Dutch-based crypto exchange Bitvavo has officially received its Markets in Crypto-Assets license from the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets, joining the growing list of digital asset firms now operating under Europe’s unified crypto regulatory framework.
The approval positions Bitvavo among the first wave of MiCA-compliant exchanges within the European Economic Area, allowing it to legally provide crypto trading, custodial services, and other digital asset offerings across all 30 member states. With the license in hand, Bitvavo is now poised to expand its operations across Europe with full regulatory clarity and investor protections enshrined by the MiCA regime.
Bitvavo’s co-founder and CEO Mark Nuvelstijn confirmed the development in a statement on Friday, calling it a “milestone” not just for the company, but for the maturing European crypto landscape as a whole.
“We fully support the core principles of MiCA. For a level playing field in Europe, it is essential that the rules are formulated and enforced consistently across all member states,” said Nuvelstijn.
With its newly granted MiCA license, Bitvavo now joins firms like Kraken (Ireland), Coinbase (Luxembourg), Bybit (Austria), and others in navigating the post-MiCA regulatory environment with a legal greenlight.
Regulatory Process Described as “Rigorous but Efficient”
Bitvavo’s Chief Risk Officer Jeetan Patel praised the AFM for its professionalism throughout the application process, describing the licensing journey as both thorough and collaborative.
“Over the past period, we have taken all necessary steps in the licensing process and ensured compliance with MiCA’s comprehensive requirements,” Patel stated. “We highly value the constructive collaboration with the AFM. It has progressed efficiently.”
The Dutch regulator’s responsiveness and transparency, Patel noted, not only ensured a smooth licensing experience but also reinforced Bitvavo’s internal risk and compliance frameworks.
Bitvavo had previously been registered with De Nederlandsche Bank as a crypto service provider under the earlier anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism financing rules. The MiCA license now supersedes that registration and expands the company’s scope and legal certainty.
Bitvavo’s approval comes amid a broader rush by crypto firms to secure MiCA licenses as the EU moves from fragmented national oversight to continent-wide harmonization. The transition is widely seen as a turning point for crypto regulation, creating a clearer path for institutional investment, cross-border services, and innovation within a regulated environment.
Already, the impact is being felt in trading behavior. According to Konstantins Vasilenko, co-founder of crypto trading platform Paybis, EU-based customer activity surged after MiCA went live.
“In Q1 2025, trading volumes from EU customers jumped 70% quarter-on-quarter, driven by improved regulatory clarity and confidence in licensed platforms,” Vasilenko told Cointelegraph on June 22. This trend is expected to continue as more MiCA-compliant entities go live and capital flows shift toward transparent and regulated service providers.
Bitvavo currently services over 1 million users and processes billions in monthly volume. While it previously operated only within national licensing regimes, the MiCA license grants the company full “passporting rights” across the EEA - allowing it to market its services to users throughout Europe without needing separate national approvals.
Bitvavo’s license arrives just days after Kraken announced its own MiCA approval from the Central Bank of Ireland, and Coinbase confirmed it had secured authorization from the Luxembourg Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier. Bybit was granted a MiCA license by Austria’s FMA in late May, underscoring a wave of activity across EU capitals.
As regulators gear up for full enforcement of MiCA rules over the next year - including the June 2026 deadline for full compliance by all crypto asset service providers CASPs - more firms are expected to either pursue licenses or exit the market altogether.
The European Securities and Markets Authority is currently preparing a public registry of all licensed entities and will be tasked with monitoring cross-border compliance, risk disclosures, and operational standards.
What’s Next for Bitvavo?
Armed with a MiCA license, Bitvavo now plans to accelerate its European expansion, with a focus on:
- Entering new EEA markets such as Germany, France, and the Nordics
- Launching new fiat gateways and staking products
- Partnering with traditional financial institutions to offer crypto-enabled payment services and investment tools
The exchange is also expected to bolster its security, custody, and risk infrastructure, potentially integrating more advanced compliance analytics and institutional-grade custody solutions as investor expectations evolve.
CEO Mark Nuvelstijn emphasized that while MiCA compliance was a significant hurdle, it’s only the beginning of a longer strategic roadmap. “Regulation alone isn’t a moat,” he said. “It’s how you build within it that defines success.”
A New Regulatory Normal for Crypto in Europe
As Bitvavo joins the MiCA-compliant ranks, its approval adds momentum to the broader normalization of crypto within the EU’s financial sector.
The days of gray zones, unclear rules, and country-specific loopholes are rapidly giving way to coordinated, enforceable oversight - a trend many believe will set the global benchmark for how digital assets are regulated.
With exchanges, stablecoin issuers, and custodians now competing on the basis of compliance and consumer protection, MiCA is no longer just a regulatory hurdle - it’s a competitive advantage for those who get in early and build within its framework.