Crypto payment processor BitPay clears MiCA hurdle to service EU market

Leading cryptocurrency payment processor BitPay has been authorized to provide its services across the European Union.

The license, issued under the bloc’s Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) law, has been granted by regulators in the Netherlands.

BitPay to offer licensed services in the EU

One of the world’s largest crypto payment platforms, BitPay, will be able to continue to operate in Europe, while a number of industry players are leaving the market.

The U.S.-based fintech announced its European subsidiary has obtained regulatory approval in accordance with the Union’s new rules for the sector, stating in a press release:

“BitPay B.V. has been authorized as a crypto-asset service provider (CASP) under the EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM).”

The company described the development as “a significant growth point” that will allow it to expand cryptocurrency and stablecoin payments in the member states of the 27-strong bloc.

The licensing under the single framework will allow merchants to accept decentralized digital currencies like Bitcoin (BTC) and fiat-pegged coins like Tether’s USDT, including in cross-border transactions.

Consumers will have broader access to various tools for spending and managing crypto assets, as well as buying, selling, and swapping them, thanks to services facilitated by BitPay’s partnerships.

Besides processing online and in-store crypto payments through instant conversion to fiat currencies like the U.S. dollar (USD) and the euro (EUR), the platform offers a wallet, too.

Quoted in the official announcement, BitPay’s Chief Compliance Officer for Europe Thom de Jong emphasized:

“Receiving a MiCA authorization from the AFM is an important milestone for BitPay and strengthens our ability to serve businesses and consumers with regulated digital asset services across the EU.”

BitPay says Europe is important for coin payments

De Jong also noted that the EU law, which recently went into full force, creates a unified framework for what he described as “responsible crypto innovation across Europe.”

“And this authorization adds a strong validation of our compliance-first approach for our customers,” added the regional manager.

Founded in 2011, the Atlanta, Georgia-headquartered BitPay is one of the oldest businesses in the crypto space that pioneered blockchain payment processing.

The company has offices in North America and Europe, and has raised over $70 million in funding from leading investment firms.

Besides the latest regulatory nod from the Netherlands, it already holds money transmitter licenses and other approvals in a number of jurisdictions.

The Old Continent “is one of the most important regions for the future of payments,” remarked Jonathan Arler, Head of Europe at BitPay.

He added that the platform is now positioned to support retailers and consumers in the region from Amsterdam, amid growing demand for ways to spend and accept digital currencies.

BitPay B.V. has been authorised as a crypto-asset service provider (CASP) under MiCA by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets, covering regulated crypto services across the EU. pic.twitter.com/7S9XEbwSSf

— BitPay (@BitPay) July 16, 2026

“BitPay will continue investing in its European operations, strategic partnerships, and regulated payment infrastructure,” the company vowed.

The main goal is to “make cryptocurrency more practical and accessible for businesses and consumers across the EU,” BitPay stressed on Thursday.

A transitional period to allow crypto firms active in the European market to obtain proper authorization under MiCA expired on July 1, as reported by Cryptopolitan.

Many businesses in the industry, including major ones such as Binance, the largest digital-asset exchange by daily trading volume, failed to secure a license on time.

Meanwhile, other prominent players in the sector, such as the rival U.S. cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, managed to obtain a European permit.

On Wednesday, the Chair of the EU’s Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLA), Bruna Szego, issued a warning in that regard.

According to the official, mass migration of users could overwhelm crypto services in Europe, with platforms leaving the EU facing client outflows while licensed providers may have to deal with a significant influx of new users.

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