Global cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has achieved a significant regulatory milestone, securing a Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license from the Luxembourg Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF). This pivotal approval, announced by the exchange on Friday, officially establishes Luxembourg as Coinbase's European hub and empowers the company to offer its comprehensive suite of crypto services across all 27 member states of the European Union.
This development consolidates Coinbase's extensive efforts in the European regulatory landscape, building upon licenses previously obtained in key countries such as Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain. "Now, with MiCA, we're uniting these efforts under a single framework, enabling millions of Europeans to access regulated, trusted, and secure crypto services," Coinbase stated, highlighting the transformative impact of the new pan-European regulation.
The MiCA framework, which came into full effect across the EU at the end of last year, is a groundbreaking piece of legislation designed to provide comprehensive guidelines and regulations for crypto assets throughout the trading bloc. Its implementation aims to foster innovation while ensuring investor protection and mitigating risks to financial stability in the rapidly evolving digital asset space.
Coinbase is not alone in its pursuit of MiCA compliance to expand its European footprint. Crypto exchange Gemini, owned by the Winklevoss twins, is reportedly in the final stages of obtaining its MiCA license in Malta, having applied for operational approval in January. Similarly, OKX has also chosen Malta as its strategic MiCA hub, signaling a broader trend of crypto exchanges seeking regulatory clarity and unified operational frameworks within the EU. This concerted push by major players underscores the growing importance of regulatory certainty for the global crypto industry.
Cryptoniteuae, June 2025