• Bitvavo received a MiCA license from the Dutch Authority for Financial Markets, enabling EU-wide crypto operations.
  • The licensing process opened in January 2025 and has seen approvals for Kraken, Coinbase, and Bybit in recent weeks.

Amsterdam-based crypto exchange Bitvavo has officially received its Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license from the Dutch Authority for Financial Markets (AFM), the company confirmed on Friday.

This license enables Bitvavo to operate across the European Union under the new MiCA framework, which aims to bring uniform regulation, investor protection, and financial stability to the digital asset market.

Bitvavo co-founder and CEO Mark Nuvelstijn expressed support for the EU-wide approach, stating,

“We fully support the core principles of MiCAR. For a level playing field in Europe, it is essential that the rules are formulated and enforced consistently across all member states.”

Compliance and Collaboration Praised by Risk Officer

Bitvavo’s chief risk officer, Jeetan Patel, noted that while the licensing process was rigorous, it moved forward efficiently.

“Over the past period, we have taken all necessary steps in the licensing process and have ensured compliance with the comprehensive MiCAR regulatory requirements,” Patel said.
He added, “We highly value the constructive collaboration with the AFM throughout this process. It has progressed efficiently.”

The MiCA licensing window officially opened on January 1, 2025.

Europe Sees Wave of MiCA Approvals

Bitvavo’s approval comes amid a wave of MiCA license grants to other major crypto exchanges.

On Wednesday, Kraken announced it had received its license from the Central Bank of Ireland.

Coinbase was granted MiCA approval on June 21 by Luxembourg’s Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier. Bybit secured its license earlier, on May 29, from Austria’s Financial Market Authority (FMA).

The unified framework is already impacting the market. On June 22, Paybis co-founder Konstantins Vasilenko said EU trading volumes spiked 70% quarter-on-quarter in Q1 2025 following MiCA’s implementation.

Edited by Annette George