Bybit is expanding its offerings to include U.S. stocks and commodities, aiming to attract institutional investors. Expected to launch by the end of this quarter, the features will integrate with existing trading infrastructure. This strategy follows supportive policies during the Trump administration and comes after a significant security breach earlier this year, even as user activity shows signs of recovery.
Bybit, the popular cryptocurrency exchange, is set to expand its trading offerings, venturing into U.S. equities, commodities, and indices. This move comes as the exchange, historically focused on digital assets, aims to attract institutional investors and diversify its product range. The launch of these new features is expected within the current quarter, marking a significant strategic shift for Bybit.
During a livestream on May 3, Bybit CEO Ben Zhou detailed the upcoming trading instruments which will include well-known commodities like gold and crude oil, alongside major U.S. stocks such as Apple and MicroStrategy. This expansion not only aims to cater to a wider array of retail and institutional clients but also reflects the growing convergence between cryptocurrency and traditional financial markets.
The new trading features will work within Bybit’s existing infrastructure, specifically incorporating the MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platform. This setup already allows for leveraged gold trading and will extend to other instruments, offering an appealing maximum leverage of 500x for high-risk traders. This level of leverage is particularly attractive to those who thrive on the volatility often seen in both commodities and equities.
So far, Bybit has dabbled in gold and oil trading, albeit in a more limited capacity. By adding U.S. stocks to the mix, Bybit is positioning itself to directly compete with platforms like Robinhood, which blend crypto activities with traditional brokerage services. The expansion underlines a broader industry trend—fading lines between crypto-native exchanges and conventional trading platforms as investor demand shapes the financial landscape.
Moreover, this move aligns with a significant shift in policy under former President Donald Trump, who has taken a more supportive stance towards cryptocurrency innovation. The current regulatory environment is encouraging firms like Bybit to explore new opportunities and stay competitive in the fast-evolving market.
Interestingly, this expansion comes on the heels of a serious security breach earlier this year. In February, Bybit experienced an exploit that resulted in the loss of 500,000 ETH, roughly valued at $1.5 billion. Zhou disclosed that about 28% of the stolen funds are now untraceable due to the assailant’s attempts to launder the assets. Despite this challenge, Bybit is collaborating with the broader crypto community to recover the remaining funds.
Even with the setback, recent data indicates that user activity and trading volumes on Bybit are on the rise again, inching back to pre-exploit levels. This uptick suggests that user confidence in the platform is gradually being restored, hinting at a potential resurgence after the earlier incident.
