Bybit built its name with active traders: the global platform puts spot markets next to derivatives, trading bots and copy trading. Europeans, however, deal with Bybit EU, a separate company with its own product range and price list. What you pay depends on which of those accounts you hold and on the market you trade. Any evaluation should also weigh the very large theft Bybit suffered, instead of judging it purely on trading features.

At a glance

  • Founded: 2018.
  • Headquarters: Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Bybit EU operates from Vienna, Austria.
  • Regulation and licences: Bybit EU GmbH is MiCA authorised by the Austrian FMA; that permission does not extend to every global Bybit product.
  • KYC requirement: Regular retail trading requires identity verification.
  • Supported countries: The global and European services each keep their own list of eligible and restricted territories.
  • Number of cryptocurrencies: The global platform describes 440+ spot assets; the EU list is different.
  • Fiat deposits: Bank and card options by region, including euro deposits for eligible European users.
  • Mobile app: Trading on mobile through whichever global or European account applies to you.

Sign up and KYC process

Sign-up involves entering your identity details, uploading an accepted ID document and completing a face check. Higher limits or extra services can trigger further checks. The real starting point is finding out which Bybit service accepts residents of your country. Being verified under one regional arrangement does not entitle you to everything the brand offers elsewhere.

In Europe, Bybit EU GmbH holds MiCA authorisation from the FMA in Austria, while a sister company, Bybit Payments GmbH, has an electronic money institution licence. These cover different activities. For a European customer, knowing which of these entities you contract with tells you more than the fact that the global exchange is run from Dubai.

Fees

The global reference rate for crypto spot trading at VIP 0 is 0.10% for both makers and takers. Pairs involving fiat and other products may follow different schedules, and futures add funding and similar charges that a simple spot comparison will not show.

Bybit EU has its own published fee schedule, with tier rules that are not the same as the global ones. Look up the rate for the exact European market and tier you will use before trading. Crypto pairs and fiat pairs can be treated differently, and regional schedules are revised from time to time, so an older comparison based on global fees is a poor guide to what a European trade costs.

Supported assets and features

Globally, the spot list covers the major coins and a broad range of altcoins. Tools include recurring buys and copy trading, and derivatives make up a large part of the global business. Copy trading can make execution easier, but your result still depends on the strategy you follow, how much you allocate and the price you actually get. A strong track record from the trader you copy says nothing certain about what you will earn.

Treat the European platform as a service in its own right. MiCA authorisation does not mean the global derivatives range is available there, and the global coin count does not describe the EU list. Bybit stands out mostly for people who want its trading tools. If you only need to buy crypto with euros now and then, simple banking and withdrawals may matter more than its extra features.

Security

Bybit was the victim of a theft valued by the FBI at around $1.5 billion, which US authorities attributed to North Korean hackers. This is a major event in the exchange's history, not a case of individual accounts being phished. It shows that strong personal login security cannot protect you from problems in how an exchange authorises and runs its wallets.

On the account side, Bybit provides passkeys, extra authentication, withdrawal limits and a separate fund password. These help against specific account threats but cannot stop an attack on the exchange's own systems. Its reserve reports and later security updates should be read with the theft in mind. New customers should separate how useful the trading features are from how much they trust the custody arrangements.

Pros

  • Global spot markets plus tools for active trading and automated strategies.
  • A clearly identified European company with MiCA authorisation from Austria.
  • Separate published fee schedules make the regional pricing easy to find.

Cons

  • The large disclosed theft is a serious custody risk factor.
  • Global products and prices cannot be assumed to apply on Bybit EU.
  • Copy trading and leverage add complexity well beyond simple spot buying.

Verdict

Bybit suits traders who have a clear reason to use its tools and are willing to weigh its security record. European users should start from Bybit EU's own coin list and fee schedule, not from global comparisons. A major past theft combined with differing regional set-ups calls for more careful thought than simply picking the brand for its fees.