Ben Zhou, the co-founder and CEO of Bybit, a renowned cryptocurrency derivatives exchange headquartered in Singapore, has made significant strides in the crypto industry since the platform's establishment in 2018. Zhou's journey in the world of cryptocurrency began in 2017, driven by his vision to revolutionize traditional finance through the creation of a cryptocurrency trading platform. He sought to address inefficiencies in the traditional market and envisioned Bybit as a vehicle to enable digital natives to achieve their financial goals safely and effectively.
Career - Former General Manager of XM China
Born in China, Zhou spent his teenage years in New Zealand and later attended university in the United States. He returned to China to work at XM, a forex and CFD broker, where he served as the Chinese General Manager from 2010 to 2017. In 2017, he ventured into the crypto space, launching a YouTube channel to educate viewers about cryptocurrency before establishing Bybit in early 2018.
New Journey in the Cryptocurrency Field
Under Zhou's leadership, Bybit has rapidly grown to become one of the top three most-visited global cryptocurrency exchanges, capable of handling 100,000 transactions per second. This growth has been facilitated by the pandemic, which expedited the development of a digitally-forward financial ecosystem. Zhou's focus has been on democratizing the investment space, making financial tools and knowledge more accessible to the average person.
Bybit offers a range of services, including online spot and derivatives trading, earnings and savings products, and a popular non-fungible token (NFT) exchange. These offerings are supported by an ultra-fast matching engine and 24/7 multilingual customer support. Zhou attributes the company's success to its globally diverse team, emphasizing a company culture that empowers employees and focuses on delivering the best trading experience for users.
Zhou is committed to revolutionizing the industry by merging the best of crypto innovation with traditional finance expertise. This approach includes continuously enhancing the platform's infrastructure and expanding security assurance capabilities as new products and services are introduced. In 2022, Bybit launched credit and debit card payments, allowing users to buy crypto using fiat currencies. The company also planned to introduce Ether and Solana options contracts and a portfolio margin feature for greater capital efficiency in trading.
In March of the same year, Bybit relocated its headquarters from Singapore to Dubai, recognizing the Emirati city as a key hub for the cryptocurrency industry. The move was part of Zhou's commitment to support regulatory efforts and educate investors and the public on safe and responsible use of virtual assets.
Zhou's leadership has seen Bybit grow to a team of over 2,000 employees across ten bases, supporting more than six million users in 16 languages. He actively supports regulatory compliance, viewing it as essential for the healthy development and wide adoption of virtual assets. Zhou believes in the importance of regulatory clarity and transparency for the advancement of the crypto economy, both regionally and globally.
Ben Zhou's contributions to the cryptocurrency industry are marked by a blend of innovative product development, a focus on user education and empowerment, and a commitment to regulatory compliance and industry advancement. His leadership has positioned Bybit as a major player in the global cryptocurrency market, demonstrating the potential of cryptocurrencies to reshape the financial landscape
