Bitpanda Secures Third MiCA License, Highlighting EU Regulatory Inconsistencies

Bitpanda, an Austrian fintech unicorn, has secured its third license under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) framework. This latest approval, received from Austria’s Financial Market Authority (FMA) on April 10, follows previous licenses obtained from regulators in Germany and Malta. The company announced this milestone on X, stating that it marks “another step toward building the most regulated crypto platform in Europe.”

MiCA, which became fully effective on December 30, 2024, aims to establish a unified legal framework for crypto asset service providers (CASPs) across the EU. However, Bitpanda’s strategy of obtaining multiple licenses raises questions about the consistency of MiCA’s interpretation and enforcement across different member states.

Bitpanda, based in Vienna, was among the first CASPs to receive a MiCA license after the framework’s full implementation. The company’s first MiCA license was issued by Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) on January 23. Subsequently, Bitpanda secured another MiCA license from the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA). The company highlighted that these licenses underscore its commitment to being Europe’s most secure and well-regulated crypto platform.

Despite the goal of MiCA to create a harmonized regulatory environment, the fact that Bitpanda has pursued multiple licenses in different EU states suggests that there may still be regulatory inconsistencies among member states. This situation raises questions about the effectiveness of MiCA in achieving its intended uniformity across the bloc.