only oversight feature allows traders to monitor all AI-driven activity in real time without granting broader permissions.
The exchange said the launch addresses growing concerns around unrestricted API access and flawed trading logic. Victor Wu, Bybit’s Head of AI Agent Architecture, emphasized that no agent should have unchecked power over a trader’s full portfolio. All users connecting AI agents will now operate through AI Sub-Accounts by default, establishing a baseline protection layer regardless of experience level.
The move highlights a broader shift where exchanges redesign infrastructure around AI-native trading behavior, balancing automation with rigorous risk containment.
