Nikolas Sargeant
Trade Republic, a prominent European fintech firm, has secured a full Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license from Germany's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). This achievement authorizes the company to offer a comprehensive range of crypto-asset services across all 27 EU member states.
The MiCA license empowers Trade Republic to provide custody and administration of crypto-assets, execute orders on behalf of clients, and facilitate the reception and transmission of crypto-asset orders. This regulatory approval marks a significant milestone in the company's expansion within the European crypto market.
Previously, Trade Republic operated as a securities trading bank, collaborating with licensed banking partners such as Deutsche Bank. With the new MiCA license, the company can now independently offer crypto-asset services, enhancing its position in the competitive fintech landscape.
This development aligns with Trade Republic's broader strategy to diversify its offerings and strengthen its presence in the European financial sector. The full MiCA license underscores the company's commitment to regulatory compliance and its ambition to lead in the evolving crypto-asset space.
MiCA’s Growing Influence Across the Crypto Sector
The Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation is already reshaping the European crypto landscape, compelling both traditional and emerging players to adapt. Bitpanda, another major EU-based fintech, recently secured its third MiCA license—this time from Austria’s Financial Market Authority—bolstering its strategic expansion across the continent.
Meanwhile, crypto exchanges are adjusting operations to align with MiCA’s evolving compliance standards. Binance, for instance, delisted several spot trading pairs involving Tether (USDT) within the European Economic Area to remain compliant with the new regulations. This move reflects a broader shift toward more transparent and standardized token listings within the EU.
Not all players are finding smooth compliance. OKX, a major exchange, risked losing its MiCA license due to an investigation into the alleged use of its Web3 tools in laundering funds linked to a Bybit hack. Such scrutiny signals a tightening regulatory environment and highlights the EU’s determination to enforce the rules introduced under MiCA.
These developments demonstrate how MiCA is becoming a defining force in crypto regulation across Europe, prompting increased accountability, while also fostering a more stable and investor-friendly ecosystem for digital assets.
