Bitvavo Secures MiCA License Expanding EU Operations

Coin WorldFriday, Jun 27, 2025 9:27 pm ET
1min read

Bitvavo, a leading Dutch cryptocurrency exchange, has made a significant achievement by obtaining a Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) license from the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets. This license allows Bitvavo to extend its operations across all 27 EU member states, as well as Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, under a unified regulatory framework. This development eliminates the need for multiple national registrations, simplifying the process for the exchange to offer its services across the European Economic Area (EEA).

Ask Aime: Understanding Bitvavo's MiCA license impact on EU cryptocurrency trading.

The MiCA license is part of the European Union’s new regulatory regime aimed at bringing uniformity to the fragmented crypto market. By securing this license, Bitvavo joins a select group of firms, including Coinbase and Kraken, that have received full authorization under MiCA. Coinbase became the first major U.S. crypto firm to secure full authorization under MiCA, while Kraken received its MiCA license from the Central Bank of Ireland, allowing it to offer regulated services in all 30 EEA member states.

Jeetan Patel, Chief Risk Officer at Bitvavo, emphasized the significance of this milestone, stating, “This license is an important milestone for Bitvavo and our users. It enables us to offer our services across Europe under a single license. Over the past period, we have taken all necessary steps in the licensing process and have ensured compliance with the comprehensive MiCA regulatory requirements. We highly value the constructive collaboration with the AFM throughout this process. It has progressed efficiently.”

Bitvavo, founded in Amsterdam in 2018, serves nearly two million users and offers trading in over 190 digital assets. The firm already holds registrations in several countries, including France, Austria, Italy, and Spain. The exchange gained attention two years ago when Gemini, the cryptocurrency exchange founded by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, recommended its Dutch users to transfer their assets to Bitvavo.

The move by Bitvavo to secure the MiCA license comes as crypto companies across the EU race to align themselves with the new regulatory framework. MiCA, which came into force in 2024, aims to tighten oversight while making it easier for compliant firms to operate across borders. This regulatory shift is expected to bring greater stability and trust to the crypto market, benefiting both users and service providers.