just now
Bybit Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Ben Zhou met with Irakli Kobakhidze, Prime Minister, Georgia, in Tbilisi on 17 March 2026 to discuss the development of Georgia's digital asset ecosystem and the role of financial technology innovation in the country's broader economic growth.
The meeting also brought together Mariam Kvrivishvili, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Georgia, Levan Zhorzholiani, Head of Government Administration, Georgia, and Shota Lomtadze, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Bybit Georgia.
Discussions covered regulatory cooperation, fintech innovation, and opportunities to develop Georgia's digital economy through collaboration between government and industry. Prime Minister Kobakhidze noted growing interest from global technology and financial platforms as a reflection of the country's investment environment. Georgia recorded an average economic growth rate of 9.3% between 2021 and 2025.
Bybit is the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 80 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit operates across trading, payments and Web3 infrastructure.
Since entering the Georgian market, Bybit has secured a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) licence in Q4 2024, becoming the first global exchange to do so in the country. It subsequently launched a localised platform, bybitgeorgia.ge, in July 2025, and obtained a Payment Service Provider (PSP) licence in Q4 2025. In January 2026, Bybit launched its Bybit Card product in Georgia, which it says has made it the largest crypto card issuer in the country. The company is also in active discussions to partner with a Georgian bank to offer integrated crypto trading services to traditional banking customers.
Ben Zhou, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Bybit
Ben Zhou, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Bybit commented:
“Georgia is becoming a model for how crypto companies can embed themselves into a country's financial fabric. We have gone from obtaining our VASP licence to launching local payments infrastructure, becoming the largest crypto card issuer in the country, and building partnerships with both global stablecoin leaders and local banking institutions. That's the kind of deep integration that creates real value for users and for the economy.”
Ben Zhou, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Bybit also said:
"Regulatory clarity and constructive dialogue with policymakers are the foundation. But the real measure of success is whether we're making financial services more accessible, more affordable, and more connected for everyday Georgians. That's what we're building toward."
Found this interesting? Become a member of LiquidityFinder and get daily industry news direct to your inbox — join here.
