Bybit Hires Former Dubai Crypto Regulator Peter Loo as Chief Legal and Compliance Officer

By Lidia Yadlos

Bybit has hired one of the architects behind Dubai's virtual asset rulebook to lead its global legal and compliance strategy.

The exchange announced the appointment of Peter Loo as Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, bringing in the former General Counsel and Head of Sector Development at Dubai's Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). His arrival comes as Bybit continues expanding its regulatory footprint across multiple jurisdictions while positioning itself as a broader financial platform beyond cryptocurrency trading.

Loo spent several years helping build VARA, the regulator widely credited with establishing one of the world's most comprehensive frameworks for digital assets. During his time there, he helped develop licensing rules, market conduct standards and enforcement policies while working with exchanges, custodians and institutional firms entering Dubai's crypto market.

From Regulator to Exchange

Before joining VARA, Loo built a career spanning traditional finance and digital assets.

He previously held senior legal and compliance roles at Amber Group, where he oversaw regulatory expansion across Europe and the Middle East, as well as positions at Barclays Capital and MF Global, advising on derivatives, structured products and cross-border financial regulation.

His experience spans both traditional financial markets and blockchain infrastructure, an increasingly valuable combination as crypto firms seek licenses across major markets.

At Bybit, Loo will oversee the company's legal, regulatory and compliance teams, with responsibility for governance, licensing and regulatory engagement as the exchange expands internationally.

"Peter brings a depth of experience that is both rare and highly relevant to where Bybit is headed," said Ben Zhou, Co-founder and CEO of Bybit.

"Having worked across regulators, global financial institutions and Web3 platforms, he understands not only how rules are written, but also how they are applied in practice across jurisdictions."

Building a Regulated Financial Platform

As regulators introduce clearer licensing frameworks in markets including Europe, the UAE and parts of Asia, exchanges are increasingly recruiting executives with backgrounds in government agencies and traditional finance to strengthen compliance and institutional credibility.

Bybit has been expanding beyond its origins as a crypto derivatives exchange, adding payments, custody and wealth management products while pursuing licenses in key jurisdictions.

Loo said the industry has entered a new phase where regulatory credibility has become essential.

"The opportunity at Bybit is to help shape what a truly global, regulated digital financial platform can look like," he said.

"The industry is entering a phase where credibility, structure and regulatory alignment are no longer optional. My focus is on reinforcing that with the right frameworks, processes and engagement models so that we can operate in a way that meets the expectations of both regulators and institutional participants globally."

The appointment follows a series of senior hires across the digital asset sector as exchanges compete for regulatory approvals and institutional clients, with legal and compliance teams becoming increasingly central to global expansion strategies.

Published on Bybit

Bybit Hires Former Dubai Crypto Regulator Peter Loo as Chief Legal and Compliance Officer