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DUBAI, UAE, March 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Bybit, the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, today confirmed that its Co-founder and CEO, Ben Zhou, met with Irakli Kobakhidze, Prime Minister of Georgia, in Tbilisi to discuss the continued development of Georgia's digital asset ecosystem and the role of responsible innovation in strengthening the country's financial technology sector.
The meeting highlighted Bybit's long-term commitment to Georgia as a strategic hub for financial innovation and digital asset services in the region. Both sides exchanged views on regulatory cooperation, fintech innovation, and the opportunities to further develop Georgia's growing digital economy through collaboration between government and industry.
The meeting was attended by Mariam Kvrivishvili, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Levan Zhorzholiani, Head of Government Administration, and Shota Lomtadze, Co-Founder and CEO of Bybit Georgia.
Prime Minister Kobakhidze welcomed the presence of leading international fintech companies in Georgia, noting that growing interest from global technology and financial platforms reflects the country's attractive investment environment and its expanding opportunities in digital innovation and financial services. Georgia's economic momentum was also highlighted, with the country recording an average economic growth rate of 9.3% between 2021 and 2025.
Building a Trusted Digital Asset Ecosystem in Georgia
Since entering the Georgian market, Bybit has pursued a compliance-first approach, building its local presence through close collaboration with regulators and a focus on trusted financial infrastructure.
"Georgia is becoming a model for how crypto companies can embed themselves into a country's financial fabric," said Zhou. "We have gone from obtaining our VASP license to launching local payments infrastructure, becoming the largest crypto card issuer in the country, and building partnerships with both global stablecoin leaders and local banking institutions. That's the kind of deep integration that creates real value for users and for the economy."
Bybit's Georgia footprint now spans the full spectrum from trading to payments:
- VASP License (Q4 2024): Bybit became the first global exchange to secure a Virtual Asset Service Provider license in Georgia, establishing a regulatory foundation for its local operations.
- Localized Platform (July 2025): Launch of bybitgeorgia.ge, giving Georgian users seamless access to global digital asset services in their local language.
- PSP License (Q4 2025): Bybit secured a Payment Service Provider license, unlocking the ability to build local fiat payment rails and position the company as a core player in Georgia's payments ecosystem.
- Bybit Card — Largest Crypto Card in Georgia (January 2026): The Bybit Card launch made Bybit the biggest crypto card player in the country, bridging digital assets with everyday spending and merchant payments.
- Banking Collaboration: Bybit is in active discussions to partner with a leading Georgian bank to offer integrated crypto trading services, bringing digital asset access directly to traditional banking customers — a first-of-its-kind model in the region.
Beyond infrastructure, Bybit is committed to becoming a major local supporter of Georgia's payments modernization. The company continues to work closely with regulators, banking partners, and industry stakeholders to support financial inclusion, digital literacy, and innovation across the country.
"Regulatory clarity and constructive dialogue with policymakers are the foundation," said Zhou. "But the real measure of success is whether we're making financial services more accessible, more affordable, and more connected for everyday Georgians. That's what we're building toward."
#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 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Bybit, the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, today confirmed that its Co-founder and CEO, Ben Zhou, met with Irakli Kobakhidze, Prime Minister of Georgia, in Tbilisi to discuss the continued development of Georgia's digital asset ecosystem and the role of responsible innovation in strengthening the country's financial technology sector.
The meeting highlighted Bybit's long-term commitment to Georgia as a strategic hub for financial innovation and digital asset services in the region. Both sides exchanged views on regulatory cooperation, fintech innovation, and the opportunities to further develop Georgia's growing digital economy through collaboration between government and industry.
The meeting was attended by Mariam Kvrivishvili, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Levan Zhorzholiani, Head of Government Administration, and Shota Lomtadze, Co-Founder and CEO of Bybit Georgia.
Prime Minister Kobakhidze welcomed the presence of leading international fintech companies in Georgia, noting that growing interest from global technology and financial platforms reflects the country's attractive investment environment and its expanding opportunities in digital innovation and financial services. Georgia's economic momentum was also highlighted, with the country recording an average economic growth rate of 9.3% between 2021 and 2025.
Building a Trusted Digital Asset Ecosystem in Georgia
Since entering the Georgian market, Bybit has pursued a compliance-first approach, building its local presence through close collaboration with regulators and a focus on trusted financial infrastructure.
"Georgia is becoming a model for how crypto companies can embed themselves into a country's financial fabric," said Zhou. "We have gone from obtaining our VASP license to launching local payments infrastructure, becoming the largest crypto card issuer in the country, and building partnerships with both global stablecoin leaders and local banking institutions. That's the kind of deep integration that creates real value for users and for the economy."
Bybit's Georgia footprint now spans the full spectrum from trading to payments:
- VASP License (Q4 2024): Bybit became the first global exchange to secure a Virtual Asset Service Provider license in Georgia, establishing a regulatory foundation for its local operations.
- Localized Platform (July 2025): Launch of bybitgeorgia.ge, giving Georgian users seamless access to global digital asset services in their local language.
- PSP License (Q4 2025): Bybit secured a Payment Service Provider license, unlocking the ability to build local fiat payment rails and position the company as a core player in Georgia's payments ecosystem.
- Bybit Card — Largest Crypto Card in Georgia (January 2026): The Bybit Card launch made Bybit the biggest crypto card player in the country, bridging digital assets with everyday spending and merchant payments.
- Banking Collaboration: Bybit is in active discussions to partner with a leading Georgian bank to offer integrated crypto trading services, bringing digital asset access directly to traditional banking customers — a first-of-its-kind model in the region.
Beyond infrastructure, Bybit is committed to becoming a major local supporter of Georgia's payments modernization. The company continues to work closely with regulators, banking partners, and industry stakeholders to support financial inclusion, digital literacy, and innovation across the country.
"Regulatory clarity and constructive dialogue with policymakers are the foundation," said Zhou. "But the real measure of success is whether we're making financial services more accessible, more affordable, and more connected for everyday Georgians. That's what we're building toward."
#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 CEO Ben Zhou Meets Georgian Prime Minister, Reinforcing Commitment to Compliance-Led Growth and Local Collaboration
Propel Investment in Chinese Tech Startups, Support Their Global Expansion, and Accelerate Smart City, Sustainability and AI Innovation
BEIJING and HONG KONG, March 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- MTR Lab Company Limited ("MTR Lab", a wholly owned subsidiary of MTR Corporation) and Beijing Zhongguancun Science City Innovation Development Co., Ltd. ("ZGC Science City Ltd") are forming an ecosystem partnership. Focusing on smart city and sustainable development, the collaboration will accelerate the investments in and global expansion of frontier tech enterprises across AI, robotics, smart mobility, rail, retail, property and construction. This cross‑border partnership between Hong Kong and Beijing leverages the strengths of both ecosystems to accelerate the deep integration of technological and industrial innovation, aligning with the national development strategy of "new quality productive forces (新質生產力)."
Chinese Mainland's innovation ecosystem has surged in recent times with rapid advances in AI and related technologies, powering a major acceleration in smart city and sustainability development. According to the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, as of September 2025, there were 5,300+ AI companies in the Chinese Mainland, accounting for around 15% of the global total. Beijing's Haidian District, the AI innovation hub of China, is home to over 35% of China's AI companies, with a significant concentration of "specialised and sophisticated (專精特新)" enterprises and unicorns. These emerging trends align closely with MTR Lab's strategic investments in smart‑city and sustainable development. Last year, MTR Lab received nearly double the number of investment proposals and opportunities in AI and robotics compared with 2024. Among them, proposals originated from the Chinese Mainland accounted for more than 30%.
As a core element of the partnership, while continuing to deepen the integration of innovation resources, ZGC Science City Ltd will invite industry leader MTR Lab into its innovation ecosystem and refer MTR Lab to high‑potential startups in AI, smart city and sustainable development for prospective investment and collaboration. Through MTR Lab's extensive global innovation network, the two parties will jointly explore pilot application opportunities, technology implementation and cross‑border expansion, supporting Chinese startups in accessing broader global markets.
Deepening innovation ecosystem partnerships, Uniting to "Go Global"
As an international I&T investor, MTR Lab creates strategic value through investments and ecosystem partnerships. Following its collaboration with TusStar, the partnership with ZGC Science City Ltd marks another strategic step in deepening MTR Lab's global collaborative exchange and strengthens MTR Lab's innovation network in the Chinese Mainland.
Haidian District, the core area of Beijing's International Science and Technology Innovation Center, fosters high‑quality technological and industrial development and hosts over 2,950 specialised and sophisticated enterprises and 49 unicorns as of January 2026. Through this partnership, ZGC Science City Ltd will recommend quality startups to MTR Lab. By leveraging MTR Lab's extensive experience in the overseas startup market and the complementary resources of its collaborative platform, both parties will drive cross-border collaboration and explore potential co‑investment opportunities, connecting more Chinese tech startups with global capital and overseas market resources.
"As a global strategic I&T investor and collaborative platform, MTR Lab has been partnering with innovators worldwide to drive next‑generation technologies," said Jing Shi, Head of Investment of MTR Lab. "Our investment portfolio spans Hong Kong, Chinese Mainland and developed markets. We strategically help Chinese innovators expand overseas, with examples such as acoustic AI monitoring leader Ensonic and AI‑powered retail tech company Whale. ZGC Science City Ltd 's rich ecosystem of R&D institutions, incubators and innovative enterprises will help us connect with more high‑tech, high‑potential startups and further strengthen our investment network in the Chinese Mainland. We look forward to combining our strengths to help tech startups land in Hong Kong and scale internationally, also to deepen collaboration between Beijing and Hong Kong."
"Haidian District is at the core of Beijing's International Science and Technology Innovation Center and is committed to driving the integration of technological innovation and industrial development. We nurture tech enterprises through an international cooperation ecosystem that helps companies 'go global' and expand into new markets," said Mary Huang, Ecosystem Partnership Division Deputy Division Manager of ZGC Science City Ltd. "AI is a key engine for sustainable development. As of December 2025, Haidian District is home to more than 1,900 AI companies, including 26 unicorns, accounting for about 70% of Beijing's total. Under the 15th five-year plan, ZGC Science City Ltd will prioritise advancing broad AI adoption across traditional industries, deepening innovation ecosystem development, and driving high‑quality growth of Haidian District. We look forward to leveraging MTR Lab's global network and extensive international market experience to help Chinese tech enterprises access overseas opportunities and pilot application scenarios, strengthen the broader industry ecosystem, and support their global expansion and business growth."
Through this partnership, MTR Lab and ZGC Science City Ltd will focus on exploring investment and collaboration opportunities in smart city and sustainable development, identifying more high‑potential tech startups from the Chinese Mainland, attracting global capital for high-quality technology brands and supporting their internation expansion. MTR Lab will officially join the Z Hub scenario acceleration platform of ZGC Science City Ltd to deepen its presence in the Chinese Mainland, and work with innovation partners to build carbon‑neutral smart communities and co-create a smarter, greener future.
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ABOUT MTR LAB
MTR Lab Company Limited ("MTR Lab") is a wholly owned subsidiary of MTR Corporation Limited. MTR Lab creates strategic value through investment in technologies and formulates innovative solutions that support the long-term growth of communities. With a commitment to co-creating a smarter, greener future, MTR Lab aims to benefit communities by investing in and introducing technologies across different sectors, including mobility (MaaS, new mobility modes, rail tech), new retail technology, property and construction technology, and financial and data services, driving positive impact within two overarching themes: smart city and sustainability. Its unique position as an innovation investor enables MTR Lab and its partners to strategically collaborate toward creating a carbon-neutral smart community. Together, let's Keep Cities Moving!
ABOUT BEIJING ZGC SCIENCE CITY INNOVATION DEVELOPMENT CO., LTD
Beijing ZGC Science City Innovation Development Co., Ltd., established in May 2019, is a technology investment and sector services platform driven by ecosystem development, dedicated to supporting the construction of a world-leading science and technology park. The company operates through five core business divisions: sector services, ecosystem partnerships, technology investment, property operations, and international collaboration.
The company has established a comprehensive service system that covers the full lifecycle of technology enterprises across all elements, value chains, and operational scenarios. This promotes deep integration of technological innovation and industrial development in Haidian District, striving to create a hub for New Quality Productive Forces and supporting the development of world-leading science and technology park.
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
MTR Lab and ZGC Science City Ltd Establish Ecosystem Partnership
