Bitcoin News Today: Blockrise Builds on MiCA's Foundation: Pioneering EU Bitcoin Loans for Institutions

Blockrise, a Netherlands-based Bitcoin-only startup, has made history by becoming the first company to secure a regulatory license under the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, enabling fully regulated Bitcoin services across Europe. The Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) granted the license, allowing Blockrise to offer custody, trading, and asset management solutions for Bitcoin (BTC) throughout the bloc. This milestone marks a significant step in legitimizing institutional-grade crypto services under the EU's evolving regulatory landscape.

Blockrise's innovation extends beyond traditional custody. The firm has introduced a Bitcoin-backed loan service for corporate clients, offering business loans starting at 20,000 euros ($23,150). Borrowers can collateralize their Bitcoin to secure funding, with an initial interest rate of 8%, reviewed monthly. While MiCA does not yet cover lending services, Blockrise CEO Jos Lazet emphasized that the framework provides the foundational compliance required to scale such offerings. "MiCA is the basis for Blockrise to provide Bitcoin-backed loans, only provisioning to business clients in order to stay within the regulatory constraints," he stated.

The MiCA framework, fully implemented in late 2024, regulates crypto issuance and trading but excludes areas like lending, DeFi, and mining. Lazet, however, remains optimistic about its future expansion. "MiCA doesn't regulate everything yet, but it is expected to extend over time and include more scopes, such as lending, mining, payments, etc.," he said. This forward-looking perspective aligns with the EU's broader strategy to foster innovation while ensuring consumer protection.

Blockrise's operational model is built on a "semi-custodial wallet structure," where users retain control through a digital key rather than traditional private keys. The company's hardware security modules generate Bitcoin wallets, and transactions require both user and Blockrise signatures for security. This approach balances accessibility with risk mitigation, a critical factor in attracting institutional clients. Blockrise currently manages approximately €100 million ($116 million) in client assets.

The firm's success under MiCA highlights the EU's growing openness to crypto innovation. Meanwhile, other projects, like Pi Network, are also leveraging MiCA compliance to enter European markets. Pi Network recently published a MiCA-compliant white paper, signaling readiness for EU-wide exchange listings and institutional adoption. Such developments underscore the regulatory framework's potential to attract global crypto players.

Blockrise's breakthrough sets a precedent for how startups can navigate complex regulatory environments to scale services. The firm's strategic focus on compliance and innovation positions it to capitalize on the EU's expanding crypto ecosystem, while its loan service bridges a critical gap in institutional finance.