Bybit Ends $150 Million Sponsorship as Red Bull Faces Shifts for 2025

Red Bull Racing is facing significant changes ahead of the
2025 Formula One season. One of the most notable developments is the end of its
partnership with Bybit, a cryptocurrency exchange. The sponsorship deal, valued
at $150 million over three years, concluded unexpectedly, leaving a gap in Red
Bull’s sponsorship portfolio, according to SI’s online report.

Bybit Departure Impacts Red Bull

In terms of its driver lineup, Max Verstappen has secured
his fourth Formula One driver’s championship in 2024, further solidifying his
position as one of the sport’s top drivers. Verstappen has also shown interest
in changing the team’s livery, preferring a departure from the matte finish
used in recent years. In Red Bull’s ‘Talking Bull’ podcast, he acknowledged
Sergio Perez’s role in the team, despite the performance gap that ultimately
led to Perez’s departure.

ByBit had been a prominent sponsor of the Red Bull F1 team over the past three seasons, but opted against a renewal for F1 2025… #F1 https://t.co/11ch1OIYQp

— PlanetF1 (@Planet_F1) January 2, 2025

Perez, who joined Red Bull in 2021, had a disappointing 2024
season, finishing 285 points behind Verstappen. As a result, Red Bull decided
to cut his contract short. Liam Lawson, who previously raced for Red Bull’s
sister team, will replace Perez for the 2025 season. Lawson’s previous
experience within the Red Bull family brings fresh energy to the team.

The end of the Bybit sponsorship adds further challenges for
Red Bull. The loss of this significant revenue stream means the team will need
to adjust its financial strategies for the 2025 season.

Bybit Ends Operations in Malaysia

Meanwhile, Bybit
has ceased its operations in Malaysia following an order from the
Securities Commission Malaysia (SC). The SC flagged Bybit for operating without
local registration and held CEO Ben Zhou accountable for ensuring compliance,
as reported by Finance Magnates.

The SC had previously added Bybit to its “Investor Alert”
list in 2021 for operating a digital asset exchange without registration,
alongside other unregistered platforms, including some crypto exchanges and
CFDs brokers.

The order, communicated to Bybit on December 11, 2024,
required the exchange to disable its website and mobile apps in Malaysia within
14 business days. Bybit was also instructed to stop all advertising and close
its Telegram support group for Malaysian users. The SC cited concerns over
compliance with local regulations and investor protection.

This article was written by Tareq Sikder at www.financemagnates.com.
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