Bybit Taps Peter Loo as Chief Legal Officer to Drive Global Regulatory Compliance Strategy

Woofun AI reports that Bybit has appointed Peter Loo as its new Chief Legal & Compliance Officer, a strategic hiring move designed to fortify the exchange’s global regulatory architecture. This leadership transition signals a decisive shift toward institutional-grade compliance as the platform seeks to bridge the gap between decentralized finance and traditional financial systems.

The appointment occurs against the backdrop of Bybit’s positioning as the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume. The company is actively pursuing a transformation into a fully integrated regulated financial platform, aiming to serve as a single access point for a comprehensive suite of services. These services encompass trading, payments, custody, and asset management, all intended to operate within a unified, compliant ecosystem. This structural evolution requires a legal framework capable of supporting complex, multi-jurisdictional operations while maintaining the agility expected in digital asset markets.

Woofun AI data shows that Peter Loo brings 25 years of cross-jurisdictional experience to the role, having navigated the regulatory landscapes of investment banks, regulators, law firms, and digital asset institutions. His career has spanned major financial centers, including the United Kingdom, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, providing him with a nuanced understanding of diverse regulatory expectations. This breadth of exposure allows him to interpret and implement compliance strategies that are both locally relevant and globally coherent. Such expertise is critical for an entity operating at the intersection of traditional finance and emerging digital economies.

Prior to joining Bybit, Loo served as General Counsel and Head of Sector Development at Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). In this capacity, he played a foundational role in shaping one of the world’s most advanced virtual asset regulatory regimes. He led the development of licensing frameworks, market conduct policies, and enforcement protocols, establishing clear guidelines for market participants. His work involved close collaboration with international exchanges, custodians, and institutional players to position Dubai as a global hub for digital assets. This regulatory background provides Bybit with direct insight into how effective regulatory structures are built and enforced.

Loo’s tenure in traditional finance includes senior roles at Barclays Capital and MF Global, where he advised on complex derivatives and structured products. These positions required a deep understanding of cross-border regulatory frameworks and the intricate legalities surrounding financial instruments. His experience in these established institutions underscores his ability to navigate the rigorous compliance standards of legacy finance. This background is particularly relevant as Bybit seeks to integrate traditional financial products with digital asset offerings, requiring a seamless blend of old and new regulatory paradigms.

Additionally, Loo served as EMEA Head of Legal & Compliance at Amber Group, overseeing regulatory expansion and product structuring across Europe and the Middle East. In this role, he managed the legal complexities of entering new markets and ensuring that product offerings met local regulatory requirements. His work at Amber Group further solidified his expertise in digital asset regulation, complementing his traditional finance background. This dual experience in both traditional and digital asset sectors makes him uniquely qualified to lead Bybit’s compliance strategy.

At Bybit, Loo’s strategic mandate will focus on bridging the gap between legacy finance and Web3 ecosystems, covering areas from traditional derivatives and fund structuring to digital assets and tokenisation. He will oversee the development of a robust, globally aligned compliance framework, supporting the company’s ambition to deliver a seamless "single access point" to financial services. This includes enhancing internal governance, advancing licensing efforts in priority markets, and fostering constructive engagement with regulators worldwide. The goal is to create a sustainable structure that supports trading, payments, custody, and asset management within a regulated environment.

Loo emphasizes that credibility, structure, and regulatory alignment are no longer optional in the current industry phase. He notes that rules are written and applied in practice, requiring a deep understanding of how they function across different jurisdictions. His approach involves reinforcing Bybit’s momentum with the right frameworks, processes, and engagement models to meet the expectations of both regulators and institutional participants. This philosophy underscores the importance of proactive regulatory engagement and the need for a structured, compliant approach to global expansion.

Bybit, described as The New Financial Platform, serves more than 80 million users worldwide, offering investing, wealth-building, and trading services. The platform leverages AI-powered technology, deep global liquidity, robust security, and transparent operations to make global finance more accessible and efficient. This appointment marks a key milestone in Bybit’s ongoing transformation from a high-growth crypto exchange into a mature, globally recognised financial platform. As the industry matures, such strategic hires will likely become standard practice for exchanges seeking long-term sustainability and regulatory legitimacy.