Bybit.eu announced that Bybit Payments GmbH has been granted an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) licence by Austria's Financial Market Authority (FMA). The new licence enables the company to offer regulated e-money and payment services through the Bybit.eu platform, complementing the crypto-asset services already provided by a separate entity. The EMI licence, granted under the EU's Electronic Money Directive framework, allows authorised institutions to issue electronic money and provide payment services, with the ability to passport those services across European Economic Area member states.

Dual Regulatory Framework Across Two Austrian Entities

Under the current regulatory structure, Bybit operates two distinct Austrian entities on the Bybit.eu platform. Bybit EU GmbH, authorised under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) since May 2025, provides crypto-asset services. MiCAR, which fully applied to crypto-asset service providers across the EU from December 2024, established a harmonised rulebook enabling licensed firms to operate throughout the EEA under a single national authorisation. Bybit Payments GmbH now holds the EMI licence for electronic money and payment services.

The two entities maintain separate regulatory permissions and responsibilities to ensure compliance. Bybit EU GmbH holds the MiCAR authorisation, while Bybit Payments GmbH operates under the EMI licence. Both services are accessible through a single integrated platform for European customers. This dual-entity structure reflects a compliance approach seen across the crypto industry, where firms are separating crypto-asset activities from traditional payment and e-money services to align with distinct EU regulatory regimes governing each category.

"Europe is setting the global benchmark for how digital assets and financial services can evolve together under clear regulation," said Georg Harer, Managing Director at Bybit EU GmbH and Bybit Payments GmbH. "The EMI licence granted to Bybit Payments GmbH is an important milestone in our long-term commitment to Europe. Together with the MiCAR authorisation held by Bybit EU GmbH, it creates complementary regulatory foundations for connecting crypto-assets, payments and everyday financial services through the Bybit.eu platform."

Future Payment Capabilities

The EMI licence establishes the regulatory foundation for a range of future payment capabilities under Bybit Payments GmbH. These may include person-to-person payments, e-money services, Strong Customer Authentication, open-banking functionality, merchant payment solutions, and future card initiatives, as these services are introduced in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.

"This licence enables Bybit Payments GmbH to build regulated payment capabilities that complement the crypto-asset services offered by Bybit EU GmbH," said Bernhard Krick, Managing Director at Bybit Payments GmbH. "Maintaining a clear distinction between the two regulated entities is fundamental. Each entity will provide services within its own permissions, while customers will be able to access those services through the Bybit.eu platform."

The licence is also expected to support Bybit Payments GmbH in developing strategic relationships with financial institutions, payment providers, and enterprise partners, while reducing reliance on third-party payment infrastructure over time. For Bybit, which serves customers globally, the Austrian licensing milestones form part of a broader pattern of crypto exchanges pursuing EU regulatory authorisations to maintain market access as MiCAR compliance becomes a prerequisite for serving European customers.

Further details, including concrete product launch dates and Europe-wide rollout timelines, will be announced in the near future.

About Bybit EU

Bybit.eu is the European platform through which services are delivered by separately regulated Bybit entities.

Bybit EU GmbH is an Austrian crypto-asset service provider authorised under MiCAR. It provides crypto-asset services to customers across the European Economic Area, with the exception of Malta, through the Bybit.eu platform. The company is authorised to provide custody and administration of crypto-assets on behalf of clients, exchange of crypto-assets for funds, exchange of crypto-assets for other crypto-assets, placing of crypto-assets, and transfer services for crypto-assets on behalf of clients. Bybit EU GmbH does not operate a trading platform for crypto-assets and does not provide investment advice.

Bybit Payments GmbH is an Austrian electronic money institution authorised by the FMA. It will provide regulated e-money and payment services through the Bybit.eu platform as those services are introduced.

The services of both entities are subject to their respective regulatory permissions, applicable terms and conditions, and availability in the relevant jurisdiction.

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Website: www.bybit.eu