Bybit Institutional Gala in Abu Dhabi: A Launchpad for 2026 in Crypto
In a recent high-profile event held in Abu Dhabi, Bybit, the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, hosted its BIG Series – Bybit Institutional Gala. This gathering brought together key figures from Bybit, global regulators, banking partners, liquidity providers, and institutional clients to discuss the evolving landscape of digital markets, laying the groundwork for Bybit's global strategy as it moves toward 2026.
As a highlight, the evening kicked off with a strong commitment to bolster institutional finance backed by Bybit's recent achievements in acquiring full licensing. The exchange secured the Virtual Asset Platform Operator (VAPO) license from the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) and is poised to operate under the MiCAR regime in the European Economic Area (EEA). These licenses position Bybit as a leader in regulated digital finance, further legitimizing its operations in the global marketplace.
Ben Zhou, co-founder and CEO of Bybit, opened the gala with insights on the importance of trust and compliance in institutional adoption. "With our regulatory foundation in the UAE and EEA, coupled with a transparent and resilient liquidity engine, Bybit is committed to driving the next phase of institutional digital finance," he remarked. Zhou emphasized that institutional confidence stems from the strength of retail trading, as the Bybit Card has already seen over 1.8 million cards issued across 13 regions, showcasing Bybit's expansive retail ecosystem. This robust retail framework is strategically translating into better pricing and performance for institutional clients.
Interestingly, Rohit Malhotra, Chief Financial Officer of Bybit, highlighted the significant rise in asset management within the past year. Bybit's managed assets surged from $40 million in Q2 to a staggering $200 million in Q4, marking a 400% increase that illustrates the growing institutional interest in accessing quality wealth management services. "Institutions are choosing Bybit for liquidity certainty, compliance, and performance opportunities," he noted, indicating that inflows increased from $1.3 billion in Q3 to nearly $2.88 billion in Q4.
The gala also featured a prominent session led by Robert MacDonald, Bybit's Chief Legal Compliance Officer, who reiterated the critical role compliance plays as a decisive factor in institutional uptake. He articulated how predictable onboarding, integrated compliance in products, and proactive regulatory commitments strengthen Bybit's banking relationships and diminish operational challenges for professional investors.
During her opening remarks, Yoyee Wang, Head of Business to Business at Bybit, unveiled a series of institutional offerings set to roll out in 2026, aimed at enhancing market connectivity and operational efficiency for institutional clients. Among these offerings are significant updates to Bybit's CREDIT INS suite, now integrating Bybit Custody with RWA yield products. This allows institutions to securely hold assets, earn yields through tokenized money market funds, and access institutional credit, all while maintaining capital efficiency without compromising oversight.
Also announced was the Market Maker Gateway (MMGW), a high-performance access point that offers institutional clients expedited and stable connectivity to Bybit’s trading environment. High-frequency and quantitative traders will experience a reduction in round trip latency from 30 milliseconds to just 2.5 milliseconds. Bybit's nominal loans under the INS suite experienced a remarkable 26% quarterly increase, driven by strong adoption from multi-strategy firms and high-frequency trading (HFT) entities.
The gala also sparked a global dialogue around the future of capital markets, moderated by Dimitrios Psarrakis, Bybit’s Head of Global Affairs. The panel featured European regulatory figures, including Jean-Marc Laventure, Head of Financial Services Sales at Standard Chartered Bank, who discussed the convergence of traditional finance and digital assets. This pivotal shift underlines that the two worlds are no longer parallel but converging systems based on shared principles of transparency, efficiency, and institutional-grade governance.
At the soirée's conclusion, Bybit recognized outstanding contributions to the digital markets by honoring various institutions within its ecosystem. Awards were presented for numerous categories, including the Premier Corporate Trading Terminal Award and the Outstanding Institutional Contribution Award, with recipients like Wintermute and Amber Group lauded for their excellence and market impact.
Ben Zhou concluded the event by reaffirming Bybit’s commitment to fostering trust, researching infrastructure, and nurturing long-term partnerships within the financial digitization landscape. The gala proved to be a fitting celebration of achievements and a bold step toward further advancements in the crypto sphere, as Bybit continues to shape the future of decentralized finance together with its strategic partners. As we look toward 2026, Bybit is gearing up to play a pivotal role in the transformation of digital finance, armed with regulatory approvals and a strong community that exceeds 70 million users worldwide.
As a highlight, the evening kicked off with a strong commitment to bolster institutional finance backed by Bybit's recent achievements in acquiring full licensing. The exchange secured the Virtual Asset Platform Operator (VAPO) license from the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) and is poised to operate under the MiCAR regime in the European Economic Area (EEA). These licenses position Bybit as a leader in regulated digital finance, further legitimizing its operations in the global marketplace.
Ben Zhou, co-founder and CEO of Bybit, opened the gala with insights on the importance of trust and compliance in institutional adoption. "With our regulatory foundation in the UAE and EEA, coupled with a transparent and resilient liquidity engine, Bybit is committed to driving the next phase of institutional digital finance," he remarked. Zhou emphasized that institutional confidence stems from the strength of retail trading, as the Bybit Card has already seen over 1.8 million cards issued across 13 regions, showcasing Bybit's expansive retail ecosystem. This robust retail framework is strategically translating into better pricing and performance for institutional clients.
Interestingly, Rohit Malhotra, Chief Financial Officer of Bybit, highlighted the significant rise in asset management within the past year. Bybit's managed assets surged from $40 million in Q2 to a staggering $200 million in Q4, marking a 400% increase that illustrates the growing institutional interest in accessing quality wealth management services. "Institutions are choosing Bybit for liquidity certainty, compliance, and performance opportunities," he noted, indicating that inflows increased from $1.3 billion in Q3 to nearly $2.88 billion in Q4.
The gala also featured a prominent session led by Robert MacDonald, Bybit's Chief Legal Compliance Officer, who reiterated the critical role compliance plays as a decisive factor in institutional uptake. He articulated how predictable onboarding, integrated compliance in products, and proactive regulatory commitments strengthen Bybit's banking relationships and diminish operational challenges for professional investors.
During her opening remarks, Yoyee Wang, Head of Business to Business at Bybit, unveiled a series of institutional offerings set to roll out in 2026, aimed at enhancing market connectivity and operational efficiency for institutional clients. Among these offerings are significant updates to Bybit's CREDIT INS suite, now integrating Bybit Custody with RWA yield products. This allows institutions to securely hold assets, earn yields through tokenized money market funds, and access institutional credit, all while maintaining capital efficiency without compromising oversight.
Also announced was the Market Maker Gateway (MMGW), a high-performance access point that offers institutional clients expedited and stable connectivity to Bybit’s trading environment. High-frequency and quantitative traders will experience a reduction in round trip latency from 30 milliseconds to just 2.5 milliseconds. Bybit's nominal loans under the INS suite experienced a remarkable 26% quarterly increase, driven by strong adoption from multi-strategy firms and high-frequency trading (HFT) entities.
The gala also sparked a global dialogue around the future of capital markets, moderated by Dimitrios Psarrakis, Bybit’s Head of Global Affairs. The panel featured European regulatory figures, including Jean-Marc Laventure, Head of Financial Services Sales at Standard Chartered Bank, who discussed the convergence of traditional finance and digital assets. This pivotal shift underlines that the two worlds are no longer parallel but converging systems based on shared principles of transparency, efficiency, and institutional-grade governance.
At the soirée's conclusion, Bybit recognized outstanding contributions to the digital markets by honoring various institutions within its ecosystem. Awards were presented for numerous categories, including the Premier Corporate Trading Terminal Award and the Outstanding Institutional Contribution Award, with recipients like Wintermute and Amber Group lauded for their excellence and market impact.
Ben Zhou concluded the event by reaffirming Bybit’s commitment to fostering trust, researching infrastructure, and nurturing long-term partnerships within the financial digitization landscape. The gala proved to be a fitting celebration of achievements and a bold step toward further advancements in the crypto sphere, as Bybit continues to shape the future of decentralized finance together with its strategic partners. As we look toward 2026, Bybit is gearing up to play a pivotal role in the transformation of digital finance, armed with regulatory approvals and a strong community that exceeds 70 million users worldwide.
Topics Financial Services & Investing）
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