Best MiCA-Licensed Crypto Exchanges in Europe (2026)

Why a MiCA Licence Matters

The EU’s MiCA regulation (Markets in Crypto-Assets) introduced a single rulebook for crypto providers across the bloc. The authorization regime for so-called CASPs (Crypto-Asset Service Providers) has applied since 30 December 2024. A licence from any one regulator in the European Economic Area “passports” across all 30 EEA countries, the 27 EU states plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. The hard EU deadline is 1 July 2026: after that, providers without a licence can no longer legally serve EU clients. Some countries closed their transition early, with the Netherlands ending grandfathering on 30 June 2025 and Germany on 31 December 2025. For the full background, see our explainer on the MiCA regulation.

Each country has its own national competent authority that grants CASP licences, for example Germany’s BaFin, the Netherlands’ AFM, Malta’s MFSA, Ireland’s CBI, Luxembourg’s CSSF, Austria’s FMA, Cyprus’s CySEC and Spain’s CNMV. Wherever a licence is issued, it is published in the EU-wide ESMA register. For European users the practical differentiators are local payment support (SEPA works everywhere, while methods like iDEAL are country-specific), language, fees, coin selection, and whether the entity actually serving you is the licensed one. This list focuses on exchanges that are licensed and broadly available across Europe. For a full directory, browse our list of crypto exchanges.

1. Coinbase

Coinbase, the US giant, serves European users through its EU hub in Luxembourg. Its MiCA licence came from Luxembourg’s CSSF. The platform is beginner-friendly with a large coin selection, though fees tend to run higher than local brokers.

• MiCA licence from the CSSF (Luxembourg) on 20 June 2025 (Coinbase Luxembourg S.A.)
• Authorized for 7 of 10 services, including custody and order execution
• Large coin selection and a widely used app
• Beginner-friendly, generally higher fees than local brokers

2. Kraken

Kraken obtained its MiCA licence from the Central Bank of Ireland, the first major global platform licensed there. It offers deep euro liquidity and a broad asset range.

• MiCA licence from the Central Bank of Ireland (announced 25 June 2025, Payward Europe Solutions Limited)
• Authorized for 7 of 10 services, including operating a trading platform
• 450+ assets and deep euro liquidity
• First BTC/EUR pair back in 2013

3. Bitstamp

Bitstamp is the longest-running exchange in the world and was the first MiCA-licensed exchange in Luxembourg, cleared by the CSSF. It is now owned by Robinhood.

• CASP licence from the CSSF (Luxembourg) on 16 May 2025 (Bitstamp Europe S.A.)
• One of the oldest exchanges, running since 2011
• Authorized for trading platform, exchange, order execution, custody and transfers
• Owned by Robinhood

4. Bitvavo

Bitvavo is one of Europe’s largest euro-spot exchanges. It holds a Dutch AFM licence that passports across the EEA, and combines low fees with a broad coin selection.

• Dutch AFM licence (since 27 June 2025), passported across the EEA
• 440+ cryptocurrencies, trading from €5
• Low, volume-tiered fees
• One of Europe’s largest euro-spot exchanges

5. Bitpanda

Bitpanda is an Austrian-founded retail platform that chose Germany’s BaFin for its MiCAR licence and also holds its home FMA authorization. It is very beginner-friendly and offers stocks and precious metals alongside crypto.

• MiCAR licence from Germany’s BaFin (23 January 2025) plus FMA authorization (Austria)
• 6 million+ users
• Also offers stocks, ETFs and precious metals
• Available across many EU countries

6. OKX

OKX received a full MiCA licence from Malta’s MFSA through OKX Europe Limited, one of the first globally and among the broadest in scope. It leans toward active traders.

• Full MiCA licence from the MFSA (Malta) on 27 January 2025
• Authorized for 9 of 10 services
• 240+ tokens and advanced trading tools
• Note: USDT is unavailable to EU users, as Tether is not MiCA-compliant

7. Crypto.com

Crypto.com also holds a full MiCA licence from Malta’s MFSA, through Foris DAX MT Limited. It is a large, app-based retail platform with a companion card product.

• Full MiCA licence from the MFSA (Malta) on 27 January 2025 (Foris DAX MT Limited)
• Authorized for 6 of 10 services
• Large app-based retail platform
• Companion card product

8. Gemini

Gemini, the US platform founded by the Winklevoss twins, received a MiCA licence from Malta’s MFSA through Gemini Intergalactic EU Ltd. It also holds a separate MiFID II licence for derivatives.

• MiCA licence from the MFSA (Malta), announced 21 August 2025
• Authorized for 7 of 10 services
• Separate MiFID II licence for derivatives
• Serves users across the EU

9. Bybit

Bybit serves EEA users through Bybit EU GmbH, authorized as a CASP by Austria’s FMA. The platform is geared toward active and derivatives traders. One important caveat: Bybit lost about 401,000 ETH (roughly $1.5 billion) on 21 February 2025 in the largest crypto heist on record, attributed by the FBI to North Korea’s Lazarus Group.

• CASP licence from the FMA (Austria) by decision dated 28 May 2025
• Serves 29 EEA countries via the dedicated Bybit EU platform
• Geared toward active and derivatives traders
• Caveat: record hack of about $1.5 billion in February 2025

10. Revolut

Revolut is a neobank with more than 70 million customers worldwide. Through Revolut Digital Assets Europe Ltd it secured a MiCA licence from Cyprus’s CySEC. Crypto here is one feature within a broad banking app.

• MiCA licence from CySEC (Cyprus), announced 23 October 2025, effective 25 November 2025
• Licence number 001/2025
• Crypto as part of a full banking app
• 70 million+ customers worldwide

11. eToro

eToro is a multi-asset platform known for social trading. eToro (Europe) Ltd was granted its MiCA permit by Cyprus’s CySEC, allowing crypto trading and custody across the EU.

• MiCA licence from CySEC (Cyprus), announced 19 February 2025 (eToro (Europe) Ltd)
• Authorized for crypto trading and custody across the EU
• Multi-asset platform with social trading
• Available across European markets

12. Trade Republic

Trade Republic is a German neobroker with more than 4 million customers that secured a full MiCA CASP licence from Germany’s BaFin. Crypto sits alongside its stock and ETF business, and the app operates in several EU countries.

• Full MiCA CASP licence from Germany’s BaFin (announced May 2025)
• Authorized for custody, plus execution and transmission of orders
• Crypto alongside stocks, ETFs and savings plans
• German neobroker with 4 million+ customers, active in several EU countries

13. Bit2Me

Bit2Me is a leading Spanish exchange and the first Spanish-speaking fintech authorized under MiCA, cleared by Spain’s CNMV. It passports into the rest of the EU.

• CASP authorization from Spain’s CNMV (announced 29 July 2025, Bitcoinforme S.L.)
• First Spanish-speaking fintech authorized under MiCA
• Authorized for 7 of 10 services
• 400+ assets

14. Gate.io

Gate.io secured a MiCA licence from Malta’s MFSA through Gate Technology Ltd, extending its European compliance footprint. It offers a large global token selection.

• MiCA licence from the MFSA (Malta) in 2025 (Gate Technology Ltd)
• Authorized for exchange and custody services
• Passports across the EU
• Large global token selection

Notable Exchanges Without a Valid MiCA Licence

Not every big name is licensed as of June 2026. A few platforms you probably recognize are missing from the ESMA register, or hold a licence they are not allowed to use. From 1 July 2026 this stops being a detail: without a valid licence, a provider cannot serve EU customers.

Binance: the largest, but unlicensed

Binance, the largest exchange in the world by volume, does not appear in the ESMA register as a MiCA-licensed CASP as of June 2026. It applied via Greece around late January 2026, but that application reportedly stalled, and France is now seen as its last realistic route. It earlier failed to obtain a German BaFin licence and withdrew that application. A pending application does not extend the right to operate past 1 July 2026, so treat any claim that “Binance is EU-licensed” with caution and verify it in the ESMA register.

Other big names without a licence

Beyond Binance, several well-known platforms cannot legally serve EU customers in June 2026:

• MEXC: no licence and no known application
• HTX (formerly Huobi): no MiCA licence
• Bitget: not yet licensed, an application with Austria’s FMA is pending, and the platform says it will hold off on EEA services until authorized

KuCoin: licensed, yet unavailable

KuCoin is a special case. KuCoin EU Exchange GmbH received a MiCA licence from Austria’s FMA in late November 2025, but cannot use it in practice. The FMA barred it from onboarding new customers in early 2026 after key compliance roles fell vacant. That new-business ban was lifted in May 2026, but commencement of business operations remains prohibited under a separate order, which KuCoin has appealed. For users that means you cannot open a new account for now.

How to Check an Exchange Yourself

The registers are public, so you can verify any platform in minutes. Look up the exact licensed legal entity in the EU-wide ESMA register, or in the national register of the relevant regulator. If the entity serving you is not listed, it is not authorized to serve EU users once the transition ends.

Before depositing, keep three things in mind: first confirm the exact name of the licensed legal entity in the register, then check that the entity serving you is actually the licensed one and not just a global parent, and finally confirm the supported payment methods and the fee tier you actually qualify for. A useful detail: the date a company cites in a press release often precedes the formal authorization date in the ESMA register by days or weeks. Where they differ, the ESMA date is the one that legally counts.

Finally, a MiCA licence means supervision and compliance with rules such as asset segregation, capital requirements and conduct standards. It is not a guarantee against loss, as crypto remains a high-risk investment. To compare on fees, selection and availability at your own pace, use the exchange overview above as a starting point and always verify your choice in the register first.