Bitstamp Breaks Ground as First Major Exchange to Snag MiCA License

Europe’s crypto wild west gets its first sheriff—Bitstamp just locked down full regulatory approval under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework. The exchange now operates with Brussels’ stamp of approval while rivals scramble to comply.

Why it matters: This isn’t just paperwork—it’s a power move that lets Bitstamp offer EUR-denominated services across the EU without jumping through national hoops. Traders get protection, the industry gets legitimacy, and regulators get to pretend they’ve tamed crypto.

The cynical take: Watch traditional finance suddenly discover ’blockchain opportunities’ now that compliance costs have priced out the little guys. MiCA’s real innovation? Turning decentralization into a premium feature for institutional players.

Bitstamp, one of the world’s longest-running cryptocurrency exchanges, has been granted a Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) license under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation.

The MiCA regulation, which fully came into effect on 30 December 2024, is a comprehensive framework designed to create a unified regulatory landscape for crypto assets across all EU member states. It aims to replace the previous fragmented national laws, ensuring consistent protections and obligations for both users and service providers throughout the EU.

According to Bitstamp, obtaining this CASP license demonstrates its commitment to consumer protection and compliance, principles that have guided the exchange since its launch in 2011.

"Securing our CASP license under MiCA isn’t just a regulatory box to be checked: it’s a public commitment to the highest standards of transparency, consumer protection, and operational resilience that have defined Bitstamp from day one," Jean-Baptiste Graftieaux, Global CEO of Bitstamp, said in an announcement.

MiCA introduces several key components, including authorization requirements covering capital, security, and transparency standards; enhanced consumer protection; cybersecurity protocols; and stablecoin oversight.

Graftieaux further stated, "Bitstamp has always championed the development of a thoughtful regulatory framework that prioritises investor safety and confidence, which MiCA has delivered on. MiCA’s rigour makes Bitstamp’s approval under its regime all the more momentous and will enable us to offer our European customers an incredibly reliable and protected environment for engaging with crypto-assets."

With this license, Bitstamp will be able to offer its trading platform, execution of orders, and custody of crypto-assets to both retail and institutional clients across the EEA. The exchange said it also plans to expand its product offerings in Europe and pursue additional licenses in other key jurisdictions.

Bitpanda, OKX, Crypto.com, Boerse Stuttgart Digital, Bullish, Standard Chartered, Hidden Road, Hashkey, BitStaete, Moonpay, Gemini, and ZBD all hold CASP licenses under MiCA.