Bybit’s 2026 roadmap shows expansion beyond exchange model

Bybit has outlined a plan to expand beyond crypto trading, positioning itself as a broader financial platform spanning banking, custody, and cross-border services by 2026.

Crypto exchange Bybit today announced its 2026 transformation into “The New Financial Platform.” Bybit describes this as a global financial ecosystem designed to expand access to modern banking, investment, and payments infrastructure for the world’s underserved populations. The vision was unveiled by its co-founder and CEO Ben Zhou during the biannual keynote session.

At the center of the strategy is a long-term mission: empowering the 1.4 billion underbanked people globally by reducing barriers to participation in modern finance.

A cornerstone of this initiative is MyBank, Bybit’s new retail banking layer, targeting a launch in February 2026. MyBank provides dedicated accounts that simplify large-value fiat on- and off-ramps while enabling everyday financial transactions across borders under the compliance framework. 

The service is designed to address real-world problems faced by users in emerging markets: slow transfers, limited access, high fees, and limited products. According to Bybit, MyBank aims to enable faster and more cost-efficient capital utilization for individuals and businesses with bank-grade experience.

Bybit’s institutional custody framework, ByCustody, supports over $5 billion in assets managed by over 30 professional asset managers on the platform. The custody architecture supports secure segregation of client assets, enabling institutions and private wealth clients to operate with traditional financial safeguards while accessing digital markets.

More than 2,000 institutions now use Bybit’s infrastructure, a 100% year-over-year increase. This trend reflects a growing demand for hybrid financial platforms that bridge traditional and digital asset ecosystems.