Bybit adds an Austrian payments licence to its European stack
Bybit's Austrian arm has secured an Electronic Money Institution licence from Austria's Financial Market Authority, adding regulated payment services alongside its existing MiCAR crypto authorisation for the European Economic Area.
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A second Austrian licence to sit alongside MiCAR
Bybit Payments GmbH has been granted an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) licence by Austria's Financial Market Authority (FMA). The approval gives @BybitEU a regulated payments arm to sit alongside the crypto-asset authorisation it already holds in the country.
Crypto-asset services on the platform are provided separately by Bybit EU GmbH, which has been authorised under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) since May 2025. That MiCAR authorisation was granted on 28 May 2025 by the FMA and is listed in the official ESMA register, permitting Bybit EU GmbH to legally serve clients across 29 EU and EEA countries.
To comply with regulatory requirements, the two Austrian entities carry distinct permissions and responsibilities: Bybit EU GmbH holds the MiCAR authorisation for crypto-asset services, while Bybit Payments GmbH holds the EMI licence for electronic money and payment services. Their services will be brought together through the Bybit.eu platform to support a more integrated experience for customers in Europe.
Payments roadmap and broader ambitions
The EMI licence lays the groundwork for a broader suite of consumer and business financial products, including person-to-person payments, open banking, merchant solutions and card products, though specific launch dates have not yet been announced. Managing director Georg Harer said the combination of licences creates the foundations for connecting crypto, payments and everyday financial services in Europe.
The EMI licence will also 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. Further information, including concrete product launch dates and details of the Europe-wide rollout, will be communicated in the near future.
The move is the latest step in a busy regulatory buildout for Bybit in Europe. After securing its MiCAR licence in May 2025, the group submitted a formal application for a licence under the Austrian implementation of MiFID II through a separate entity, Bybit X GmbH. As a licensed investment firm, Bybit X would be permitted to offer regulated derivatives products, including futures and options, to clients across the EEA.
Sources:
PR Newswire: Bybit.eu Expands European Offering as Bybit Payments GmbH Secures EMI Licence
CoinDesk: Crypto Exchange Bybit Granted MiCA License in Austria
Chainwire: Bybit EU Group Sets Sights on MiFID II License
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Crypto RichRich has been researching cryptocurrency and blockchain technology for eight years and has served as a senior analyst at BSCN since its founding in 2020. He focuses on fundamental analysis of early-stage crypto projects and tokens and has published in-depth research reports on over 200 emerging protocols. Rich also writes about broader technology and scientific trends and maintains active involvement in the crypto community through X/Twitter Spaces, and leading industry events.