Kraken, a leading crypto exchange, is strengthening its presence in Europe after securing a Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) license from the Central Bank of Ireland.
Announced in a blog post on June 25, the license enables Kraken to expand its regulated services across all 30 member states of the European Economic Area (EEA).
With this approval, Kraken can now offer a wider range of fully compliant products—including trading, derivatives, and payment services—building on its existing Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) registrations in key European markets such as France, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands.
Kraken’s MiCA approval comes on the heels of its February acquisition of a Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) license via its Cyprus-based entity.
Co-CEO Arjun Sethi hailed the new milestone as a reflection of Kraken’s broader push to align with regulatory frameworks across Europe.
“Obtaining a license from the Central Bank of Ireland—known for its longstanding and rigorous regulatory standards—goes beyond mere compliance,” Sethi stated. “It’s a strong testament to Kraken’s commitment to growing the crypto ecosystem through responsible innovation.”
Kraken now joins the ranks of other major crypto exchanges—such as Coinbase, Bitstamp, and Crypto.com—that have secured similar regulatory approvals in jurisdictions like Luxembourg and Malta.
In March, Kraken also received an electronic money institution license from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority, enabling it to partner with traditional financial institutions and expand its service offerings across the region.
The European Union’s MiCA framework, which came fully into force in December 2024, mandates that crypto exchanges and platforms obtain regulatory approval and adhere to standardized compliance rules in order to operate within the bloc.
