MAS adds Bybit to investor alert list, warns exchange is not regulated in Singapore

Singapore’s central bank has added Bybit to its Investor Alert List [IAL]. This is a regulatory watchlist of entities that may be wrongly perceived as being licensed or regulated by the Monetary Authority of Singapore [MAS].

MAS announced the addition on June 17, listing both “Bybit Fintech Limited” and “Bybit” on the investor alert database.

The move does not constitute a finding of wrongdoing. Instead, the Investor Alert List is designed to identify persons or entities that, based on information available to MAS, may have been incorrectly perceived as being licensed, authorized, or otherwise regulated by the Singaporean regulator.

At the time of publication, Bybit had not publicly commented on the development.

What the MAS investor alert list means

According to MAS, the Investor Alert List includes entities that may be wrongly perceived as operating under the regulator’s supervision or approval.

The regulator notes that inclusion on the list does not automatically mean an entity has violated Singapore law. Rather, the list serves as a warning for investors to verify the regulatory status of firms before engaging with them.

MAS also states that the list is not exhaustive and reflects information available to the authority at the time of publication.

The addition of Bybit means Singapore users should not assume the exchange is licensed or regulated by MAS solely because it is present or accessible in the country.

Move comes as global crypto regulation tightens

The development arrives amid growing regulatory scrutiny of major crypto exchanges worldwide.

Bybit remains one of the largest digital asset trading platforms globally and has expanded beyond traditional crypto trading into products including tokenized equities and other financial offerings.

Singapore has positioned itself as one of Asia’s leading digital asset hubs while maintaining a relatively strict licensing framework for crypto service providers under its Payment Services Act.

MAS has previously added other major crypto-related entities to its Investor Alert List when it believed investors could mistakenly assume they were regulated locally.

Regulatory status remains key issue for exchanges

The listing also underscores a broader trend in the crypto industry, as exchanges increasingly navigate multiple regulatory frameworks across jurisdictions.

As regulators implement new licensing regimes and compliance requirements, exchanges are under growing pressure to clarify their legal status in each market where they operate.

Final Summary

• MAS added Bybit and Bybit Fintech Limited to its Investor Alert List, which identifies entities that may be wrongly perceived as being regulated in Singapore.
• The regulator did not accuse Bybit of wrongdoing, and the exchange had not publicly responded at the time of publication.