#Abu Dhabi #Bybit #UAE #crypto #Gala

Bybit's Vision for the Future of Finance in 2026

On December 9, 2025, Bybit, known as the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, held the BIG Series - Bybit Institutional Gala in Abu Dhabi. This prestigious event brought together key executives from Bybit, global regulators, banking partners, liquidity providers, and institutional clients, paving the way for future dialogues on the evolution of digital markets.

Regulatory Milestones and Strategic Advances

The gala was significant for Bybit as it follows the recent attainment of a full Virtual Asset Platform Operator (VAPO) license from the UAE's Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), alongside a MiCAR license across the European Economic Area (EEA). These regulatory approvals mark a major step forward in positioning Bybit at the forefront of regulated digital finance.

Ben Zhou, Co-founder and CEO of Bybit, emphasized the firm’s commitment to supporting the next phase of institutional digital finance, stating, “With our regulatory base in the UAE and EEA, along with a liquidity engine designed around transparency and resilience, Bybit is set to drive transformative changes in institutional finance.” His remarks underscored Bybit's robust retail ecosystem, which has seen significant growth with over 1.8 million cards issued in 13 regions, thus enhancing pricing and execution for institutional clients.

Expanding Institutional Trust and Infrastructure

During his opening speech, Zhou highlighted the shift towards an integrated market structure that accommodates institutional players. Bybit's wealth management assets showcased a remarkable increase from $40 million in Q2 to $200 million in Q4 2025, reflecting a growing institutional trust and demand for quality asset management services. “Institutions choose Bybit because they seek assurance in liquidity, compliance, and performance,” Zhou asserted, noting that asset inflows surged from $1.3 billion in Q3 to $2.88 billion in Q4.

Focus on Regulatory Compliance

Robert MacDonald, Bybit’s Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, pointed to compliance as an increasingly vital factor in institutional adoption. He stressed the need for predictable integration, product-integrated compliance, and proactive regulatory engagement, which collectively serve as competitive advantages for Bybit. This focus has strengthened Bybit's banking relationships and minimized operational hurdles for professional investors.

Upcoming Innovations in Institutional Offerings

In her address, Yoyee Wang, Head of Business to Business at Bybit, previewed upcoming institutional offerings aimed at enhancing market connectivity and operational efficiency for institutional clients. Two major advancements were spotlighted:
1. ENS Credit Suite - This enhanced offering integrates Bybit Custody with Real World Asset yield products, enabling institutions to manage assets securely while gaining returns through tokenized money market funds.
2. Market Maker Gateway (MMGW) - A high-performance access point designed to provide institutional clients with faster and more reliable connectivity to Bybit's trading environment, slashing round-trip latency from 30ms to just 2.5ms.

The amount of INS loans also saw a 26% increase quarter-over-quarter, indicating strong adoption among multi-strategy firms and high-frequency trading companies.

Commitment to Collaborative Development

Wang noted the importance of collaboration in driving the next phase of institutional adoption. “The momentum we observe from institutions is driven by real utility, capital efficiency, liquidity depth, and operational reliability. Our mission is to simplify access while partnering with banks and regulators to build a more connected and scalable global market structure,” she explained.

Global Dialogue on Capital Markets

The gala fostered an engaging inter-regional dialogue led by Dimitrios Psarrakis, Bybit's Head of Global Affairs, with participation from prominent figures including Jean-Marc Laventure of Standard Chartered Bank. The discussions underscored the merging of traditional finance and digital assets, illustrating a shift towards a shared foundation of transparency, efficiency, and institutional governance.

Celebration of Industry Excellence

Concluding the evening, Bybit honored leading institutions and contributors for their excellence and influence in the global digital markets. Awards included:

• - Premier Corporate Trading Terminal Award: Vantage, Jarvis Lab
• - Broker Market Leadership Award: Terminal Insilico, Coinroutes, Finestel
• - Outstanding Institutional Contribution Award: Wintermute, Amber Group, De Vinci, GSR, Cumberland
• - Liquidity Leadership Award: Pulsar, Atomique, Gravity, Hashwave
• - Institutional Trading Excellence Award: CyantArb, AlberBlanc, Presto, Rosario

“We truly appreciate this recognition from Bybit at such a crucial moment for mainstream digital finance adoption,” said Xin Song, CEO of GSR. “The gala highlighted the importance of trust, infrastructure, and long-term partnerships.”

About Bybit

Serving over 70 million users worldwide, Bybit is recognized as the second-largest cryptocurrency exchange globally by trading volume. Launched in 2018, Bybit is committed to redefining openness in a decentralized world, striving for a more inclusive ecosystem. Focusing on Web3, Bybit collaborates with leading blockchain protocols to enhance infrastructure and drive innovation on-chain, bridging the gap between traditional finance and decentralized finance. To explore the future of decentralized finance, visit Bybit.com.