Crypto exchange Bybit has officially relaunched its platform in the United Kingdom, nearly two years after stepping away from the market due to tighter regulatory rules. The return marks a renewed effort by the company to serve UK users while aligning with the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) financial promotion requirements.
As of Friday, UK customers can access spot trading and peer-to-peer services on Bybit, with support for around 100 trading pairs. The exchange says the platform is backed by its global liquidity and operational infrastructure, offering users access to international digital asset markets under a UK-compliant framework.
A response to growing UK crypto demand
Bybit’s relaunch comes amid steady growth in crypto adoption across the UK. Recent FCA-commissioned research estimates that roughly 8% of UK adults — about 5.5 million people — now own crypto assets. The same study found that centralized exchanges are becoming the most common entry point, with nearly three-quarters of respondents saying they typically acquire crypto through these platforms.
Bybit says its UK offering is designed to meet expectations for reliability and transparency, while giving users flexibility in how they trade and manage digital assets. The company also noted that its UK operations follow strict anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) standards.
To comply with local financial promotion rules, Bybit has partnered with Archax, an FCA-authorised firm that approves crypto-related marketing for overseas companies operating in the UK. This arrangement allows Bybit to promote its services in line with UK law, even though the exchange itself is not directly authorised or regulated by the FCA.
“Our goal is to give UK users reliable access to global opportunities in digital assets,” said Mykolas Majauskas, Bybit’s Senior Policy Director.
He described the UK’s financial ecosystem and regulatory direction as supportive of responsible innovation, adding that Bybit plans to roll out additional products tailored specifically to UK users.
Returning after a regulatory pause
Bybit’s comeback follows its decision to suspend UK services in September 2023, shortly before new FCA marketing rules took effect. Those rules introduced stricter standards for crypto promotions, including clearer risk disclosures and a mandatory cooling-off period for first-time investors.
At the time, Bybit CEO Ben Zhou said the changes made it difficult to continue operating in the UK, leading the company to halt services and close existing positions. Other major exchanges, including Binance and OKX, also reassessed their UK strategies in response to the new requirements.
While it was initially unclear whether Bybit would return, the company said the pause would allow it to focus on meeting UK regulatory expectations. Zhou confirmed on Friday that the relaunch represents “not just a return, but the start of a new chapter,” shaped by feedback and the needs of UK users.
Bybit also emphasized that crypto asset services are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme or the Financial Ombudsman Service, a standard disclaimer required under UK regulations.
