Crypto.com Secures MiFID License Expanding European Crypto Derivatives

Crypto.com has expanded its European operations by securing a Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) license, as announced on May 21, 2025. This regulatory milestone allows the mobile-first crypto exchange and payments platform to offer cryptocurrency derivatives across the European Economic Area (EEA).

The license was obtained following Crypto.com’s acquisition of A.N. Allnew Investments, a Cyprus-based investment services firm, with approval from the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC). This MiFID license complements Crypto.com’s earlier achievement in January 2025, when it received in-principle approval under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulatory framework. The dual-license powerhouse is poised to reshape Europe’s crypto landscape.

In a statement, Kris Marszalek, co-founder and CEO of Crypto.com, emphasized its commitment to expanding its regional reach. “We have already expanded our brand presence in Europe since receiving our MiCA licence, and we now look forward to providing customers across the region even more ways to engage with our platform through these new offerings,” he said. This move shows a trend among major crypto exchanges pursuing MiFID licenses to gain access to Europe’s regulated financial markets.

There has been a flurry of activity in recent months as top exchanges have aligned their derivative offerings with EU laws. Kraken, for instance, launched its regulated crypto derivatives platform just a day before Crypto.com’s announcement, using a MiFID II-regulated Cyprus entity. Coinbase, not far behind, recently entered an agreement to acquire Deribit, one of the world’s largest crypto derivatives platforms. This $2.9 billion move shows Coinbase’s belief in the profitability and importance of derivatives trading. Gemini also secured regulatory approval through Malta’s financial services authority to expand its European crypto derivatives offerings.

With MiCA and MiFID II providing clear guidelines, Europe now offers crypto firms a legitimate path to offer advanced financial instruments like derivatives, which were previously confined to offshore or lightly regulated platforms. By obtaining MiFID licenses, exchanges can “passport” their services across EU member states, reducing the diversified regulatory burden and facilitating broader access to financial products. Cyprus and Malta have positioned themselves as gateways into the European market, accounting for many MiFID license acquisitions due to their business-friendly policies, English-speaking regulatory environments, and robust financial services infrastructure.

Looking beyond Europe, the success of MiFID- and MiCA-driven crypto regulation could serve as a model for other jurisdictions. Countries in Asia, Latin America, and North America are closely watching. As more exchanges adopt this model, there is growing speculation that similar frameworks could emerge in jurisdictions like Singapore, Australia, and Brazil. This trend indicates how exchanges respond to demand for compliance-ready trading options while attempting to future-proof their operations in anticipation of stricter global standards.