Bybit gains Austrian EMI license to expand EU payments

Bybit Payments GmbH received an electronic money institution (EMI) license from Austria’s Financial Market Authority on Aug. 4, 2026, authorizing the unit to provide regulated e‑money and payment services across the European Union via the Bybit.eu platform. Crypto-asset services on the platform will continue to be operated by Bybit EU GmbH, which received authorization as a crypto-asset service provider under the EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) in May 2025.

The EMI authorization permits Bybit’s Austrian payments arm to issue and redeem electronic money, run payment accounts and execute payment transactions across EU member states. The company said the license enables planned features including peer-to-peer transfers, open banking connectivity, merchant services, card programs and strong customer authentication. Bybit expects to introduce more than five payment features under the license but did not provide a detailed product timeline.

Bybit will keep fiat and e‑money operations within Bybit Payments GmbH while Bybit EU GmbH remains the regulated provider for crypto services under MiCAR. Company executives described the separate corporate structure as a way to ensure each entity operates within its specific regulatory permissions and to meet local supervisory rules. The EMI license also allows Bybit Payments to seek direct partnerships with European banks and payment processors and to reduce dependence on third-party providers over time.

Regulatory filings show more than 170 entities have registered as crypto-asset service providers under MiCAR, while a smaller number hold full trading platform authorizations or combined electronic payment permissions. Market participants have often separated fiat payment operations from digital-asset activities to match licensing rules and national supervision requirements.

Under EU rules, EMI status typically allows card issuance, merchant acquiring and account-to-account transfers under passporting arrangements, subject to national oversight and regulatory safeguards. Bybit said it will integrate the new authorization into the Bybit.eu user experience so customers can access payment and crypto services through the same platform, with each service governed by its applicable regulatory framework.

Georg Harer, managing director of both Bybit EU GmbH and Bybit Payments GmbH, described the EMI authorization as “an important milestone in our long-term commitment to Europe.” Bernhard Krick, managing director at Bybit Payments GmbH, added that keeping the two regulated entities distinct will let each provide services within its own permissions while customers access them on Bybit.eu.