Since launching in 2018, Bybit has leapfrogged over many competitors to become one of the world’s fastest-growing crypto exchanges. However, it has blocked U.S. citizens from accessing the platform, citing difficulties with the country’s crypto rules and regulations. As a result, you’ll need the best Bybit VPN to buy and sell cryptos on the platform.
Key Takeaways:
- Bybit doesn’t work in the U.S. because of regulatory challenges.
- With a VPN, you can access Bybit and buy and sell cryptos without any issues, although you’ll need one with obfuscation to avoid getting banned by Bybit for spoofing your location.
- ExpressVPN is the best VPN for Bybit because of its fast speeds, large server network and robust encryption features. NordVPN is also a reliable option, and it’s cheaper.
- Surfshark, CyberGhost and PIA are also excellent cheaper alternatives, especially on the long-term plans.
Because Bybit doesn’t have “know your customer” (KYC) requirements, it monitors IP addresses to enforce its geoban. If the crypto exchange platform notices that you’re spoofing your location, it can apply sanctions or terminate your account outright.
Fortunately, a virtual private network (VPN) is an excellent workaround since it changes your IP address and anonymizes your traffic so that neither Bybit nor any other snooper can keep tabs on your cryptocurrency trading activities. But not all VPNs are created equal. ExpressVPN is our favorite, but below, we’ll give you the who’s who roundup of Bybit USA VPNs to enjoy crypto trading.
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Bybit is banned in the United States, mainland China, Singapore, Quebec (Canada), North Korea, Cuba, Iran, Crimea, Sevastopol, Sudan, Syria, Donetsk and Luhansk.
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ExpressVPN is the best VPN for crypto transactions, thanks to its extensive server network, robust encryption features and blazing-fast speeds.
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With a secure VPN, you can access Bybit and make your cryptocurrency transactions without any issues. However, Bybit discourages VPN use, so it can block or suspend your account if it notices you’re using a VPN.
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A VPN can help you access Bybit even in the U.S. It works by spoofing your location and giving you an IP address from a country that allows Bybit. Also, a VPN with robust encryption and obfuscation can hide your VPN use from Bybit, your ISP or any other third party.
Top VPNs for ByBit
What Makes the Best Bybit VPN?
We looked at several VPNs through the lens of security features, fast speeds and obfuscation features. Here are the five VPNs that came out tops.
- ExpressVPN — Overall best Bybit VPN
- NordVPN — Excellent Bybit VPN with great security features
- CyberGhost — Bybit VPN with a large server network
- Surfshark — Budget-friendly VPN for Bybit
- Private Internet Access — Cheap, long-term VPN for Bybit
To protect your Bybit crypto assets, you need a VPN that is great at hiding your IP address and anonymizing your traffic. While most VPNs don’t struggle with changing your IP, your data can leak when your VPN connection drops unexpectedly. That’s why a kill switch is a must-have. You also need leak protection (IP, DNS, WebRTC) to keep your traffic away from snoopers.
Further, the best Bybit VPNs have a trove of obfuscation features. Note that Bybit promises to terminate accounts of people who’re caught hiding their location. So you need a VPN with obfuscated servers, which hide the fact that you’re using a VPN to make sure that Bybit doesn’t get wind of it.
Also, double VPN servers are helpful since they add an extra layer of encryption to your traffic, making it harder to decipher. Another essential feature of any good Bybit VPN is lightning-fast speeds to enjoy instant trading.
Finally, it’s helpful if your VPN accepts cryptocurrencies, since you can make payments from your Bybit wallet. Most VPNs accept popular cryptos like Bitcoin and Ethereum, however, check if your VPN accepts your preferred crypto.
The 5 Best Bybit USA VPN Services for Crypto Trading
Below, we pick apart each of our best Bybit VPN picks, showing you why they made it onto this list. Let’s start with our top choice, ExpressVPN.
More details about ExpressVPN:
- Pricing: cheapest plan costs $6.66 per month (15-months plan)
- Provider website: expressvpn.com
Pros:
- Excellent speeds
- Large server network
- RAM-only servers
Cons:
- Expensive monthly plan
ExpressVPN is our best VPN for crypto trading as well as our best VPN for Binance, and it’s no surprise that it tops this listing too. The VPN comes with robust security and privacy features, including AES-256 encryption, a no-logs policy, perfect forward secrecy, leak protection and an automatic kill switch known as Network Lock.
With an excellent server spread in 160 locations, ExpressVPN offers a trove of IP address choices and robust obfuscation to access Bybit. If you’re keen on instant trading, ExpressVPN is the perfect choice because it boasts great download and upload speeds, as you can see in our best fast VPN comparison. For even faster speeds, use lightning-fast Lightway protocol.
TrustedServer Technology Keeps Your Bybit Safe
ExpressVPN’s TrustedServer technology ensures that its operating systems and apps never write to a hard disk. Instead, the technology uses RAM-only servers, which means your Bybit crypto traffic is erased with each reboot. Learn more about how TrustedServer protects your Bybit account in our ExpressVPN review.
ExpressVPN’s monthly plan is also expensive, but you reduce your expenses significantly if you opt for the one-year plan. You can pay with various cryptos, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, as well as the PAX, BUSD, USDC and GUSD stablecoins. In addition, all plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
More details about NordVPN:
- Pricing: cheapest plan costs $3.99 per month (two-year plan)
- Provider website: nordvpn.com
Pros:
- Excellent security features
- Specialty servers
- Cheap long-term plan
Cons:
- Finicky UI
- Costly monthly plan
In many of our reviews, NordVPN and ExpressVPN slug it out for the first position. Although ExpressVPN has the edge here, NordVPN is not too far behind. The likes of AES-256 encryption, a kill switch and leak protection are standard fare, but NordVPN stands out with its specialty servers.
There’s the double VPN servers that encrypt your Bybit data twice. You can also use obfuscated servers to ensure that Bybit doesn’t realize that you’re using a VPN to access their platform. What’s more, NordVPN has over 5,300 servers in 60 countries, so you’re spoiled for choice when getting an IP address outside the States.
Secure Your Bybit Assets With Threat Protection
NordVPN’s threat protection feature can help you protect your crypto trading from all kinds of phishing scams. It works by blocking you from visiting malicious sites and it stops you from downloading or opening malware-ridden files. Plus, it can fend off cookies, pop-ups and intrusive ads, giving you a smooth crypto trading experience.
The good news is that Threat Protection works even when you’re not connected to a VPN server. Learn more in our NordVPN review.
NordVPN’s monthly plan is costly, but you can save a lot if you opt for the two-year plan. If you want to pay with a cryptocurrency, NordVPN accepts various cryptos through CoinPayments. All plans are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee.
More details about Surfshark:
- Pricing: cheapest plan costs $2.49 per month (two-year plan)
- Provider website: surfshark.com
Pros:
- Cheap long-term plans
- Unlimited devices
- Multi-hop servers
Cons:
- Poor latency
If you’re in the market for a cheap VPN for Bybit that doesn’t skimp on security features, Surfshark should be at the top of your list. You get an automatic kill switch feature and DNS leak protection, both of which keep your IP address hidden. The camouflage mode also ensures that not even your ISP or Bybit can figure out you’re using a VPN.
You get your pick of over 3,200 servers in 65 countries to unblock Bybit. If you’re worried about malicious sites (like fake crypto exchanges), intrusive ads and trackers, you’ll love Surfshark’s ad-blocking CleanWeb feature. In addition, Surfshark allows you to use one subscription with an unlimited number of devices, making it a great choice if you access Bybit across various devices.
Protect Your Crypto Transactions With the Double VPN Feature
Surfshark’s double VPN feature (MultiHop) allows you to route your crypto activities through multiple servers instead of one. For example, you can connect to a VPN server in Canada and connect to another in Germany. This adds an extra layer of protection, making it harder for fraudulent characters to track your Bybit account. Learn more in our Surfshark review.
Surfshark’s cheapest plan is the two-year plan, which will set you back $2.49 per month. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee and you can pay with Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin through CoinPayments or CoinGate.
More details about CyberGhost:
- Pricing: cheapest plan costs $2.15 per month (three-year plan + three months)
- Provider website: cyberghostvpn.com
Pros:
- Large server network
- 45-day money-back guarantee
- Dedicated IP addresses
Cons:
- Inconsistent speeds on OpenVPN
CyberGhost is another handy VPN for accessing crypto exchanges like Bybit in the U.S., thanks to the sheer size of its server network: over 7,800 servers in 91 countries. For perspective, it has more servers than any other VPN on this list, although it trails ExpressVPN in terms of country count. It’s not as fast as ExpressVPN or NordVPN, but you get stable speeds with its WireGuard protocol.
If you’re new to VPNs and not too keen on toying with advanced features, you’ll love CyberGhost’s apps since they’re simple, intuitive and easy to use. What’s more, you can set smart rules to automate your VPN, which is great if you access Bybit several times each day. No wonder CyberGhost is second on our best VPN for beginners listing.
Avoid Verification Requests With a Dedicated IP Address
With a standard VPN subscription, you’ll have to share your IP address with many other users. This could lead to your IP address being blocklisted. Besides, Bybit will become suspicious when you access your account with a different IP, leading to extra verification steps. Fortunately, CyberGhost offers dedicated IP addresses to solve those challenges, although you have to pay extra.
CyberGhost’s cheapest plan is the three-year plan, which costs $2.29 per month, and you get three extra months free. The monthly plan comes with a 14-day money-back guarantee, while the long term plans come with a 45-day money-back guarantee. You can pay for the VPN with Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash or Ethereum through BitPay.
More details about PIA:
Pros:
- Good server spread
- Dedicated IP addresses
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Relatively slow
Although it can’t match the speeds of ExpressVPN and NordVPN, PIA clinches the final spot in this review, thanks to a decent collection of security and privacy features. It offers AES-256 encryption and a kill switch as well as a zero-logs policy, which all make PIA a useful choice for crypto trading platforms, including Bybit.
The VPN’s server spread is equally impressive, with servers in 84 countries. If you want to avoid constant security warnings, use PIA’s dedicated IP address feature. Fortunately, the VPN service is easy to use and offers several customization options, as you can see in our PIA review.
Secure Your Trades With MACE
MACE is an ad blocker developed by PIA that fends off ads, trackers and malware. This can give you a distraction-free experience while accessing Bybit and you can avoid crypto scams. MACE is faster and more memory efficient because it’s a DNS-based ad blocker. Simply put, MACE doesn’t have to check with typical blocklists before denying requests, so the process is faster.
PIA’s cheapest plan is the two-year plan and you get two months free. All plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee. You can pay with Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash.
Cryptocurrency Trading Security Tips
Think of the crypto world as shark-infested waters. With scammers always lurking, one wrong move can cause you to lose your lifetime investments. Below are a few tips to safeguard your crypto trading activities.
1. Beware of Crypto Scams
If any crypto deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you have any doubts, double-check with your crypto exchange before making a trade. Scams are always evolving, but here are a few you should take note of:
- Malicious wallet software: Avoid downloading dodgy or unknown wallets and trading platforms. Stick with the tried-and-tested crypto wallets as much as possible, especially those that have been around for years.
- Pump and dump schemes: With the rise of initial coin offerings (ICO) and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), a group of traders can share false information to artificially inflate the price of a crypto and sell their shares off.
- Phishing scams: Scammers trick crypto traders into revealing details about their accounts, such as passwords and private keys. Avoid any emails or links that require you to hand over your login details.
2. Store Your Crypto in a Cold Wallet
To avoid the online risks with your wallet, you can store your cryptocurrencies in a cold wallet, also known as a hardware wallet or a cold storage. This is a physical device that keeps your crypto holdings offline. Of course, you can keep some of your cryptos online for trading, but for safety, you can store a chunk away in your cold storage.
3. Use Strong Passwords & Multi-Factor Authentication
Be sure to use strong passwords which are random, complex and unique. To generate and help you keep track of your passwords, you can use a secure password manager (check out our roundup of the best password managers). Also, don’t forget to change your password periodically.
In addition, activate multi-factor authentication on your cryptocurrency exchange platform before you start trading.
4. Make Sure to Update Devices & Crypto Software
Always ensure that the operating system of your personal device, whether a laptop or a mobile device, is up to date. Also, make sure you have an up-to-date antivirus on your computer so that no hacker can target your vulnerabilities. Further, it’s important to frequently update your cryptocurrency exchange’s apps. These updates often come with important security fixes against new threats.
5. Always Use a Secure Internet Connection
With the rise of free WiFi in places like coffee shops, airports, restaurants and malls, it’s tempting to log in to your crypto account using such public WiFi. However, with such networks, someone can easily track and compromise your crypto data. For safety, use a virtual private network (VPN) to spoof your location and anonymize your internet traffic.
Why Use a VPN With Bybit?
If you’re living in the following countries or locations, you’ll need a VPN to access Bybit: the United States, mainland China, Singapore, Quebec (Canada), North Korea, Cuba, Iran, Crimea, Sevastopol, Sudan, Syria, Donetsk and Luhansk. That’s because Bybit doesn’t allow residents from those places to access the platform.
Fortunately, with a VPN, you can spoof your location and get an IP address from a country that allows access to Bybit. Note that Bybit discourages users from hiding their true location and they can suspend your account. Hence, you need a VPN with excellent obfuscation features.
In addition, a VPN anonymizes your traffic, preventing hackers and scammers from getting access to your sensitive crypto data.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, you’ve decided which VPN to use to access your Bybit account in the U.S. If you’re still of two minds, we recommend getting started with ExpressVPN. You can’t go wrong with its large server network, lightning-fast speeds and best-in-class security features. However, if you’re on a tight budget, go for NordVPN, which is slightly cheaper.
Surfshark, CyberGhost and PIA are also decent alternatives if you’re looking for a long-term VPN with cutthroat prices and a decent suite of features.
Have you tried accessing Bybit in the U.S. with a VPN? Did you encounter any issues? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below. As always, thank you for reading.