KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, April 20, 2026
Executive Summary
Hata has announced the successful completion of a US$8 million Series A financing round, led by Bybit, alongside participation from several global family offices. The funding marks a significant milestone for the company and establishes a deep strategic collaboration between Hata and Bybit, extending beyond capital investment into long-term ecosystem development.
The proceeds from the funding round will be directed toward enhancing platform liquidity, accelerating user growth initiatives, and co-developing innovative digital asset products tailored for Malaysian users. The announcement reflects a continued focus on regulated, compliant digital asset services and highlights a shared commitment between the two companies to expand Malaysia’s digital asset ecosystem responsibly and at scale.
Announcement Overview
Hata, recognized as Malaysia’s only dual-licensed digital asset exchange, has completed its Series A funding round, securing US$8 million (approximately RM31.6 million) in capital. The round was led by Bybit, described as the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, with additional participation from prominent global family offices focused on Southeast Asian financial and technology markets.
This financing builds upon an existing relationship between the two companies, following Bybit’s earlier participation in Hata’s US$4.2 million seed round. The Series A investment represents an expansion of that relationship into a broader strategic partnership, focused on combining Hata’s regulated local platform capabilities with Bybit’s global technology and product innovation expertise.
The collaboration aims to strengthen the digital asset infrastructure in Malaysia, while enabling the development of new financial products and services that align with regulatory standards and market demand. The funding also supports Hata’s efforts to scale its operations and expand its presence within Malaysia’s growing digital asset sector.
Key Announcement Details
Funding Structure and Transaction Overview
- Announcement Type: Series A financing completion
- Company Name: Hata
- Announcement Date: April 20, 2026
- Announcement Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Total Capital Raised: USD 8 million
- Local Currency Equivalent: Approximately RM31.6 million
- Funding Round Type: Series A
- Lead Investor: Bybit
- Additional Investors: Global family offices
- Investor Profile: Prominent global family offices with Southeast Asia focus
- Nature of Investment: Capital combined with strategic collaboration
- Previous Funding Round: USD 4.2 million seed round
- Seed Round Participation: Included Bybit
- Relationship Evolution: From investor to strategic partner
- Funding Significance: Marks beginning of deeper collaboration
Strategic Collaboration Scope and Intent
- Collaboration Type: Deep strategic collaboration
- Scope Beyond Capital: Includes ecosystem building and product innovation
- Primary Objective: Grow Malaysia’s digital asset ecosystem
- Execution Direction: Responsible and scalable expansion
- Strategic Alignment: Shared long-term commitment between both companies
- Operational Integration: Combining local platform and global capabilities
- Collaboration Depth: Extends into multiple operational and product layers
Leadership Context Referenced in Announcement
- Hata CEO: David Low
- Bybit CEO: Ben Zhou
- Hata CSO: Darien Ng
- Image Context: Leadership from both companies presented together
- Representation Purpose: Reflects joint collaboration and partnership alignment
Capital Deployment Strategy
- Primary Use of Funds: Platform and ecosystem development
- Liquidity Allocation: Strengthening liquidity on Hata platform
- Growth Allocation: Accelerating user growth initiatives
- Marketing Allocation: Expanding marketing activities
- Ecosystem Allocation: Building ecosystem initiatives
- Product Allocation: Joint product development with Bybit
- Execution Objective: Scale platform capabilities and adoption
Product Development and Innovation Strategy
- Development Collaboration: Hata and Bybit jointly
- Product Focus: Digital asset products
- Target Audience: Malaysian users
- Localization Strategy: Products tailored for Malaysian market
- Innovation Area: Tokenised real-world assets
- Technology Contribution: Bybit product and engineering capabilities
Market Positioning and Strategic Importance
- Primary Market: Malaysia
- Regional Context: Southeast Asia
- Market Characteristic: Digitally engaged population
- Strategic Importance: High priority market for Bybit
- Growth Potential: Strong long-term adoption outlook
- Ecosystem Focus: Digital asset and tokenised asset development
Regulatory and Compliance Framework
- Exchange Classification: Dual-licensed digital asset exchange
- Licensing Authority One: Securities Commission Malaysia (SC)
- Licensing Authority Two: Labuan Financial Services Authority (LFSA)
- Compliance Status: Fully regulated platform
- Compliance Focus: Investor protection and regulatory adherence
- Operational Model: Licensed exchange operations
- Regulatory Strength: Local compliance advantage
Platform Capabilities and Services
- Core Functionality: Buy digital assets
- Core Functionality: Sell digital assets
- Core Functionality: Custody digital assets
- Platform Access: Available to Malaysian and global users
- Security Framework: Robust security standards
- User Focus: Retail and institutional investors
Platform Growth Metrics and Performance Data
- Platform Launch Date: May 2023
- Registered Users: More than 209,000
- Transaction Volume (2025): RM1.04 billion
- Assets Under Custody (AUC): RM86.3 million
- Peak AUC Value: RM115 million
- Peak Period: September 2025
- Market Context: Peak followed by broader market corrections
- Growth Classification: Fastest-growing homegrown exchange in Malaysia
Product Suite and Feature Expansion
Staking Capability
- Feature Name: Staking
- Launch Year: 2025
- Initial Asset: Solana (SOL)
- User Benefit: Earn rewards
- Network Role: Contribute to blockchain security
Automated Investment Capability
- Feature Name: Auto-Invest (DCA)
- Investment Method: Dollar-cost averaging
- User Benefit: Systematic investing
- Objective: Long-term digital wealth creation
Platform Principles and Positioning
- Core Principle: Trust
- Core Principle: Transparency
- Core Principle: Technology
- User Value Proposition: Secure and compliant platform
- Accessibility Goal: Affordable crypto trading
- Strategic Mission: Expand access to digital assets
- Positioning: Leading dual-licensed exchange in Malaysia
Bybit Institutional Profile
- Company Name: Bybit
- Global Ranking: Second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume
- User Base: Over 70 million users
- Founded Year: 2018
- Market Reach: Global user base
- Service Scope: Comprehensive crypto services
Bybit Product and Service Offering
- Trading Service: Spot trading
- Trading Service: Derivatives trading
- Yield Service: Staking
- Social Feature: Copy trading
- Institutional Service: Institutional offerings
- Product Coverage: Broad digital asset services
Bybit Infrastructure and Capabilities
- Liquidity Strength: Deep liquidity
- Custody Capability: Regulated custody
- Technology Strength: Advanced trading infrastructure
- Innovation Capability: Continuous product development
- Market Position: Global crypto infrastructure provider
Strategic Vision and Industry Role
- Industry Objective: Bridge traditional finance and decentralised finance
- Collaboration Goal: Expand Malaysia’s digital asset ecosystem
- Product Vision: Enable innovative financial products
- Market Development Goal: Accelerate crypto adoption
- Ecosystem Focus: Tokenised real-world assets
Statements from Leadership
Bybit CEO Statement Context
- Speaker: Ben Zhou
- Role: Co-founder and CEO of Bybit
- Key Market Statement: Malaysia is strategically important
- Population Insight: Highly digitally engaged users
- Partnership Rationale: Hata as compliant local partner
- Strategic Goal: Accelerate ecosystem growth
Hata CEO Statement Context
- Speaker: David Low
- Role: CEO of Hata
- Partnership Significance: Defining moment for company and industry
- Validation: Bybit investment validates compliance-first approach
- Core Belief: Crypto built with licensing and compliance
- Joint Objective: Expand possibilities for Malaysian users
Ecosystem Development Objectives
- Primary Goal: Grow Malaysia’s digital asset ecosystem
- Secondary Goal: Develop tokenised real-world assets
- Execution Model: Strategic collaboration
- Growth Approach: Responsible and scalable
- User Impact: Expanded access and product innovation
Website and Information Access
- Official Website: hata.io
- Purpose: Information and platform access
- User Engagement: Participation in ecosystem development
Strategic Financing and Partnership Expansion
Strengthening the Relationship Between Hata and Bybit
The Series A financing marks a continuation and deepening of collaboration between Hata and Bybit. Bybit’s role as the lead investor reinforces its commitment to supporting the development of regulated digital asset platforms in Southeast Asia.
This partnership extends beyond financial investment and introduces a strategic alignment focused on:
- Technology collaboration
- Product innovation
- Market expansion initiatives
- Ecosystem development
The companies have indicated that the collaboration will leverage complementary strengths, combining Hata’s local regulatory positioning and market knowledge with Bybit’s global scale and infrastructure capabilities.
Participation of Global Family Offices
In addition to Bybit, the Series A round includes participation from several global family offices, particularly those with a focus on Southeast Asian technology and financial markets. Their involvement reflects broader investor interest in regulated digital asset platforms within the region.
The inclusion of these investors contributes to the overall capital structure of the round while supporting Hata’s long-term growth strategy and expansion plans.
Deployment of Capital Across Core Platform Initiatives
Enhancing Platform Liquidity
Hata has outlined plans to allocate a portion of the Series A proceeds toward strengthening liquidity on its platform. This initiative is designed to improve the efficiency of trading activities, enabling users to execute transactions with greater ease and reliability.
Liquidity enhancement supports the platform’s ability to:
- Maintain competitive trading environments
- Improve order execution quality
- Support a wider range of digital asset transactions
Accelerating User Growth and Ecosystem Expansion
Another key focus area for the funding is the acceleration of user growth, supported by:
- Marketing initiatives
- Ecosystem development programs
- User acquisition strategies
These efforts are aimed at expanding Hata’s user base while increasing engagement across its platform. The company has indicated that growth initiatives will align with its broader goal of promoting responsible digital asset adoption.
Co-Development of Digital Asset Products
Hata and Bybit will jointly work on the development of new digital asset products, tailored specifically for Malaysian users. This includes leveraging Bybit’s expertise in:
- Technology infrastructure
- Product innovation
- Global market insights
The collaboration is expected to result in the introduction of new financial tools and services, designed to meet the evolving needs of both retail and institutional participants.
Leadership Commentary on Strategic Collaboration
Statement from Bybit Leadership
Ben Zhou, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bybit, stated:
“Malaysia is a strategically important market for Bybit, with one of the most digitally engaged populations in Southeast Asia and strong long term potential for digital asset adoption. We see Hata as the right partner to help serve Malaysian investors through a compliant and regulated platform. By combining Hata’s local market leadership with Bybit’s global strengths in technology and product innovation, we hope to accelerate the growth of Malaysia’s digital asset and tokenised real world asset ecosystem.”
Statement from Hata Leadership
David Low, Chief Executive Officer of Hata, commented:
“This partnership with Bybit marks a defining moment for Hata and for Malaysia’s digital asset industry. Bybit’s decision to lead this round and partner with us strategically is a strong validation of our belief that crypto should be built the right way, with proper licensing, rigorous compliance, and an unwavering commitment to investor protection. Together, we will combine Hata’s regulated local platform with Bybit’s global expertise in technology and product innovation to expand what is possible for Malaysian users.”
Market Positioning and Ecosystem Development
Focus on Malaysia’s Digital Asset Market
The partnership emphasizes Malaysia as a strategically significant market within Southeast Asia, characterized by:
- High levels of digital engagement
- Increasing interest in digital asset adoption
- A developing regulatory framework
Hata’s position as a dual-licensed exchange provides a foundation for delivering regulated services, supporting both compliance requirements and market expansion.
Commitment to Responsible Growth
Both companies have indicated a shared commitment to responsible ecosystem development, focusing on:
- Regulatory compliance
- Investor protection
- Sustainable growth strategies
This approach aligns with the broader objective of building a trusted and scalable digital asset environment within Malaysia.
About Hata
Hata is Malaysia’s leading dual-licensed digital asset exchange, offering a platform for users to buy, sell, and custody digital assets. The company operates under licenses from:
- Securities Commission Malaysia (SC)
- Labuan Financial Services Authority (LFSA)
These licenses ensure that Hata maintains full regulatory compliance and adheres to robust security standards for users both within Malaysia and internationally.
Platform Growth and Performance Metrics
Since its launch in May 2023, Hata has achieved significant growth:
- More than 209,000 registered users
- RM1.04 billion in transaction volume during 2025
- Assets under custody (AUC) totaling RM86.3 million
- Peak AUC of RM115 million in September 2025
These figures reflect strong platform activity and increasing adoption among users.
Product Innovation and Features
Hata has introduced a range of features designed to enhance user experience and support long-term digital asset participation, including:
- Staking services, beginning with Solana (SOL)
- Auto-Invest (DCA) functionality, enabling systematic investment strategies
These offerings are part of Hata’s commitment to delivering innovative tools that support both individual and institutional investors.
About Bybit
Bybit is a global cryptocurrency exchange serving a community of over 70 million users worldwide. Founded in 2018, the company offers a comprehensive range of services, including:
- Spot trading
- Derivatives trading
- Staking
- Copy trading
- Institutional services
Bybit is recognized for its:
- Deep liquidity
- Regulated custody solutions
- Innovative product development
The company focuses on bridging the gap between traditional finance and decentralized finance, supporting the evolution of digital asset markets globally.
Media Contact
For additional information, visit hata.io.
Source Attribution
Source: Company announcement
