Coinbase secures an EU crypto license

Coinbase has obtained a crypto license from Luxembourg’s CSSF to offer crypto services across the European Union and will swap Ireland with Luxembourg as its base in the region. The Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) license will blend the legal frameworks for crypto assets across all 27 EU member states.

In addition to harmonizing legal frameworks, the MiCA license aims to reduce risks for consumers buying crypto assets after a series of scandals in the sector. Coinbase has become the first U.S. crypto exchange firm to obtain the MiCA license. Gemini, a rival firm owned by the Winklevoss twins, is expected to receive its own EU license from Malta soon. Gemini chose Malta as its MiCA hub in January.

Coinbase advocates for crypto’s future across the European continent 

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong said that Coinbase is all in on Europe and advocating for the crypto future on the continent. He added that the MiCA license has set the standard, and Luxembourg is leading the way with its pro-business climate and thoughtful approach to regulation. Coinbase had initially settled for Ireland as its EU hub in 2023 and had launched a vast public relations campaign around the move.

Moien, Lëtzebuerg. 🇱🇺

We’re pleased to have secured our Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) licence from the CSSF in Luxembourg.

We can now offer a full suite of crypto products and services to 450 million people across all 27 European Union member states. pic.twitter.com/e9zbhy35YQ

— Coinbase 🛡️ (@coinbase) June 20, 2025

Daniel Seifert, Vice President and regional managing director of EMEA at Coinbase, revealed that the company ultimately backtracked on its Ireland decision and settled on Luxembourg for its status as a forward-thinking financial hub. The VP added that Luxembourg presented a highly compelling option compared to Ireland. 

Luxembourg has four blockchain-related policies already signed into law, unlike Ireland, which currently lacks crypto-specific policies signed into law. Seifert added that Coinbase is still investing in Ireland with upcoming plans to introduce around 50 jobs in the Dublin office. The vice president at Coinbase has personally relocated to Ireland from Germany as CEO of Coinbase’s Irish entity. 

Bybit, OKX, and BitGo have not been left behind in securing crypto authorization across the EU region. They have secured a MiCA license, each with its own terms. Coinbase remains the largest exchange for obtaining the MiCA license across the region.

COIN stock surges by 2.3% following the announcement

The COIN stock rallied to $302 amid the announcement, marking a 2.3% jump today. The stock currently trades above $302 with a 21.66% YTD value. Coinbase reached a 24h volume of $1,229,351,149, ranking number three below Binance and Bybit.

Tom Duff Gordon, Vice President of International Policy at Coinbase, revealed that Luxembourg is a leading and respected international financial center and is a pioneer across the EU region in recognizing the potential of Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT). He added that Coinbase is grateful for the collaboration with the CSSF and delighted to have received the MiCA license and to be expanding its business across the EU. 

For the past six months, Coinbase has secured several licenses, including Argentina’s National Securities Commission (CNV), registration with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) in India, and a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) registration from the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), making it the largest VASP in the UK. 

Paul Grewal, Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer, commented that the math in Europe is simple. He revealed that regulation equals clarity and, in turn, leads to opportunity. He added that the company is grateful to work with forward-thinking regulators like the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF). 

The MiCA license has grown in popularity towards crypto regulation on a global scale and has faced mixed reactions from the industry, especially around regulating stablecoins.

MiCA’s provision on stablecoins requires issuers to hold a significant portion of their reserves in European banks. The provision has been widely criticized by some players in the industry, citing that it limits the global scope of stablecoin operations. Tether, the issuer of USDT, has already opted out of the MiCA regime, citing strict reserve requirements as a key concern.

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