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DUBAI, UAE, March 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Bybit, the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, convened regulators, global payment networks, banking leaders, and digital asset innovators in Tbilisi for a high-level forum exploring the future of crypto-powered payments. The event gathered stakeholders from across the financial ecosystem to discuss how digital assets can integrate with traditional payment infrastructure, expand real-world utility, and support the continued development of Georgia's digital economy.
The forum also marked the introduction of the Bybit Card in Georgia, a step toward enabling everyday crypto payments. The card allows users to spend digital assets for daily purchases and is compatible with Apple Pay in Georgia, enabling secure contactless payments directly from users' digital wallets.
Bybit's expansion into the payments space follows the company securing a Payment Service Provider (PSP) license in Georgia in Q4 2025. The license allows Bybit to issue Bybit cards in Georgia, strengthening local fiat payment rails and enabling closer integration between digital asset services and the country's financial infrastructure.
Government representatives expressed appreciation for the launch of the Bybit Card in Georgia, recognizing it as an important step toward expanding real-world digital asset payments. With strong support from the government and regulators, the Bybit Card has already gained growing adoption locally. Bybit plans to further expand card issuance in Georgia and across neighboring markets, with the country serving as a regional hub for crypto-powered payment innovation.
The event featured keynote remarks from representatives of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia and the National Bank of Georgia, highlighting Georgia's commitment to responsible financial innovation and modern payment infrastructure.
A central highlight of the program was a panel discussion titled "The Future of Payments," which explored how collaboration between regulators, global payment networks, banks, and blockchain companies can accelerate the adoption of real-world crypto payments.
Panel participants included Ben Zhou, Co-Founder and CEO of Bybit; Shota Lomtadze, Director of Bybit Georgia; Natia Turnava, Governor of the National Bank of Georgia; David Zgudadze, Vice President for Georgia and Armenia at Mastercard; Salim Dhanani, Co-Founder and CEO of Pave Bank; Marco Dal Lago, VP of Global Expansion and Strategic Partnerships at Tether; and Tekla Iashagashvili, Regional Manager of Bybit Georgia.
Bybit executives highlighted the company's long-term commitment to building payment infrastructure and supporting the local digital asset ecosystem.
"Georgia has emerged as one of the most promising environments for digital financial innovation," said Shota Lomtadze, Director of Bybit Georgia. "With the launch of the Bybit Card and the foundation provided by our PSP license, we are strengthening the infrastructure that allows digital assets to move seamlessly between trading platforms and everyday payments. Together with regulators, global partners, and local financial institutions, we aim to support Georgia's ambition to become a regional leader in next-generation financial services."
"Bybit is here to stay," said Ben Zhou, Co-Founder and CEO of Bybit. "We are committed to being the most reliable partner for the National Bank of Georgia and the most valuable ally for Georgia's business community. We will continue to invest, hire, and bring our global capabilities to this local market. Together, let's show the world what happens when a brave nation and a global platform build the future of finance together."
Bybit currently offers users in Georgia access to a comprehensive digital asset platform, including over 600 spot trading pairs, one-click buy functionality, OTC services, and institutional-grade security infrastructure.
The event concluded with networking sessions among policymakers, financial institutions, fintech leaders, and blockchain innovators, reinforcing Georgia's growing role as a hub for digital asset innovation and the future of global payments.
#Bybit / #CryptoArk
About Bybit
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 is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at Bybit.com.
For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press
For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com
For updates, please follow: Bybit's Communities and Social Media
Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube
DUBAI, UAE, March 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Bybit, the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, convened regulators, global payment networks, banking leaders, and digital asset innovators in Tbilisi for a high-level forum exploring the future of crypto-powered payments. The event gathered stakeholders from across the financial ecosystem to discuss how digital assets can integrate with traditional payment infrastructure, expand real-world utility, and support the continued development of Georgia's digital economy.
The forum also marked the introduction of the Bybit Card in Georgia, a step toward enabling everyday crypto payments. The card allows users to spend digital assets for daily purchases and is compatible with Apple Pay in Georgia, enabling secure contactless payments directly from users' digital wallets.
Bybit's expansion into the payments space follows the company securing a Payment Service Provider (PSP) license in Georgia in Q4 2025. The license allows Bybit to issue Bybit cards in Georgia, strengthening local fiat payment rails and enabling closer integration between digital asset services and the country's financial infrastructure.
Government representatives expressed appreciation for the launch of the Bybit Card in Georgia, recognizing it as an important step toward expanding real-world digital asset payments. With strong support from the government and regulators, the Bybit Card has already gained growing adoption locally. Bybit plans to further expand card issuance in Georgia and across neighboring markets, with the country serving as a regional hub for crypto-powered payment innovation.
The event featured keynote remarks from representatives of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia and the National Bank of Georgia, highlighting Georgia's commitment to responsible financial innovation and modern payment infrastructure.
A central highlight of the program was a panel discussion titled "The Future of Payments," which explored how collaboration between regulators, global payment networks, banks, and blockchain companies can accelerate the adoption of real-world crypto payments.
Panel participants included Ben Zhou, Co-Founder and CEO of Bybit; Shota Lomtadze, Director of Bybit Georgia; Natia Turnava, Governor of the National Bank of Georgia; David Zgudadze, Vice President for Georgia and Armenia at Mastercard; Salim Dhanani, Co-Founder and CEO of Pave Bank; Marco Dal Lago, VP of Global Expansion and Strategic Partnerships at Tether; and Tekla Iashagashvili, Regional Manager of Bybit Georgia.
Bybit executives highlighted the company's long-term commitment to building payment infrastructure and supporting the local digital asset ecosystem.
"Georgia has emerged as one of the most promising environments for digital financial innovation," said Shota Lomtadze, Director of Bybit Georgia. "With the launch of the Bybit Card and the foundation provided by our PSP license, we are strengthening the infrastructure that allows digital assets to move seamlessly between trading platforms and everyday payments. Together with regulators, global partners, and local financial institutions, we aim to support Georgia's ambition to become a regional leader in next-generation financial services."
"Bybit is here to stay," said Ben Zhou, Co-Founder and CEO of Bybit. "We are committed to being the most reliable partner for the National Bank of Georgia and the most valuable ally for Georgia's business community. We will continue to invest, hire, and bring our global capabilities to this local market. Together, let's show the world what happens when a brave nation and a global platform build the future of finance together."
Bybit currently offers users in Georgia access to a comprehensive digital asset platform, including over 600 spot trading pairs, one-click buy functionality, OTC services, and institutional-grade security infrastructure.
The event concluded with networking sessions among policymakers, financial institutions, fintech leaders, and blockchain innovators, reinforcing Georgia's growing role as a hub for digital asset innovation and the future of global payments.
#Bybit / #CryptoArk
About Bybit
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 is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at Bybit.com.
For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press
For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com
For updates, please follow: Bybit's Communities and Social Media
Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
Bybit Brings Regulators and Global Payment Leaders Together in Georgia to Explore the Future of Crypto Payments
Bybit Brings Regulators and Global Payment Leaders Together in Georgia to Explore the Future of Crypto Payments
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SINGAPORE, May 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- At ATxSummit 2026, hosted by the Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA), Minister for Digital Development and Information Mrs Josephine Teo unveiled new global partnerships and initiatives to strengthen Singapore's position as a leading AI hub. These announcements mark a shift from exploring AI tools to building, deploying and governing real-world AI systems that deliver impact. As recently highlighted by the Economic Strategic Review committee, Singapore aims to be a trusted hub to develop, test and deploy AI solutions that solve real-world problems at scale.
Singapore Government and eight industry leaders to research, test and deploy physical AI in Punggol Digital District
IMDA, JTC and the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) are collaborating with eight industry leaders to bring physical AI into the real world at Punggol Digital District (PDD). Launching later in 2026, the testbed will be Singapore's first scaled mixed-use public space for multi-use case and multi-operator physical AI deployments. Certis, DHL, Grab and QuikBot will be among the first to co-design, deploy, test and validate commercially viable robotics services, including food and parcel delivery, cleaning and security patrolling, to complement human operations. The testbed is facilitated with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) through a precinct-level exemption framework under the Active Mobility Act.
To strengthen Singapore's embodied AI (EAI) capabilities, IMDA and National Robotics Programme (NRP) will work with FieldAI and Thoughtworks, alongside companies like Slamtec, Unitree, and QuikBot, to develop and trial EAI use cases through SIT's new Centre for Intelligent Robotics at PDD.
Strengthening Singapore's AI Research Frontier
To sharpen Singapore's manufacturing advantage, NVIDIA is launching its Singapore AI research lab, its second research presence in Asia Pacific, focused on embodied and efficient AI with university researchers, industry partners, and government.
The lab will focus on two domains with manufacturing potential: Embodied AI, enabling intelligent systems to perceive, reason and act in the physical world, and Efficient AI computing, which optimises models and infrastructure to reduce compute costs, improve energy efficiency and support scalable AI deployment.
Accelerating AI for Public Good: New Industry Partnerships
The Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) and Google announced a new National AI partnership to expand collaboration with the Singapore Government. The partnership aims to harness frontier AI to address societal challenges, fostering an AI-ready workforce in Singapore, and creating a secure, trusted ecosystem.
MDDI and OpenAI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the "OpenAI for Singapore" initiative to strengthen Singapore as a hub for applied AI innovation. The MOU covers advancing applied AI innovation, building AI talent, and making AI accessible to citizens, enterprises and the public sector, backed by OpenAI's over S$300 million commitment to Singapore's AI ecosystem.
Building the foundations for trusted, scalable AI deployment
Singapore is advancing ecosystem-wide initiatives to support AI adoption in high-trust sectors like finance and the public sector, where reliability, governance and safety are critical.
Temus, a Temasek-established AI and digital transformation firm, will launch an AI Foundry to help enterprises scale AI solutions and develop talent pipelines. Supported by Digital Industry Singapore (DISG), the Foundry will hire 50 professionals and deploy them on enterprise projects including financial services and precision health.
A*STAR Institute for Infocomm Research (A*STAR I2R) is updating the MERaLiON (Multimodal Empathetic Reasoning and Learning in One Network) AI Model to advance capabilities, drive real-world use cases, and scale adoption. The updated MERaLiON AudioLLM v3 will deliver paralinguistic intelligence across Southeast Asian languages. MERaLiON will be available through cloud hosting, API access, and edge computing, including Apple silicon devices such as Mac and iPad.
Governance that keeps pace with AI
Singapore continues to take a practical, risk-based approach. Two initiatives reflected this approach:
- Updated Model AI Governance Framework for Agentic AI: First launched at the World Economic Forum in January 2026, the Model AI Governance Framework for Agentic AI ("MGF") has been updated with real-world case studies and new best practices contributed by over 50 organisations.
- Google Whitepaper on AI Agents: Google worked with CSA, GovTech Singapore, and IMDA to explore how AI agents can be safely and effectively used in the real world. The resulting Whitepaper provides guidance for governments looking to harness AI agents for public good.
As Singapore grows its AI ecosystem, these initiatives will help translate innovation to real-world impact, strengthening Singapore's position as a trusted global AI hub where businesses, researchers and governments can develop, test and deploy AI solutions at scale.
Minister for Digital Development and Information Mrs Josephine Teo attended an ASEAN-US AI Ministerial Roundtable on the sidelines of ATxSummit today. Bringing together ASEAN Digital Ministers, the ASEAN Secretariat, the US government, and industry leaders from Amazon and Google, the Roundtable marked the launch of "The Road to 50 Years of ASEAN-US Relations" under the ASEAN-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Discussions centred on inclusive AI adoption across the region.
For more information on ATxSG, please visit asiatechxsg.com.
Media: atxsg.imda@archetype.co
SINGAPORE, May 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- At ATxSummit 2026, hosted by the Infocomm Media Development Authority of Singapore (IMDA), Minister for Digital Development and Information Mrs Josephine Teo unveiled new global partnerships and initiatives to strengthen Singapore's position as a leading AI hub. These announcements mark a shift from exploring AI tools to building, deploying and governing real-world AI systems that deliver impact. As recently highlighted by the Economic Strategic Review committee, Singapore aims to be a trusted hub to develop, test and deploy AI solutions that solve real-world problems at scale.
Singapore Government and eight industry leaders to research, test and deploy physical AI in Punggol Digital District
IMDA, JTC and the Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT) are collaborating with eight industry leaders to bring physical AI into the real world at Punggol Digital District (PDD). Launching later in 2026, the testbed will be Singapore's first scaled mixed-use public space for multi-use case and multi-operator physical AI deployments. Certis, DHL, Grab and QuikBot will be among the first to co-design, deploy, test and validate commercially viable robotics services, including food and parcel delivery, cleaning and security patrolling, to complement human operations. The testbed is facilitated with the Land Transport Authority (LTA) through a precinct-level exemption framework under the Active Mobility Act.
To strengthen Singapore's embodied AI (EAI) capabilities, IMDA and National Robotics Programme (NRP) will work with FieldAI and Thoughtworks, alongside companies like Slamtec, Unitree, and QuikBot, to develop and trial EAI use cases through SIT's new Centre for Intelligent Robotics at PDD.
Strengthening Singapore's AI Research Frontier
To sharpen Singapore's manufacturing advantage, NVIDIA is launching its Singapore AI research lab, its second research presence in Asia Pacific, focused on embodied and efficient AI with university researchers, industry partners, and government.
The lab will focus on two domains with manufacturing potential: Embodied AI, enabling intelligent systems to perceive, reason and act in the physical world, and Efficient AI computing, which optimises models and infrastructure to reduce compute costs, improve energy efficiency and support scalable AI deployment.
Accelerating AI for Public Good: New Industry Partnerships
The Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI) and Google announced a new National AI partnership to expand collaboration with the Singapore Government. The partnership aims to harness frontier AI to address societal challenges, fostering an AI-ready workforce in Singapore, and creating a secure, trusted ecosystem.
MDDI and OpenAI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the "OpenAI for Singapore" initiative to strengthen Singapore as a hub for applied AI innovation. The MOU covers advancing applied AI innovation, building AI talent, and making AI accessible to citizens, enterprises and the public sector, backed by OpenAI's over S$300 million commitment to Singapore's AI ecosystem.
Building the foundations for trusted, scalable AI deployment
Singapore is advancing ecosystem-wide initiatives to support AI adoption in high-trust sectors like finance and the public sector, where reliability, governance and safety are critical.
Temus, a Temasek-established AI and digital transformation firm, will launch an AI Foundry to help enterprises scale AI solutions and develop talent pipelines. Supported by Digital Industry Singapore (DISG), the Foundry will hire 50 professionals and deploy them on enterprise projects including financial services and precision health.
A*STAR Institute for Infocomm Research (A*STAR I2R) is updating the MERaLiON (Multimodal Empathetic Reasoning and Learning in One Network) AI Model to advance capabilities, drive real-world use cases, and scale adoption. The updated MERaLiON AudioLLM v3 will deliver paralinguistic intelligence across Southeast Asian languages. MERaLiON will be available through cloud hosting, API access, and edge computing, including Apple silicon devices such as Mac and iPad.
Governance that keeps pace with AI
Singapore continues to take a practical, risk-based approach. Two initiatives reflected this approach:
- Updated Model AI Governance Framework for Agentic AI: First launched at the World Economic Forum in January 2026, the Model AI Governance Framework for Agentic AI ("MGF") has been updated with real-world case studies and new best practices contributed by over 50 organisations.
- Google Whitepaper on AI Agents: Google worked with CSA, GovTech Singapore, and IMDA to explore how AI agents can be safely and effectively used in the real world. The resulting Whitepaper provides guidance for governments looking to harness AI agents for public good.
As Singapore grows its AI ecosystem, these initiatives will help translate innovation to real-world impact, strengthening Singapore's position as a trusted global AI hub where businesses, researchers and governments can develop, test and deploy AI solutions at scale.
Minister for Digital Development and Information Mrs Josephine Teo attended an ASEAN-US AI Ministerial Roundtable on the sidelines of ATxSummit today. Bringing together ASEAN Digital Ministers, the ASEAN Secretariat, the US government, and industry leaders from Amazon and Google, the Roundtable marked the launch of "The Road to 50 Years of ASEAN-US Relations" under the ASEAN-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Discussions centred on inclusive AI adoption across the region.
For more information on ATxSG, please visit asiatechxsg.com.
Media: atxsg.imda@archetype.co
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
Singapore Deepens AI Ecosystem with Global Collaborators to Accelerate Real-World Deployment
