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Bybit Seeks Major Broker Alliances to Challenge Robinhood in the U.S.
Markets
2026-10-21·CoinDesk

Bybit Seeks Major Broker Alliances to Challenge Robinhood in the U.S.

Bybit's CEO Ben Zhou says the exchange will chase partnerships with heavyweight brokers like Interactive Brokers to break into the retail brokerage market and take on Robinhood’s U.S. dominance.

Bybit Eyes Traditional Brokerage Partnerships

Bybit isn’t content to remain a pure‑play crypto exchange. In a recent interview, CEO Ben Zhou disclosed that the firm is hunting for a partnership with a heavyweight broker—Interactive Brokers tops the list—to gain a foothold in the U.S. retail market.

The Strategic Rationale

The U.S. crypto landscape is still fragmented, with Robinhood holding a sizable share of retail exposure. By aligning with an established broker, Bybit hopes to leverage existing compliance infrastructure, tap into a massive user base, and offer a seamless bridge between traditional equities and digital assets.

Competitive Landscape

Other exchanges are also courting broker relationships, but Bybit’s timing is crucial. Regulatory scrutiny is tightening, and institution‑grade custody and reporting will become non‑negotiable for any platform that wants to scale. A partnership could give Bybit a leg up on both compliance and distribution.

What This Means for Traders

If the alliance materializes, traders could soon see integrated dashboards where stocks, ETFs, and crypto coexist under a single broker. Liquidity could improve, spreads tighten, and the overall user experience may shift from fragmented apps to a unified financial hub. The move signals that crypto is moving deeper into mainstream finance, and Bybit is positioning itself as a bridge rather than a niche player.

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Originally published on CoinDesk

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