Bitpanda Secures MiCA License in Germany for EU Expansion

Bitpanda secured the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license from Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). This opens up new opportunities for Bitpanda to expand across all 27 EU member states. With MiCA now fully in place, Bitpanda gains an edge in Europe’s growing crypto market.

Using the MiCA License to Fuel Growth

MiCA took full effect on December 30, 2024, establishing a unified regulatory framework throughout the EU. Bitpanda becomes only the second crypto asset service provider (CASP) to earn the BaFin MiCA license, after Boerse Stuttgart Digital Custody. 

This means Bitpanda can now legally operate across the entire EU, unlocking new growth potential. Bitpanda’s goal is to use the MiCA license to grow its user base. The company had 6 million users by December 2024 and hopes to significantly increase that number. 

Concerns Over the Effectiveness of MiCA

CEO Eric Demuth stated that the license will help make the platform more attractive to investors, offering them safer investment options. Though MiCA has launched, questions remain about how well the regulations will work. 

Demuth stressed the importance of consistent enforcement. Without strong enforcement, non-compliant firms could gain an unfair advantage. Demuth urged Europe to look to the U.S. as a model for how regulations should evolve. 

For Bitpanda, the MiCA license offers great potential, but success depends on the ability to maintain strong regulatory oversight. If Europe can enforce MiCA effectively, the future of crypto in the region looks promising.