The World Trades Here: Bybit's WSOT 2026 Returns With a Prize Pool of Up to 10 Million USDT
Key Takeaways
- •Bybit's World Series of Trading 2026 opens for registration on October 29, 2026 at 10 AM UTC and runs until December 2, 2026, with a maximum prize pool of 10 million USDT.
- •The 2026 edition marks the biggest change in the competition's six-year history by expanding from crypto into a multi-asset format covering crypto, stocks, gold, oil, and indices from a single account.
- •Two new tracks, Global Assets and the AI Showdown, introduce traditional assets and AI-assisted trading into the competition for the first time.
- •WSOT 2025 set records with 520,451 participants from 202 countries and regions and earned a Guinness World Records title after 71,765 participants joined within 24 hours.
- •Registration has no minimum equity requirement, but participation is subject to eligibility, KYC, and product appropriateness checks, and pro users, market makers, and institutional users are excluded.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates — October 28, 2026 — Chainwire
Bybit, the New Financial Platform trusted by more than 80 million users worldwide, has announced that the World Series of Trading (WSOT), its flagship global trading competition, returns for 2026. Registration opens on October 29, 2026 at 10 AM UTC, and the competition runs until December 2, 2026, with a maximum prize pool of 10 million USDT.
Fresh from a record 520,451 traders and a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title in 2025, WSOT 2026 opens on October 29 and brings stocks, gold, and AI-assisted trading into the arena for the first time.
This year's theme, The World Trades Here, marks the biggest change in WSOT's six-year history. The competition expands from crypto into a multi-asset arena, where traders can compete on crypto, stocks, gold, oil, and indices from one account, and put AI to work in a dedicated new track. For an event that began in 2020 as a crypto trading competition, the expansion brings instruments traditionally found in equity, commodity, and index markets into the same standings as digital assets. Ahead of opening day, Bybit is inviting traders, creators, and community leaders worldwide to step up as squad leaders.
A Record-Breaking 2025
WSOT 2025 was the largest edition in the competition's history. By removing equity requirements at registration, WSOT opened its doors wider than ever, and the world showed up:
- 520,451 participants from 202 countries and regions, nearly seven times the 2024 total
- 1,474 squads formed worldwide
- A GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title, with 71,765 participants joining within 24 hours
Those numbers cap six years of growth. WSOT launched in 2020 with nearly 12,000 participants. By 2024 it had reached 161 countries and generated USD 100 billion in trading volume, adding tiered leagues, Copy Trading, and DEX participation along the way. Since its launch, WSOT has grown from a crypto trading competition into Bybit's flagship global trading event.
What to Expect in 2026
WSOT 2026 reflects Bybit's shift into a global multi-asset platform. Five tracks share the maximum prize pool, which unlocks as total trading volume grows — so the amount ultimately distributed depends on the total volume the competition generates:
- Squad Showdown. Squads compete on P&L%, with rewards for top squad leaders and the first squads to form.
- Individual Showdown. Traders compete on P&L within weight classes: Lightweight, Middleweight, and Heavyweight.
- Global Assets (new). Spot and TradFi perps leaderboards spanning crypto, stocks, gold, oil, and indices.
- AI Showdown (new). A dedicated leaderboard for traders putting Bybit AI or general AI subaccounts to work.
- Preheat Quest. Trading tasks across five arenas, with rewards throughout the campaign.
Bybit is inviting traders, creators, and community leaders to lead squads. Applications open on October 29, and both members and leaders earn rewards for inviting traders to their squad.
Key Dates by Stage
All dates and times are in UTC (2026):
| Stage | Dates & Times |
|---|---|
| Preheat Quest: Registration | Oct 29, 10 AM – Dec 2, 10 AM |
| Squad Showdown: Squad Creation | Oct 29, 10 AM – Nov 11, 10 AM |
| Squad Showdown: Main Competition | Nov 13, 10 AM – Dec 2, 10 AM |
| Individual Showdown | Nov 13, 10 AM – Dec 2, 10 AM |
| Global Assets: Spot Competition | Nov 5, 10 AM – Nov 26, 10 AM |
| Global Assets: TradFi Perps | Nov 19, 10 AM – Dec 2, 10 AM |
| AI Showdown | Nov 13, 10 AM – Dec 2, 10 AM |
There is no minimum equity to register, keeping in place the open-registration approach that accompanied 2025's record turnout. Participation is subject to eligibility, KYC, and product appropriateness checks. Wash trading, self-trading, multiple accounts, and collusion are prohibited and monitored, and participants who breach the rules will be disqualified. Pro users, market makers, and institutional users are not eligible.
Once registration opens on October 29, the 2026 field can be measured against 2025's record of 520,451 traders, with squad rosters closing on November 11 before the squad, individual, and AI showdowns begin on November 13.
About Bybit
Bybit is The New Financial Platform. The company believes every person should have access to every financial opportunity on earth, and is building the first intelligent platform that connects anyone, anywhere, to the world's finance. Trusted by more than 80 million users worldwide, Bybit brings together investing, trading, payments, and wealth-building in a single secure and intelligent ecosystem. Through the combination of AI-powered technology, deep global liquidity, robust security, and transparent operations, Bybit aims to make global finance more accessible, efficient, and empowering for everyone.
Disclaimer
Trading digital assets and derivatives involves significant risk, particularly when using leverage, and you may lose all of the funds you commit. Rewards do not compensate for trading losses. Product availability may vary by region, and some products and services may not be available to all users. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to access or use any product or service. The full Terms and Conditions on the event page apply and prevail in case of any inconsistency. Bybit reserves the right to modify the terms of this event without prior notice and holds the right of final interpretation of the event. Participants from restricted countries and regions are not eligible for this event, and the event is not intended for users residing in the European Economic Area (EEA). Participants are solely responsible for any taxes arising from rewards received, and Bybit may withhold or deduct taxes where required by applicable law.
Contact: Tony Au, Head of PR, Bybit — tony.au@bybit.com
