Bitvavo Secures MiCA License for EU-Wide Crypto Operations

Bitvavo, a prominent digital asset platform, has secured a MiCA license from the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), enabling it to operate across the European Union. This license, under the new harmonized MiCAR framework, grants Bitvavo legal clarity and passporting rights across all EU member states, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. With nearly 2 million users, Bitvavo is positioning itself as a dominant player in the European crypto spot market.

The European Union’s MiCAR framework, which came into force in mid-2024, aims to standardize crypto rules across the bloc. It replaces the previous fragmented system, where crypto exchanges needed separate registrations in each country. The MiCA license enables authorized firms to operate in all 30 countries within the European Economic Area (EEA) under a single, unified regime. MiCAR applies to a wide range of digital asset services, from trading and custody to the issuance of stablecoins, and enacts stiffer consumer protections, operational rules, and transparency requirements. The aim is to make crypto safer and more compliant without suffocating innovation.

Bitvavo’s strategic leap to EU-wide operations is a significant milestone. Licensed by the AFM, Bitvavo can now provide services across the continent, placing it in the same regulatory league as other major exchanges like Coinbase, Kraken, Bybit, and OKX. This move allows Bitvavo to consolidate operations and provide the same service offering throughout Europe, streamlining regulatory compliance and enhancing efficiency.

Jeetan Patel, Chief Risk Officer of Bitvavo, highlighted the importance of this license, stating, “It enables us to offer our services across Europe under a single license.” CEO Mark Nuvelstijn emphasized the broader ambition behind this step, saying, “This license provides clarity, confidence and enables Bitvavo to fulfil its ambition: to become the leading digital asset trading platform in Europe.”

Founded in 2018, Bitvavo started as a local Dutch exchange and has since grown into one of the leading digital asset platforms in Europe. With almost 2 million customers and a strong position in the spot trading of the EUR, Bitvavo is currently the biggest EUR spot trading site in the world. The platform offers a large selection of tradable cryptocurrencies, a clean interface, and low fees, which has helped it gain significant ground in Europe, particularly with retail traders.

Bitvavo’s competitors, including Coinbase, Kraken, Bybit, and OKX, have also secured MiCA licenses in various EU jurisdictions. This regulatory environment, unified under MiCAR, allows companies to choose a “home” country to apply from, often depending on local regulator efficiency, legal clarity, and existing operations. Bitvavo’s development of a licensing arrangement on its home turf in the Netherlands reflects confidence in the country’s regulator’s preparedness for a rollout of the rules under MiCAR.

The AFM’s strong enforcement and investor protection adherence make it an attractive authority for other fintechs in the EU. With MiCAR now in effect and regulatory uncertainty fading across Europe, crypto firms can finally build long-term strategies around infrastructure, product expansion, and institutional partnerships. This regulatory clarity is expected to foster a more stable and compliant crypto market, benefiting both users and service providers alike.