Bybit review

Bybit's global platform is oriented towards active traders, with spot markets alongside derivatives, automation and copy trading. Bybit EU is a separate European business with a different product and fee framework. That distinction is particularly relevant now because Bybit EU has announced a pricing change for October 5, 2026. Anyone comparing Bybit should also consider its material February 2025 security incident, rather than evaluate the platform only through its trading features.

At a glance

• Founded: 2018.
• Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Bybit EU is based in Vienna, Austria.
• Regulation and licences: Bybit EU GmbH holds Austrian FMA MiCA authorisation; this does not cover all global Bybit products.
• KYC requirement: Identity verification is required for ordinary retail trading.
• Supported countries: Global and European services have different eligibility lists and restricted territories.
• Number of cryptocurrencies: More than 440 spot assets described for the global platform; the EU catalogue differs.
• Fiat deposits: Regional bank and card routes, including euro funding for eligible European customers.
• Mobile app: Mobile trading available, with the appropriate global or European account.

Sign up and KYC process

Bybit asks for identity information, an accepted identity document and facial verification. Further checks can apply when an account requests higher limits or additional services. The first decision is which Bybit service accepts the applicant's residence. An identity check completed for one regional arrangement should not be interpreted as permission to use all products offered elsewhere under the brand.

Bybit EU GmbH received its MiCA authorisation from Austria's FMA in May 2025. A separate group company, Bybit Payments GmbH, received an electronic money institution licence in August 2026. The two permissions relate to different activities. For a European customer, these entity distinctions are more useful than treating the global exchange's Dubai headquarters as a description of the account contract.

Fees

Bybit's global VIP 0 crypto spot reference rate is 0.10% maker and 0.10% taker. Fiat pairs and other products can use separate schedules. Futures also involve funding or other charges that do not appear in a simple spot commission comparison.

Bybit EU currently lists 0.10% maker and 0.25% taker for entry level crypto pairs below €10,000 in recent trading volume. Its comparable fiat pair entry rates are 0.15% maker and 0.25% taker. The published change takes effect on October 5, 2026 at 11:00 UTC: the EU platform will use a unified trading rate, starting at 0.25% for that lowest volume band. Higher tiers remain subject to their qualification criteria. This scheduled change makes old global fee summaries especially unsuitable for a European decision.

Supported assets and features

Bybit's global spot catalogue includes major assets and a wider altcoin selection. Its tools extend to recurring purchases and copy trading, with derivatives forming a significant part of the global offering. Copying another account can simplify execution, but the copied strategy, position sizing and execution differences still determine the outcome. A profitable historical profile does not establish what a follower will earn.

The European platform should be assessed as its own service. Its MiCA status does not establish availability of the global derivatives catalogue, and a global asset count does not describe the European list. Bybit is most distinctive for users who actively want its trading tools. Someone whose only requirement is an occasional euro purchase may find those additional choices less useful than straightforward banking and withdrawal access.

Security

On February 21, 2025, Bybit suffered a theft that the FBI valued at approximately $1.5 billion and attributed to North Korean actors. It is a significant part of the exchange's record, not a minor account phishing event. The incident demonstrates why wallet authorisation and exchange operations matter even when a customer has enabled strong login security.

Bybit documents account controls such as passkeys, additional authentication, withdrawal restrictions and a separate fund password. These tools address particular account risks; they cannot by themselves prevent a compromise of exchange infrastructure. Its reserve disclosures and subsequent security communications should be read alongside the incident. A new customer should distinguish the platform's available trading functionality from confidence in how the assets will be safeguarded.

Pros

• Global spot markets with tools suited to active trading and strategy automation.
• A separately identified European business with Austrian MiCA authorisation.
• Published regional fee schedules make the upcoming EU change visible.

Cons

• The February 2025 theft is a material custody risk consideration.
• Global trading products and prices cannot be assumed to apply to Bybit EU.
• Copy trading and leveraged products add complexity beyond ordinary spot purchases.

Verdict

Bybit is best evaluated by traders who have a specific use for its tools and are prepared to assess its security history. European readers should start with Bybit EU's own catalogue and the dated fee transition, rather than global comparisons. The combination of a major past incident and differing regional arrangements calls for a more deliberate assessment than choosing the brand on trading fees alone.