Checking your own balance in the Bybit proof of reserves with the Merkle tree tool
Proof of reserves reports became common after several exchange failures. Bybit publishes periodic snapshots comparing customer balances with the assets it holds in wallets it controls, and lets each user check that their own balance was counted. That self-check is the most useful part, and it takes only a few minutes. Equally useful is knowing the limits: a snapshot is a picture of one moment, and it is not an audit of everything on the balance sheet.
Find the report from inside your account
Log in to Bybit and open the proof of reserves page from the Assets area or from the link in the site footer. The page shows the date of the latest snapshot and, for each covered asset, the ratio of reserves to customer liabilities. Write down the snapshot date before anything else. If someone sends you a report in a messaging app, ignore the file and open the page yourself; copies circulate and can be outdated or altered.
Verify that your balance was included
On the same page, open the section for verifying your assets. Bybit shows a record for your account at the snapshot time, including a hash that stands for your balance without revealing your identity. The Merkle tree verification lets you confirm that this hash is part of the published tree. Some users go further and run the open-source verification tool the page links to. If your balance at that time does not match what you remember, check your transaction history for that date.
Read what the snapshot does not show
A reserves ratio covers specific assets at a specific moment. It does not by itself show the exchange's other liabilities, loans or how assets are managed between snapshots. Look for any notes on methodology and on which assets and products are included. Treat a high ratio as one piece of evidence, not as a promise. That is a reason to keep checking, not a reason to keep more on the exchange than you need.
Combine it with your own custody limits
Proof of reserves does not replace basic habits: an authenticator app, withdrawal whitelist and a clear idea of how much you keep on any exchange. Decide a maximum you are comfortable leaving on Bybit and move the rest to a wallet you control, with a small test withdrawal to each new address. Revisit the decision when each new snapshot is published.
Risk boundary: Bybit Italy Guide
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Scenario checkpoint
- Note the snapshot date before reading any ratios on the proof of reserves page
- Use the Merkle tree verification to confirm your own account hash was included
- Set a personal maximum balance for Bybit and withdraw the rest to your own wallet