Natia Turnava, Governor of the National Bank of Georgia (NBG), attended the official launch event of Bybit Georgia, part of one of the world's leading companies in the digital asset market.

Bybit operates in over 240 countries worldwide and holds regulatory authorizations across various regions, including under the European Union’s MiCAR (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation) framework. Bybit is commencing its operations in Georgia based on the Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) and Payment Service Provider (PSP) licenses issued by the National Bank of Georgia.

During her opening remarks, the NBG Governor congratulated Bybit on the official launch of its operations in the Georgian market. She noted that the entry of a leading global company validates the dynamic development of Georgia’s financial sector.

"It is highly commendable that Bybit, a leading international company in the digital asset space, has entered the Georgian market and initiated the introduction of innovative financial products and services. The interest of such a global player reaffirms that Georgia’s financial sector is developing rapidly and is becoming increasingly attractive to international companies and investors," stated Natia Turnava.

The NBG Governor emphasized that attracting new market participants and fostering competition are strategic priorities for the NBG, as these factors drive the development of financial technologies and improve access to financial services. Furthermore, she highlighted the reforms implemented by the NBG in recent years. The NBG exercises full supervisory authority over virtual asset service providers. This framework ensures proper sector regulation, which is essential for market transparency and consumer protection.

The Governor also focused on regional cooperation in financial technologies, stating that Georgia has emerged as a regional FinTech hub that will strengthen economic ties between Europe and Asia.

In his keynote address, Ben Zhou, CEO and Co-Founder of Bybit, elaborated on the company’s strategic interest in Georgia.

"We are delighted to see that Georgia demonstrates a high level of crypto adoption and is one of the leaders in stablecoin integration and regulatory frameworks. The biggest challenge we face in other regions pertains to banking rules and regulatory restrictions. The National Bank of Georgia’s proactive approach is highly beneficial for the industry's development. It is important to recognize that the NBG is leading this innovative process, which is exactly why we decided to invest in Georgia," stated Ben Zhou.

The event also featured a panel discussion titled "The Future of Georgia's Digital Financial Ecosystem." The discussion featured Ben Zhou, CEO and Co-Founder of Bybit; Shota Lomtadze, CEO of Bybit Georgia; David Zgudadze, Vice President of Mastercard in Georgia and Armenia; Salim Dhanani, Co-Founder and CEO of Pave Bank; and Marco Dal Lago, Vice President for Global Expansion and Strategic Partnerships at Tether.

The opening ceremony was attended by Mariam Kvrivishvili, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia; Paata Salia, Minister of Justice; and Ekaterine Guntsadze, Deputy Minister of Finance, along with international partners and representatives of the business sector.