Bybit is lowering the friction around crypto purchases by temporarily waiving fees for eligible Apple Pay transactions. The promotion, available through September 24, 2026, lets users purchase supported cryptocurrencies through Apple Pay using cards linked to Apple Wallet, across 36 fiat currencies.

Buying cryptocurrency has become easier over the past several years, but the funding process can still be a barrier for newcomers. Moving money between bank accounts, exchanges and payment providers can add both time and fees before a user even makes a trade.

Bybit is targeting that friction with a temporary zero-fee promotion for Apple Pay crypto purchases.

The cryptocurrency exchange said eligible users can purchase up to 100 USDT or the equivalent through Apple Pay without fees until September 24, 2026. The offer covers 36 supported fiat currencies and can be used with eligible bank cards already connected to Apple Wallet.

The promotion is available through Bybit One-Click Buy, where users select a cryptocurrency and fiat currency, choose Apple Pay and complete the transaction through the payment flow.

On the surface, this is a relatively straightforward payments integration. Its broader significance is that crypto exchanges continue to compete on the same user-experience principles that have shaped mainstream digital payments: fewer steps, familiar payment credentials and immediate transaction confirmation.

Apple Pay has become an established consumer payment interface, allowing users to make purchases without repeatedly entering card details. Bringing that experience into cryptocurrency purchasing effectively shifts part of the exchange onboarding process into a payment ecosystem users may already understand.

For crypto platforms, that matters because the first transaction remains one of the biggest points of friction in the customer journey.

Traditional exchange funding can require bank transfers, card verification, payment-provider authentication or separate wallet movements. A mobile-wallet payment method can reduce some of those steps, although availability and transaction limits still depend on the payment method, jurisdiction and exchange controls.

Bybit’s offer also illustrates how cryptocurrency exchanges are increasingly treating payments infrastructure as a competitive feature.

The exchange operates in a market populated by platforms such as Coinbase, Kraken and Crypto.com, alongside payment companies and fintech providers working to connect traditional money with digital assets. The competitive battle is no longer limited to trading fees and the number of listed tokens. How easily customers can move fiat currency into an account can influence whether they complete a purchase at all.

Apple Pay provides a particularly recognizable interface, but it does not eliminate the underlying complexity of crypto payments.

Behind the transaction are card networks, payment processors, cryptocurrency exchanges, compliance systems and digital-asset liquidity providers. Each layer can impose restrictions or costs. The exchange’s zero-fee promotion therefore applies to eligible transactions rather than representing a permanent elimination of all possible costs associated with buying crypto.

That distinction is important for consumers.

The promotional terms state that conditions, eligibility requirements and an upper limit on fees apply. Users should therefore check the applicable conditions before purchasing rather than assuming every Apple Pay transaction will be completely cost-free.

There is also a broader strategic issue for exchanges. Making crypto easier to buy can expand participation, but it also places greater importance on responsible onboarding, transaction monitoring and consumer protections. The easier the payment experience becomes, the more important it is that users understand what they are purchasing and the risks associated with digital assets.

For Bybit, the promotion fits into a broader effort to position the exchange as a more accessible financial platform rather than simply a venue for experienced cryptocurrency traders.

The move also comes as the digital-asset industry becomes increasingly connected to mainstream payment infrastructure. Apple Pay, Google Pay, bank cards and instant-payment networks are becoming gateways through which consumers can interact with digital assets without necessarily learning the mechanics of blockchain wallets first.

That could prove particularly important for retail adoption.

A new user is more likely to understand “pay with Apple Pay” than instructions involving a bank transfer, deposit address or blockchain network. This does not remove the need for education, but it can simplify the first interaction with an exchange.

The same trend is visible in other areas of fintech. PayPal, Visa, Mastercard and major banks have all explored ways to connect conventional payment infrastructure with digital assets, stablecoins or blockchain-based settlement. The result is a gradual convergence between cryptocurrency infrastructure and established financial technology.

For enterprise teams, the implications extend beyond retail crypto purchases. Payment integrations demonstrate how digital-asset businesses can use existing consumer payment rails instead of requiring customers to adopt entirely new financial workflows.

The challenge is scaling that convenience while maintaining compliance, fraud prevention and transaction economics.

Bybit’s zero-fee Apple Pay promotion will run for a limited period, making it difficult to assess its long-term effect on acquisition or trading activity. But the underlying strategy is clear: reduce the number of decisions and actions between a customer’s fiat balance and a digital asset.

That is increasingly becoming a central battleground in fintech.

As exchanges compete to reach mainstream users, the winners may not simply be the platforms offering the most cryptocurrencies or the lowest trading fees. They may be the ones that make digital assets feel most like an ordinary financial transaction—while retaining the controls required to operate safely in a regulated and increasingly scrutinised market.

Market Landscape

Crypto exchanges are increasingly competing on fiat-to-crypto payment infrastructure as well as trading functionality. Apple Pay, Google Pay, cards and local payment networks can reduce onboarding friction, particularly for retail users unfamiliar with cryptocurrency transfers.

Bybit’s promotion places it alongside a wider ecosystem involving exchanges such as Coinbase, Kraken and Crypto.com and payment networks including Visa and Mastercard. The strategic objective is similar across the industry: connect established payment experiences with digital-asset markets.

The challenge is balancing convenience with compliance, fraud prevention, transaction limits and transparent pricing. A zero-fee promotion can encourage acquisition, but sustainable adoption ultimately depends on the overall cost and reliability of the payment experience.

Top Insights

• Bybit is waiving eligible Apple Pay purchase fees through September 24, lowering upfront costs for retail users buying up to 100 USDT or equivalent.
• The promotion supports 36 fiat currencies, allowing eligible bank cards connected to Apple Wallet to fund cryptocurrency purchases through Bybit’s One-Click Buy service.
• Apple Pay integration targets onboarding friction, replacing complex funding workflows with a familiar mobile-payment experience for new and existing digital-asset users.
• Crypto exchanges are competing on payment infrastructure, with Coinbase, Kraken and Crypto.com facing broader pressure to make fiat-to-crypto transactions faster.
• Convenience does not remove financial risk, making eligibility, transaction limits, compliance controls and applicable terms important considerations for consumers using promotional crypto-payment offers.

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