Bitvavo has emerged as the latest cryptocurrency exchange to obtain a Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license from the Dutch Authority for Financial Markets (AFM), enabling it to function throughout Europe under the new regulatory regime.
Bitvavo co-founder and CEO Mark Nuvelstijn announced the development in a statement on Friday and voiced his complete endorsement of the MiCA initiative. “We are fully in favor of MiCAR’s underlying principles,” he stated, further adding:
“For an equitable playing field in Europe, it is vital that the regulations are developed and applied uniformly across all member states.”
Bitvavo’s risk executive describes it as a “productive partnership”
Nuvelstijn asserted that the license equips the crypto exchange with precise direction and assurance to operate throughout Europe. MiCA aims to harmonize and supervise the crypto sector across Europe, emphasizing investor safeguarding, financial stability, and innovation. MiCA’s licensing period commenced on January 1.
Bitvavo’s chief risk officer Jeetan Patel mentioned that the process was thorough yet efficient.
“In recent times, we have undertaken all essential measures in the licensing process and have guaranteed adherence to the comprehensive MiCAR regulatory requirements,” Patel remarked.
“We greatly appreciate the productive collaboration with the AFM during this process. It has advanced smoothly,” he continued.
Crypto companies are gathering to achieve MiCA authorization
The announcement arrives on the heels of several MiCA license approvals in Europe recently.
On Wednesday, crypto firm Kraken reported that it had secured the MiCA license from the Central Bank of Ireland. On June 21, crypto exchange Coinbase attained a MiCA license from the Luxembourg Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier.
Related: European Commission minimizes stablecoin threats, counters ECB alert
Three weeks earlier, on May 29, crypto exchange Bybit secured a MiCA license from Austria’s Financial Market Authority (FMA).
The established regulatory framework has fostered renewed investor trust across the region.
Konstantins Vasilenko, co-founder and chief business development officer at Paybis, revealed to Cointelegraph on June 22 that trading volumes from EU clients surged 70% quarter-on-quarter in Q1 2025, right after the MiCA regulation was implemented.
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