Singapore’s financial regulator has added major cryptocurrency exchange Bybit to its public Investor Alert List. The move by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) flags the platform for operating without the necessary licensing in the jurisdiction.
The entry, dated June 17, identifies Bybit Fintech Limited and its main trading website. The list serves as a warning to the public about entities that may be wrongly perceived as licensed or regulated by MAS.
Why Bybit Was Flagged
The alert stems from a licensing requirement under Singapore’s Payment Services Act. Firms offering digital payment token services must obtain authorization to operate legally. Entities that solicit or serve local residents without approval risk regulatory action.
Despite its global scale and Singaporean roots—Bybit was founded by entrepreneur Ben Zhou—the exchange already restricts access for users in its home country. It has implemented measures like geo-blocking Singaporean IP addresses.
MAS’s Broader Regulatory Stance
The warning is consistent with MAS’s strict compliance oversight of the crypto sector. The regulator maintains a high threshold for market participants.
In a recent case, MAS revoked the Major Payment Institution license of Bsquared Technology in May. The action came after the regulator found false statements and significant weaknesses in the firm’s risk management and control systems. That case demonstrated that even previously licensed firms are subject to continuous scrutiny.
Conversely, MAS continues to approve firms that meet its standards, such as infrastructure provider BitGo. Investors are directed to the Financial Institutions Directory to verify a platform’s licensing status.
Bybit’s Global Operations and Recent Moves
The MAS listing does not appear to have disrupted Bybit’s global operations. The exchange continues to provide trading services and other products in jurisdictions where it is permitted.
Notably, the Singapore alert contrasts with a recent regulatory success for Bybit in Malaysia. In April 2025, the exchange was removed from that country’s investor alert list after engaging with local regulators.
Days before the Singapore warning, Bybit announced a partnership with Plume. The collaboration launched institutional fixed-income vaults within Bybit’s real-world asset section, allowing users to deploy stablecoins into products linked to traditional finance instruments.
At the time of publication, Bybit had not issued a public statement on the MAS listing.
Based on reporting from crypto.news.
