As competition in the cryptocurrency exchange sector intensifies in 2025, Bybit secures its position as the world’s second-largest platform by daily trading volume and 60 million users. Its development trajectory has been marked by both glorious milestones and severe tests. This comprehensive review dissects Bybit’s real-world performance across dimensions such as security, product features, fee structure, and user experience, to provide a complete and accurate picture of the platform.
Founded by Ben Zhou in 2018 and originally based in Singapore, Bybit relocated its global headquarters to Dubai, UAE in 2023. It now serves over 195 countries and regions. As of 2025:
The user base exceeds 60 million, second only to Binance
Supports 650+ cryptocurrencies and 500+ trading pairs
Offers spot trading, derivatives, options, and P2P fiat on/off-ramp services (supporting 70+ fiat currencies)
However, its globalization has encountered regulatory challenges—Bybit faces restrictions in the U.S., China, France, and the U.K., and was fined €2.25 million in the Netherlands due to compliance issues.
In February 2025, Bybit was attacked by the North Korean hacker group Lazarus, resulting in a loss of $1.5 billion in ETH assets. The incident revealed fatal weaknesses in its security system:
Cold wallet frontend tampered: Hackers used phishing to control operator devices and forged a Safe{Wallet} interface to deceive signers.
Blind signing flaw in hardware wallets: Operators couldn't verify transaction content, leading to malicious approvals.
Lack of independent risk control: The multi-signature setup relied on the same infrastructure, meaning a single point of failure compromised the entire system.
Post-incident response and recovery:
Emergency replenishment of reserves within 72 hours, with a pledge to fully compensate user assets
Liquidity restored to pre-incident levels within 30 days (BTC 1% depth reached $13 million)
Security system upgraded to five layers: cold storage + multi-signature + AI monitoring + anti-phishing code + insurance fund
2025 Bybit Security Incident Timeline
Date | Event | Impact & Response |
---|---|---|
2025-02-21 | Hacker attack | Loss of $1.5 billion in ETH assets |
2025-02-24 | Reserve fund replenished | Funds restored within 72 hours |
2025-02-28 | RPI retail order optimizer launched | Spread stabilized, protected manual traders |
2025-03-31 | Full liquidity restored | BTC liquidity reached $13 million/day |
1. Core Trading Markets
Spot trading: Supports 650+ coins with 12 order types, including market, limit, iceberg orders
Derivatives trading: Perpetual contracts (up to 100x leverage), quarterly contracts, and options (BTC/ETH/SOL)
Innovative products: Copy Trading, Grid Trading, Volatility Contracts (VOL)
2. Supporting Financial Tools
Bybit Earn: Flexible yield (3%–5%), fixed-term products (7%–15% APY)
NFT marketplace: Supports 12 blockchains; pioneered "fractional index funds"
Quant tools: Built-in Python strategy editor and TWAP algorithmic orders
Bybit uses a tiered fee system with VIP discounts, overall lower than the industry average:
Spot trading: Standard rate of 0.1% (Maker/Taker equal)
Derivatives trading:
Maker: 0.02%
Taker: 0.055%
Fiat trading:
P2P post order: 0.15%
P2P take order: 0.2%
Withdrawal fees:
BTC: 0.0005 BTC
ETH: 0.005 ETH (subject to dynamic adjustment)
VIP users can receive up to 50% fee discounts by increasing trading volume. Bulk orders over $500,000 can apply for customized rates.
Multi-terminal Adaptability
Web platform: Professional version supports 16 chart layouts and depth charts
Mobile app: Rated 4.7+ on iOS/Android, feature-complete compared to desktop
API integration: Supports quantitative institutions and high-frequency trading
Interface Innovations
Personalized workspace: Customize chart modules and save layouts
RPI order optimization: Retail traders enjoy institutional-level price improvement
Voice trading: AI assistant executes complex commands (in testing)
Bybit’s compliance progress is mixed:
Successful compliance: Licensed under Dubai VASP, registered with India FIU, regulated in Cyprus
Restricted regions: United States, Mainland China, France, United Kingdom (exited French market in January 2025)
Regulatory risk: Temporarily suspended services in the EEA while applying for MiCA licensing; compliance rectification ongoing
Support Channels
24/7 live chat (average response time: 23 seconds)
Email support, video support
Multilingual communities (over 3 million users across Telegram/Discord)
Mixed Reputation
Positive reviews: User-friendly interface, mature copy-trading system, rich educational resources
Common complaints: Slow withdrawal reviews (up to 4 hours during peak), delayed email responses
Third-party ratings: Sitejabber 1.2 stars, Reviews.io 2.14 stars
Core Strengths
Top-tier liquidity: <0.1% spreads on major coins; <$0.05% slippage on $1M orders
Rapid product innovation: 2–3 new features per quarter (e.g., RPI orders, voice trading)
Derivatives depth: Derivatives account for over 65% of trading volume; full suite of professional tools
Areas for Improvement
Altcoin liquidity issues: Higher slippage on some small-cap coins
Complex KYC process: Requires multi-level identity verification including proof of address
Missing advanced features: No VR trading or institutional-grade custody services like Binance
After surviving a $1.5 billion security crisis, Bybit has shown remarkable resilience and transparency, with its liquidity recovery setting a record in the industry. While regulatory compliance remains a challenge, its strengths in derivatives trading, fee optimization, and retail experience are highly competitive.
Recommended for:
High-frequency derivatives traders: seeking low latency + high leverage
Altcoin hunters: looking to invest in newly listed tokens early
Copy-trading users: replicating professional traders’ strategies
Passive income seekers: earning through Earn products
Caution advised for: U.S. users, privacy-maximalists, or beginners trading only mainstream coins
Bybit 2025 Core Capability Comparison
Evaluation Dimension | Advantages | Risks/Weaknesses |
---|---|---|
Security | Five-layer protection system, proof-of-reserves | Historical major breach, reliance on centralized custody |
Product Variety | Full derivatives suite, mature copy-trading | Lacks VR/Web3 deep integration |
Fee Competitiveness | Negative maker fees, large VIP discounts | High cost for small withdrawals |
Regulatory Adaptability | Licensed in Middle East & India | Limited access to U.S. and E.U. markets |
For traders willing to accept some regulatory uncertainty while pursuing high liquidity and innovative features, Bybit remains one of the most competitive trading platforms in 2025. Users are advised to start with small trades, gradually explore its powerful derivatives ecosystem, and strictly enable 2FA and anti-phishing codes to protect asset security.
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