[L&C] Lead Licensing Counsel Abu Dhabi, UAE

Bybit Limited; Abu Dhabi; On-site; AED 300,000 - 520,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Study Growth Fund

Internal Events

Global Collaboration

Career Advancement

Internal Mobility

Job summary

Bybit Limited seeks an experienced Regulatory Licensing Counsel to lead global market entry licensing. You will drive applications, liaise with regulators, and monitor evolving rules across jurisdictions, enabling rapid, compliant expansion for Bybit's crypto and fintech platforms.

The role requires a law degree with admission to practice and 2-5 years in regulatory law, licensing or compliance, ideally with crypto/fintech exposure. A fast-paced, collaborative global team environment is offered.

Qualifications

• 2-5 years in regulatory law, licensing, or compliance with fintech/crypto exposure.
• Experience with licence applications or regulatory approvals.
• Understanding of global licensing frameworks for VASPs or financial institutions.
• Strong analytical skills to distill regulatory requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end licensing process for new markets; manage applications and regulatory engagement.
• Assess jurisdictional licensing requirements, timelines and feasibility for expansion.
• Draft and coordinate licensing applications, business plans, and regulatory questionnaires.
• Liaise with regulators, external counsel and government authorities across jurisdictions.
• Monitor global regulatory developments affecting licensing obligations or opportunities.
• Maintain a global licensing tracker with status, deadlines and conditions.
• Coordinate with Legal, Compliance, Finance, Operations, Product to gather licensing information.
• Support post-licensing compliance including monitoring and reporting to regulators.
• Prepare internal briefings and status reports for senior leadership.

Skills

Regulatory law

Legal research

Regulatory compliance

English communication

Education

Law degree (LLB, JD, or equivalent)

Admission to practice

Job description

Established in 2018, Bybit is one of the world's leading cryptocurrency exchanges and digital financial platforms, serving over 80 million users across more than 200 countries and regions. Powered by world-class technology and a user-first mindset, Bybit delivers a seamless ecosystem across trading, payments, wealth management, custody, institutional services, and Web3 — connecting users to the future of digital finance.

Our core values define how we build. We listen, care and improve to create products and experiences that put users first. Backed by a global team of ambitious builders, problem-solvers, and innovators, we foster a high-performance and fast-moving environment where talent is empowered to drive real impact at the global scale. Supported by 24/7 multilingual customer service and a strong commitment to innovation, we are shaping the future of finance through technology, collaboration, and bold execution.

Today, Bybit is recognized as one of the most trusted and transparent platforms in the digital asset industry, continuing to expand its global presence while building the infrastructure for the next generation of financial services.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and manage the end-to-end licensing process for new market entries globally, including application preparation, submission, and regulatory engagement

Conduct jurisdictional assessments to evaluate licensing requirements, timelines and strategic feasibility for target markets and to support the expansion requirements of the company

Prepare, draft, and coordinate licensing applications, supporting documentation, business plans, and regulatory questionnaires

Liaise directly with regulators, external counsel, and government authorities across jurisdictions to advance licensing matters

Monitor global regulatory developments that may create new licensing obligations or opportunities for the exchange

Maintain and manage a global licensing tracker covering application status, renewal deadlines, conditions, and ongoing obligations

Coordinate with internal stakeholders (Legal, Compliance, Finance, Operations, Product) to gather information and align on licensing requirements

Support post-licensing compliance, including condition monitoring, variation applications, and periodic reporting to regulators (where applicable)

Prepare internal briefings and status reports on licensing progress for senior leadership

Build and maintain relationships with external legal advisors across jurisdictions to support licensing activities

Requirements

Law degree (LLB, JD, or equivalent); admission to practice in at least one jurisdiction is preferred

2-5 years of experience in regulatory law, licensing, or compliance — with meaningful exposure to financial services, fintech, or cryptocurrency (preference)

Demonstrated experience with licence applications or regulatory approvals (e.g., VASP, MPI, EMI, broker-dealer, or equivalent authorisations)

Understanding of global licensing frameworks for virtual asset service providers and/or financial institutions

Strong legal research, drafting, and analytical skills with the ability to distil complex regulatory requirements into actionable advice

Excellent project management skills — ability to manage multiple licensing workstreams across jurisdictions simultaneously

Strong written and verbal communication in English; additional languages relevant to target jurisdictions are a plus

Comfortable working in a fast-paced, decentralised, and globally distributed team

Collaborative mindset and a good team player with the ability to work closely with internal teams as well as independently

Fast learner, able to hit the ground running. takes ownership of projects, has pride in the work

Preferred Qualifications

Direct experience with cryptocurrency or digital asset licensing preferred but not an absolute must (VASP registrations, MAS MPI, VARA licences, EU MiCA authorisations, ADGM licences etc.)

Familiarity with key licensing regimes in APAC, MENA, Europe, or Latin America

Experience working with regulators across multiple jurisdictions concurrently

Understanding of AML/CFT requirements as they relate to licensing conditions and ongoing obligations

Prior in-house experience at a crypto exchange, fintech, or global financial services firm would be seen favourably but candidates with law firm experience will not be discounted

Why Join Us

At Bybit, we are committed to fostering a supportive and enriching work environment.

Our benefits include:

• Study Growth Fund: We support your professional development and continuous learning.
• Internal Events: Participate in regular team-building activities, workshops, and events designed to promote collaboration and innovation.
• Global Collaboration: Be part of a diverse, international team, working alongside colleagues from around the world.
• Career Advancement: Access opportunities for growth and advancement within a rapidly expanding global company.
• Internal Mobility: Grow with us- Your long-term development is important to us. We offer internal job opportunities to help build your career path.