Key Service Restrictions and Changes
Published 6/29/2026, 4:41:01 PM
Bybit is restricting services in the European Economic Area (EEA) to transition users from its global platform to a dedicated, regulated entity, Bybit EU GmbH, in order to comply with the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). This transition is driven by the July 1, 2026, deadline, which marks the end of the MiCA "grandfathering" period, after which any exchange serving EEA residents without a formal license operates illegally.
Key Service Restrictions and Changes
To maintain compliance with MiCA and the Financial Market Authority (FMA) of Austria, Bybit has implemented several structural changes to its EEA service offering:
| Feature | Global Bybit (bybit.com) | Bybit EU (bybit.eu) |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | Restricted for EEA residents | Primary platform for 29 EEA countries |
| Derivatives | High-leverage perpetuals/options | Restricted for retail users under MiCA |
| Stablecoins | Full support (including USDT) | Restricted (USDT not MiCA-authorized) |
| Compliance | Standard KYC | Full re-KYC & Travel Rule enforcement |
| Fiat Support | Various | SEPA, Card, Apple/Google Pay (EUR) |
Reasons for EEA Service Restrictions
The restrictions are a direct response to the regulatory framework established by MiCA:
- Licensing and Governance: Bybit secured its license from Austria's FMA on May 28, 2025 [Source: https://www.fma.gv.at/en/granting-of-authorisation-bybit-eu-gmbh/]. To operate as a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP), Bybit must adhere to strict governance and consumer protection standards that the global platform does not meet.
- Stablecoin Compliance: MiCA imposes rigorous reserve rules on stablecoin issuers. Because Tether (USDT) is not currently MiCA-authorized, Bybit EU has restricted its use, instead offering compliant alternatives like USDQ and EURQ issued by Quantoz [Source: https://learn.bybit.com/en/stablecoin/what-is-quantoz-payments-usdq; https://www.quantoz.com/blog/quantoz-brings-european-regulated-stablecoins-eurq-and-usdq-to-algorand].
- Derivatives Limitations: EU regulators classify high-leverage crypto derivatives as high-risk for retail investors. Consequently, these products are restricted for retail clients on the regulated EU entity.
- Travel Rule Enforcement: Under the EU Transfer of Funds Regulation (TFR), Bybit must collect sender and recipient data for all transfers. For transactions exceeding €1,000, users must provide proof of wallet ownership.
- Reverse Solicitation: Bybit previously suspended communications with EEA users to avoid violating "reverse solicitation" rules, which prohibit non-EU firms from actively marketing to EU residents without a license.
Impact on EEA Users
Bybit EU GmbH is now headquartered in Vienna, Austria, to serve as the regional hub [Source: https://www.fintechweekly.com/magazine/articles/bybit-micar-license-austria-european-headquarters; https://www.northdata.com/Bybit%20(EU)%20Holdings%20GmbH,%20Wien/605833g].
EEA users are required to undergo a mandatory migration to bybit.eu, which includes a new KYC process. Users who fail to migrate before the July 1, 2026 deadline face restricted deposits and potential forced liquidation of positions into a withdrawal-only mode. Notably, residents of Malta are currently excluded from Bybit EU services despite being within the EEA.
In summary, Bybit is restricting its global services in the EEA to avoid legal penalties under MiCA, opting instead for a localized, regulated model that limits high-risk products and non-compliant stablecoins.