BitGo Unifies Custody and Trading for Institutions Under MiCA

BitGo has received regulatory approval from Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) to offer regulated cryptocurrency trading services across the European Union, marking a significant milestone in the firm’s expansion within the region. The approval allows BitGo Europe GmbH to operate an over-the-counter (OTC) trading desk and a high-performance electronic trading platform from its Frankfurt headquarters. This authorization builds upon an earlier Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license granted in May 2025, which permitted the firm to provide custody, staking, and transfer services. Now, BitGo Europe can offer full-service crypto trading solutions to institutional clients under MiCA-compliant frameworks.

The new trading services enable institutional investors to execute spot trades across thousands of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins while keeping assets in BaFin-regulated cold storage. This integration of custody and trading services eliminates the need for clients to move assets between multiple platforms, reducing operational complexity and enhancing security. Brett Reeves, Head of European Sales and Go Network at BitGo, emphasized that this development allows institutions to trade with deep liquidity and reliable execution while maintaining regulatory oversight.

BitGo’s expansion positions it as a key player in a competitive market dominated by established firms like Coinbase and Kraken, both of which already offer trading and custody services in Europe. The firm has also partnered with crypto custodian Copper to develop an “in-custody” trading network, enabling large exchanges and institutional clients to trade assets within a ring-fenced environment without transferring them out of regulated custody. This strategic approach aims to address a critical pain point for institutional investors—operational inefficiencies caused by the separation of custody, trading, and compliance.

For institutional investors such as pension funds and asset managers, BitGo’s regulated, full-service platform simplifies digital asset exposure. By consolidating custody, staking, transfers, and trading into a single, MiCA-compliant system, the firm reduces the need to engage with multiple service providers. Reeves noted that this streamlined model provides the liquidity, execution, and regulatory assurance necessary for traditional financial institutions to confidently enter the crypto market.

The approval reflects the maturing of Europe’s crypto regulatory environment, with MiCA providing a harmonized legal framework across the EU. BitGo’s alignment with MiCA positions it as a leader in shaping the future of digital asset infrastructure, particularly for institutions seeking secure and compliant access to the crypto market. As more firms seek to comply with MiCA standards, the regulatory clarity provided by the EU is expected to accelerate institutional adoption of digital assets.