The cryptocurrency exchange Bitvavo has officially received a license from the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) in accordance with the European regulation Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA/MiCAR). This allows the platform to provide crypto asset services across the entire European Union.
This is reported by Finway
Regulation of the Crypto Market in the EU and New Players
The granting of the MiCA license to Bitvavo is a significant event for the European crypto market. The platform has become the fifth cryptocurrency exchange to undergo official licensing in the Netherlands. Among other companies that have already received licenses under MiCA are well-known exchanges such as Coinbase (registered in Luxembourg), Kraken (Ireland), and MoonPay (MiCA license effective December 2024).
Bitvavo positions itself as the largest spot platform for trading cryptocurrencies in euros. The company emphasizes that with the obtained license, it will be able to expand its range of services and strengthen its position in the European market.
“We fully support the core principles of MiCAR. For a level playing field in Europe, it is crucial that the rules are formulated and applied consistently across all member states. This license provides clarity, confidence, and enables Bitvavo to realize its ambitions: to become the leading platform for trading digital assets in Europe,” said CEO and co-founder of Bitvavo, Mark Nuvelstein.
Future Plans and Market Prospects
Bitvavo’s Chief Risk Officer, Jitan Patel, emphasized that the company worked closely with the AFM during the licensing process and complies with all MiCAR requirements.
The European cryptocurrency market is gradually becoming more regulated — this opens up new opportunities for industry growth. According to media reports, the next platform that may receive a MiCA license soon is Gemini, which has chosen Malta for registration.
According to the new standards, all companies wishing to operate in the EU must adhere to uniform rules that ensure transparency and security for users of cryptocurrency services.