Bitpanda Obtains Third MiCA License in Austria, Expanding EU Regulatory Coverage
Vienna-based fintech company Bitpanda has obtained its third license under the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) framework. The Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) granted the approval on April 10, adding to Bitpanda's existing licenses from Germany and Malta.
The company announced the new license on X, describing it as "another step toward building the most regulated crypto platform in Europe." This latest approval follows Bitpanda's January 23 announcement of its first MiCA license from Germany's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).
Bitpanda later secured a second MiCA license from the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA). On LinkedIn, the company stated this second license "sends a clear message: Bitpanda is setting the standard as Europe's most secure and well-regulated crypto platform."
Currently, Bitpanda holds four different approvals across Austria and Germany for various entities within its corporate structure:
- Bitpanda Asset Management GmbH
- Bitpanda Financial Services GmbH
- Bitpanda GmbH
- Bitpanda Payments GmbH
MiCA took full effect on December 30, 2024, with the goal of creating uniform EU market rules for crypto-assets. The framework aims to provide a harmonized legal structure for crypto asset service providers (CASPs) throughout the European Union.
Despite MiCA's purpose of standardizing crypto regulation across the EU, Bitpanda's pursuit of multiple licenses raises questions about regulatory consistency among member states. The company's strategy of obtaining licenses in different countries suggests possible variations in how MiCA is being interpreted and enforced.
None of the relevant regulatory authorities in Austria, Germany, or Malta currently maintain publicly accessible registries showing which firms have received MiCA licenses. Bitpanda did not respond to requests for comment regarding its approach to securing multiple MiCA licenses.
The regulatory developments come amid broader market activity in the crypto sector. Investment firm ARK Invest recently made contrasting moves by purchasing $26.6 million in Coinbase stock while selling $12 million in Bitcoin ETF shares during April, following President Trump's trade tariffs announcement which temporarily sent Bitcoin prices down to $74,700.
