Bybit Re-enters the UK With FCA-Compliant Framework, Spot Trading Access, and Over 100 Crypto Pairs

A compliance-led return reshapes Bybit’s UK presence after a two-year regulatory reset

TL;DR

• Bybit has officially relaunched services in the UK after a nearly two-year absence, operating under an FCA-compliant financial promotion framework via Archax.
• UK users regain access to spot and P2P crypto trading with more than 100 available trading pairs, while derivatives remain unavailable.
• The relaunch reflects growing UK crypto adoption, estimated at 8% of adults, and signals a strategic shift toward compliance-first market entry.

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Bybit has formally returned to the UK market, restoring access for local users after a regulatory-driven withdrawal that began nearly two years ago. The relaunch, disclosed on December 19, 2025, marks a compliance-focused reset rather than a simple reinstatement of past operations. Services are now offered under a financial promotion approval structure aligned with the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s rules, reflecting how global crypto platforms are adapting to one of the world’s most demanding regulatory environments. The move positions Bybit to re-engage with a market where crypto ownership has continued to grow despite tighter oversight.

The exchange’s UK comeback is built around a partnership with Archax, a London-based, FCA-regulated digital asset exchange and custodian. Through this arrangement, Archax approves Bybit’s financial promotions, enabling the platform to legally market and provide services to UK users without being directly authorised by the FCA itself. This structure addresses the regulatory gap that forced Bybit to exit the UK when the FCA introduced stricter crypto promotion rules, including mandatory risk warnings, cooling-off periods for new investors, and tougher standards on advertising clarity and fairness.

UK users now have access to Bybit’s spot trading platform, with more than 100 cryptocurrency trading pairs available at launch, alongside peer-to-peer trading functionality. The offering is intentionally limited to non-derivative products, reflecting the regulatory sensitivities that previously affected crypto platforms operating in the country. Bybit has indicated that additional products may follow over time, but only as regulatory clarity improves and compliance requirements can be met without compromise. The exchange continues to rely on its global liquidity infrastructure to support trading activity, aiming to deliver consistent execution and market depth comparable to its operations elsewhere.

Compliance has been positioned as the cornerstone of Bybit’s renewed UK strategy. The platform now operates with enhanced anti-money-laundering and know-your-customer controls designed specifically to meet UK regulatory expectations. Company representatives have framed the relaunch as the beginning of a new chapter rather than a return to the status quo, emphasizing long-term commitment over rapid expansion. Senior policy leadership has highlighted the UK’s mature financial system and regulatory direction as reasons for continued engagement, despite the higher compliance burden.

Market data underscores why the UK remains strategically important. FCA-commissioned research cited in coverage of the relaunch indicates that roughly 8% of UK adults, or about 5.5 million people, currently hold digital assets. Centralized exchanges remain the dominant entry point, with nearly three-quarters of crypto holders acquiring assets through such platforms. This sustained adoption trend has unfolded even as regulators tightened oversight, suggesting that demand for regulated, transparent access points continues to rise.

Despite the relaunch, consumer protections remain limited in line with UK rules governing overseas crypto firms. Bybit users do not benefit from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme or the Financial Ombudsman Service, a distinction that has been clearly disclosed as part of the compliance framework. Risk warnings remain prominent, reinforcing that crypto investments carry the potential for significant losses, including the possibility of losing all invested capital.

This article has been refined and enhanced by ChatGPT.