Bybit’s European payments subsidiary has secured an electronic money institution license in Austria, giving the exchange a regulatory basis to add payment and e-money services to its regional platform.

On Tuesday, Bybit said Bybit Payments GmbH received the license from Austria’s Financial Market Authority. The authorization provides a legal basis for future payment capabilities, which may include person-to-person payments, merchant payment solutions, open banking features and card products.

The payment services will be offered through Bybit.eu alongside services provided by Bybit EU GmbH, a separate Austrian entity authorized under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation since May 2025. Bybit.eu serves users across the European Economic Area (EEA), with Malta excluded.

Bybit has not specified why Malta was excluded, but said on its website that services are available only in jurisdictions where applicable MiCA passporting requirements have been met.

Bybit said the two entities will maintain distinct regulatory permissions and responsibilities. Bybit EU GmbH is authorized to provide crypto custody, exchange, placement and transfer services, while Bybit Payments GmbH will handle regulated electronic money and payment products as they are introduced. The split highlights how exchanges operating in Europe are building separate compliance structures for crypto services and traditional payment services, reflecting the different regulatory regimes that govern each.

The exchange said the new regulatory milestone could help strengthen its relationship with banks, payment providers and enterprises while reducing its reliance on third-party payment infrastructure. For users, the practical significance is that payment and crypto services would sit under a clearer regulated setup, which can matter as exchanges expand beyond trading into transfers, merchant tools and other everyday financial functions.

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