Bitpanda, the Vienna-based fintech unicorn, has received its third license under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) framework. The latest approval comes from Austria’s Financial Market Authority (FMA), further cementing the firm’s position as one of the most regulated crypto platforms in the EU.
The company announced the development on April 10, stating it marks “another step toward building the most regulated crypto platform in Europe.”
Bitpanda’s Momentum Builds With Approvals From Germany and Malta
Bitpanda was one of the first crypto asset service providers (CASPs) to be licensed under MiCA, which officially came into effect across the EU on December 30, 2024. The firm first secured approval from Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) on January 23. Shortly after, Bitpanda obtained a second license from the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), according to an announcement posted on LinkedIn.
“Following yesterday’s announcement of our first MiCAR license, this second license sends a clear message: Bitpanda is setting the standard as Europe’s most secure and well-regulated crypto platform,” the company wrote at the time.
MiCA’s Harmonization Goals Under Scrutiny
MiCA was designed to streamline crypto regulation across all EU member states, offering a unified legal framework for CASPs. However, Bitpanda’s pursuit of licenses in multiple jurisdictions raises questions about the consistency of MiCA’s enforcement across the bloc.
Despite MiCA’s intention to establish “uniform EU market rules for crypto-assets,” as described by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the reality appears more fragmented. Bitpanda’s actions suggest that regulatory interpretations and enforcement may still vary from country to country.
Lack of Transparency From Regulators
As of publication, none of the relevant regulators — Austria’s FMA, Germany’s BaFin, or Malta’s MFSA — maintain a publicly accessible registry of licensed MiCA entities. However, FMA records confirm that Bitpanda holds multiple approvals in Austria and Germany through various entities, including Bitpanda Asset Management GmbH, Bitpanda Financial Services GmbH, Bitpanda GmbH, and Bitpanda Payments GmbH.
