What is Bybit and is it available in the US?

Bybit is a centralized crypto exchange that offers spot trading, futures and other derivatives to users in many countries. It was founded in 2018, moved its headquarters from Singapore to Dubai in 2022, and is led by co-founder and CEO Ben Zhou, according to Cointelegraph. It is not available to people in the United States.

Is Bybit available in the US?

No. Bybit's help center lists the United States as an "Excluded Jurisdiction" where it does not offer services, as of October 2026. Canada, mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore and several sanctioned regions are on the same list. Because of this, US residents cannot open accounts, and using tools to hide your location usually breaks an exchange's terms. US options are covered in our guide on how to buy cryptocurrency.

Is Bybit available in Australia?

Australia is not on Bybit's excluded list, and Bybit publishes Australia-specific documents such as cardholder terms for its Bybit Card. Its regulatory standing there is less clear. Finder, an Australian comparison site, said in October 2026 that Bybit was not licensed to offer crypto derivatives in Australia and that its research did not find Bybit on the AUSTRAC register. In Europe, Bybit EU received a MiCA licence from Austria's Financial Market Authority in May 2025, letting it serve the European Economic Area from Vienna.

Is Bybit KYC required?

Yes. Bybit's KYC FAQ says identity verification of at least the Standard level is mandatory for all of its products and services. Standard needs a physical photo ID, such as a passport or driving licence. Advanced adds proof of address, and higher limits require further checks. Our guide on what KYC is explains why exchanges collect this information.

Is Bybit legit and safe after the hack?

On or about February 21, 2025, attackers took roughly $1.5 billion in crypto from Bybit. On February 26, the FBI said North Korea was responsible, naming the activity "TraderTraitor," and asked exchanges and other services to block addresses used to launder the funds. It is one of the largest crypto thefts on record, as covered in our guide on the biggest crypto hack.

Whether an exchange is "legit" usually comes down to who licenses it where you live and how it protects customer funds. Bybit holds a MiCA licence in the EU but is not licensed in the US. Any exchange that holds your crypto carries custody risk, which our guide on how crypto gets hacked explains in more detail.