Bitpanda, Europe’s leading crypto platform, has secured its MiCAR (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation) licence from Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).
This milestone not only reinforces Bitpanda’s reputation as the most secure and compliant crypto platform but also marks the beginning of a new era for the company, as it aims to expand its services across all EU member states under a unified regulatory framework.
The licence was granted by BaFin, which has the reputation of being Europe’s strictest financial market regulator. MiCAR represents a pivotal step for the crypto industry, setting a new standard for transparency, security, and compliance - in Europe and beyond.
Eric Demuth, CEO and Co-Founder of Bitpanda, commented: “With this licence Bitpanda is setting a new standard for the crypto industry, paving the way for secure and regulated services across Europe. This licence has immediate validity - unlike in-principle licences announced by other crypto platforms which are neither valid nor exist at all. This milestone enables us to bring easy and safe investing to over 450 million people, unlocking unparalleled growth potential in a market we’re ready to fully conquer.”
MiCAR unlocks further growth opportunities for Bitpanda
Bitpanda has experienced accelerated growth over the past 12 months. Since its founding in 2014, the crypto platform has achieved significant milestones, growing from 1 million users in 2019 to 4 million by 2023, reaching 5 million in June 2024, and 6 million by December 2024 - just 6 months later. With the MiCAR licence, Bitpanda is poised to expand across the EU, further accelerating its growth trajectory in 2025.
MiCAR introduces a single regulatory regime for the crypto industry, enabling Bitpanda to operate under one licence across 27 countries. This reduces complexity and cost while offering a clear path for scaling operations. Bitpanda’s proactive approach to regulation—reflected in its 17 existing licences, including a PSD2 E-money licence and a MiFID II licence—has positioned the company as the most trusted platform in the industry. The MiCAR licence allows Bitpanda to offer its full range of industry leading products—spanning retail and institutional services—throughout the European Union.
Lukas Enzersdorfer-Konrad, Deputy CEO at Bitpanda, added: “This achievement is the result of a decade of commitment to compliance and regulation. With MiCAR, we are not just meeting the industry’s highest standards, we are setting them. Our focus now is on using this licence to accelerate adoption and growth across the European market.”