Bitvavo, a leading crypto exchange, has secured a Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license from the Dutch Authority for Financial Markets (AFM), becoming the latest firm to gain approval under the European Union’s new regulatory framework. This license enables Bitvavo to operate across Europe in compliance with MiCA regulations.
Mark Nuvelstijn, co-founder and CEO of Bitvavo, confirmed the development in a statement on Friday, expressing strong support for the MiCA framework. “We fully support the core principles of MiCAR,” he stated.
“For a level playing field in Europe, it is essential that the rules are formulated and enforced consistently across all member states.”
Bitvavo’s risk chief says it was a “constructive collaboration”
Nuvelstijn noted that the license offers Bitvavo clear regulatory guidance and the confidence to expand its operations throughout Europe. The MiCA framework aims to harmonize crypto regulations across the EU, with a focus on investor protection, financial stability, and fostering innovation. The licensing process officially opened on January 1.
Bitvavo’s Chief Risk Officer, Jeetan Patel, described the licensing process as both rigorous and efficient. He stated that the company had taken all necessary steps to meet the comprehensive regulatory requirements outlined by MiCAR.
Patel also emphasized the value of the constructive collaboration with the Dutch Authority for Financial Markets (AFM), noting that the process progressed smoothly and effectively.
Crypto firms are rushing to obtain MiCA approval
The announcement comes amid a wave of MiCA license approvals across Europe in recent months.
Just this Wednesday, crypto exchange Kraken announced it had received its MiCA license from the Central Bank of Ireland. Earlier, on June 21, Coinbase was granted a MiCA license by Luxembourg’s financial regulator, the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier.
On May 29, Bybit secured its MiCA license from Austria’s Financial Market Authority (FMA), marking another step in the broader adoption of the new regulatory framework. Back in December 2024, crypto payments firm MoonPay also received approval to operate as a licensed crypto business in the Netherlands under MiCA.
The implementation of the MiCA framework has sparked renewed investor confidence across the region. According to Konstantins Vasilenko, co-founder and chief business development officer at Paybis, trading volumes from EU customers surged by 70% quarter-over-quarter in Q1 2025, immediately following the regulation’s rollout.
