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Crypto Exchange Gemini Secures MiCA License in Malta, Expands European Footprint

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Gemini, the crypto exchange backed by the billionaire Winklevoss twins, has secured a Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) license from the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), strengthening its bid to expand across the European Union under the bloc’s new regulatory framework, the company said in a blog post Thursday.

The approval marks a significant step in Gemini’s EU strategy, enabling the firm to roll out its trading products and services to customers in more than 30 European jurisdictions, the company noted.

Europe’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, which came into effect this year, is the EU’s first region-wide crypto rulebook, designed to harmonize digital asset oversight across member states and provide legal clarity for firms operating in the sector.

Gemini has been steadily building its regulatory base in the region. In May, the company secured a Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II) license to offer derivatives. That was followed by the launch of tokenized stocks in Europe a month later.

The crypto exchange said the MiCA license underscores its long-standing focus on compliance as it looks to introduce additional offerings, including derivatives, to both retail and institutional clients in Europe.

Gemini is also among several crypto companies that are looking to go public. Last week, the firm said it had hired Goldman Sachs (GS), Citigroup (C), Morgan Stanley (MS) and Cantor as lead bookrunners for its planned IPO.

Read more: Gemini Hires Goldmans, Citi, Morgan Stanley and Cantor as Lead Bookrunners for Its IPO



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Europe’s first Bitcoin Treasury firm plans to raise $340m to buy more BTC
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Winklevoss-backed Gemini gets EU-wide pass through Malta’s MiCA nod

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Gemini is entering the European fray with a compliance-first advantage. Its newly granted MiCA license, coupled with an existing MiFID II approval, outfits the exchange as a fully-regulated contender against established incumbents in the bloc.

Summary

  • Gemini secures a MiCA license from Malta, granting EU-wide market access across 27 member states and EEA countries.
  • The approval, alongside Gemini’s MiFID II license, positions the exchange as a fully regulated competitor in Europe.

According to an official announcement on August 21, the crypto exchange Gemini has secured a MiCA license from the Malta Financial Services Authority. The regulatory green light grants the Winklevoss twins-founded company a passport to offer its suite of services, including custody and trading, across all 27 European Union member states, plus several additional jurisdictions in the European Economic Area.

BIG news! Gemini has received its MiCA license 🇪🇺

This approval marks a major step forward, allowing us to bring trusted and regulated crypto access to over 30 European countries. pic.twitter.com/5q3B4vvmiR

— Gemini (@Gemini) August 21, 2025

The approval, confirmed in the MFSA’s official registry, streamlines Gemini’s expansion from a nation-by-nation grind to a single, bloc-wide deployment. For the EU, it is a sign that heavyweight exchanges are willing to play by its rulebook, presenting a test case for whether clear regulation can deliver both growth and guardrails in an industry that has often thrived in legal gray zones.

A license that completes Gemini’s regulatory arsenal

This MiCA authorization arrives just months after Gemini secured a critical Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II) license in May. That earlier approval authorized the exchange to offer derivative products to European clients.

The combination of the MiFID II and MiCA licenses can be seen as the “gold standard” for EU operation, transforming Gemini from a basic crypto service provider into a fully-compliant, multifaceted trading venue capable of handling a complex array of digital asset products.

Capitalizing on its MiFID II status, Gemini rolled out tokenized stocks for European users in late June. These blockchain-based tokens, which represent shares of traditional equities and trade nearly around-the-clock, represent the exact type of innovative financial product the EU hopes to cultivate under its new regulatory regime.

Additionally, this expansive European push coincides with the Gemini’s broader ambitions; the exchange recently took concrete steps toward an initial public offering, hiring Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Cantor, and Citigroup to lead the process.

Why Gemini is betting on MiCA

Gemini’s leadership has expressed not just compliance with, but genuine enthusiasm for, the MiCA framework. The regulation, which fully applies to crypto asset service providers this December, represents the world’s first comprehensive attempt to harmonize digital asset rules across a major economic bloc.

For an exchange that has long championed “regulation as a growth driver,” MiCA provides the legal certainty required to deploy products and services at scale without navigating a patchwork of conflicting national laws.

“We believe that clear regulation of the industry is the foundation of global crypto adoption, and MiCA’s implementation has proven that Europe is one of the most innovative and forward-thinking regions regarding this,” Mark Jennings, Gemini’s Head of Europe, said in a statement.

Gemini’s approval places it among a small vanguard of exchanges to receive the MiCA nod from the Malta Financial Services Authority. According to the official MFSA registry, it joins just four other crypto asset service providers: Bitpanda, Crypto.com, OKX, and ZBX.





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Kraken Secures Mica License In Ireland To Expand Across Eu
Crypto Trends

Kraken Secures MiCA License in Ireland to Expand Across EU

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Crypto exchange Kraken has officially secured a MiCA license from the Central Bank of Ireland, allowing it to expand its regulated services across all 30 member states of the European Economic Area (EEA).

This is a significant step in the development of Kraken because the EU is implementing the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework that will provide regulatory clarity and consistency to the crypto environment. This license will enable Kraken to provide digital asset services to European users on a single regulatory framework.

The most recent license granted to Kraken is in addition to the previous licensing, a Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) license in February and an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license in 2023.

“We believe trust is the most valuable currency in crypto, and it’s something you earn,” said Kraken co-CEO Arjun Sethi, noting the team’s effort in meeting Ireland’s strict regulatory standards.

Kraken joins other major exchanges like Coinbase, OKX, Crypto.com, and Bybit, which have also pursued MiCA compliance in 2025. Gemini is reportedly aiming for MiCA approval via Malta.

Not everyone is onboard, though. Tether has decided not to register USDt under MiCA, leading to some exchanges delisting the stablecoin.

Kraken’s announcement comes shortly after it moved its global headquarters to Wyoming, USA, praising the state’s pro-crypto stance. Meanwhile, in March, the U.S. SEC dropped a civil lawsuit accusing Kraken of running an unregistered exchange.

With regulatory clarity growing in both the U.S. and EU, Kraken continues to solidify its position as a global crypto leader.

Also Read: Coinbase Secures EU Access with Luxembourg MiCA License



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GameFi Guides

Iran Conflict Dumps Crypto, North Korean Hackers Target Crypto Wallets, EU MiCA Rules Make Investors Double Down on Best Wallet, and More…

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Get Solaxy to Weather the Storm After Trump’s Airstrikes on Iran

June 23, 2025 • 07:28 UTC

The crypto market quaked after Trump’s attack on several Iranian nuclear sites. This sent crypto into a dump dive, with over $595M bullish bets liquidated within 24 hours. Ethereum, XRP, and even Bitcoin slid down.

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Read more about Solaxy on the official site.

Best Wallet Token to Soar After Coinbase Secures EU-Wide MiCA License

June 23, 2025 • 07:28 UTC

The crypto industry is at a crossroads as Coinbase’s MiCA license is waiting for approval in Europe. That would make it one of the first crypto companies aligning itself fully with the new regulatory framework.

Coinbase would be able to operate seamlessly across all 27 EU states under one license (an incredible leap forward for crypto accessibility in Europe).

With more regulatory obstacles left in the dust, investors are becoming increasingly bullish. This makes presale tokens with real utility shine through the crowd.

One such coin is Best Wallet Token ($BEST). As the native token of a top non-custodial wallet (Best Wallet), $BEST supercharges the privacy-focused ecosystem. Investors get lower fees, better staking rewards, and early access to presales.

Best Wallet and its token are perfectly positioned to benefit from Europe’s crypto expansion as more investors are coming in. Read more.

Read more about Best Wallet Token on the official site.

North Korean Hackers Keep Targeting the Crypto Industry

June 23, 2025 • 07:28 UTC

The North Korean hacker group known as Famous Chollima is targeting crypto job applicants on a wide scale. They’re using a job application process to deceive those active in the crypto industry with a Python-based malware dubbed PylangGhost.

Victims, mostly India-based at the time of writing, are deceived into downloading the malware on their devices under the guise of “video drivers” being required for the process. The malware is delivered via a zip file with an innocuous name, such as nvidia.py. Once installed, the script harvests sensitive data such as browser sessions, wallet data (MetaMask, Phantom), and login credentials.

Windows and Mac systems are affected, but Linux systems appear to be safe. As attacks on crypto owners increase, crypto presales and wallets, such as Best Wallet, are stepping up their security and verification process, introducing MFA methods that make it difficult to extract funds from victims even if their credentials are leaked.

Read more about Best Wallet on the official site.

$BTC Season Confirmed, $112K Next as Smart Money Seek Double Exposure with $BTCBULL

June 23, 2025 • 07:28 UTC

$BTC breaks past $105K as a massive green candle forms on the three-hour chart. Community sentiment is 82% bullish, while the ASI hits 22 – clear Bitcoin Season.

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As meme coin 24-hour trading volume is down 24%, smart money seeks greater $BTC exposure. This is precisely why BTC Bull Token ($BTCBULL) presale raised $7.6M so fast – it gives direct $BTC exposure through airdrops scheduled for $BTC’s $150K and $200K milestones.

The presale won’t last forever, but $BTC’s bull run is just getting started.

Read more about BTC Bull Token on the official site.

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.



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Crypto Trends

Coinbase Secures MiCA License, Expanding Crypto Services Across EU

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In brief

  • Coinbase has obtained a MiCA license via Luxembourg.
  • The license enables Coinbase to offer crypto services across all 27 EU countries.
  • It follows similar efforts by Gemini, OKX and Crypto.com to get regulated in Europe.

Coinbase has secured regulatory approval to operate across the European Union under the Markets in Crypto Assets framework, the company announced Friday.

The license, granted by Luxembourg’s financial authorities, allows Coinbase to provide crypto services across all 27 EU member states.

Its announcement confirms weeks of speculation that Coinbase, alongside rival exchange Gemini, was preparing to register under MiCA.

Coinbase said Luxembourg was chosen due to its “whole-of-government” approach to blockchain and four blockchain-related laws passed in recent years.

“Over the past few years, Coinbase has worked closely with regulators across Europe, securing licences in Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain,” the company said.

“Now, with MiCA, we’re uniting these efforts under a single framework, enabling millions of Europeans to access regulated, trusted, and secure crypto services.”

MiCA, which came into force in June 2023, creates a standardized licensing regime for crypto asset service providers within the EU. A license in one country allows a firm to “passport” services across the bloc. 

While member states retain limited powers to block operations if there is a legal basis to do so, a country generally cannot stop a licensed firm from offering services within its borders.



This setup has sparked criticism from some corners of the industry and among regulators, who say it creates incentives for firms to register in jurisdictions with fewer regulatory resources. 

Coinbase’s license in Luxembourg and Gemini’s ongoing attempt to register in Malta follow a string of approvals in those countries for firms including OKX, Bitstamp, and Crypto.com.

That said, it didn’t stop Malta from fining OKX $1.2 million in April for past AML compliance failures.

Nevertheless, the scale of operations in the countries where firms set up is often tiny compared to their EU-wide impact.

Critics, such as Peter Curk, CEO of the U.K. crypto portfolio management platform ICONOMI, have previously warned that this could lead to a “race to the bottom” in enforcement standards.

He told Decrypt earlier this month that having countries with lower regulatory capacity grant licenses to companies could “[dilute] consumer protection and cross‑border trust.”

“The debate isn’t just about licenses, it’s about the EU’s collective reputation in digital finance,” he added.

The European Securities and Markets Authority is currently reviewing Malta’s licensing process and is planning to produce a report on its findings. 

Edited by Sebastian Sinclair

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Coinbase secures MiCA licence in Luxembourg
Crypto Trends

Coinbase secures MiCA licence in Luxembourg

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Coinbase has announced a new regulatory milestone, revealing that the cryptocurrency exchange has secured the Markets in Crypto-Assets license, allowing it to offer its services across the European Union.

U.S.-based Coinbase said in an announcement on Friday that it had acquired the MiCA license from the Luxembourg Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier.

The license allows the crypto behemoth to expand its range of crypto products to customers across the 27 states that make up the EU.

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

Coinbase moves European office to Luxembourg

MiCA is a key development that sees the exchange join other top crypto platforms and providers in securing the MiCA nod. Coinbase, which unveiled its European hub in Ireland in 2023, now joins OKX and Bybit among others in getting approval as a MiCA-compliant provider. Luxembourg becomes Coinbase’s new EU hub. 

The publicly-traded crypto company noted:

“Luxembourg has always been a key player in Europe’s financial ecosystem, and we’re delighted to share that Coinbase is officially establishing its European crypto hub in this dynamic country, under the Markets in Crypto Assets regulatory framework.”

Coinbase says choosing to expand its European presence from a base in Luxembourg aligns with the country’s support for crypto innovation and its role as a top financial hub. The move also positions the crypto exchange in a jurisdiction “that understands the needs of the crypto industry and excels in regulatory clarity.”

While the MiCA approval in Luxembourg is a major step for Coinbase, it’s not the exchange’s first regulatory win in Europe.

The company’s work with local regulators has already seen it secure licenses in Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain. However, MiCA now provides Coinbase with a single regulatory framework across all these jurisdictions.

The MiCA rules came into full effect in Dec. 2024, with crypto exchanges and platforms among those required to secure approval. Implementation saw some platforms move to delist non-compliant stablecoins.





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Coinbase, Gemini Angling for MiCA Licenses in Malta and Luxembourg: Reuters

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In brief

  • Gemini and Coinbase are set to receive EU licenses allowing operation across all 27 member states.
  • EU regulators are concerned about smaller countries rapidly approving licenses for major exchanges.
  • Experts warn differing standards could create a “race to the bottom” undermining consumer protection.

Two of the world’s largest crypto exchanges, Gemini and Coinbase, are set to receive licenses that would permit them to operate across the entire European Union.

Reuters reports that Gemini, owned and co-founded by Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss, is on the verge of receiving an operational license from Malta, after the small Mediterranean nation granted licenses to rival exchanges OKX and Crypto.com in January this year.

Meanwhile, Luxembourg is reportedly in the final stages of approving a license for Coinbase. The company is also planning to open an office in the country later this year, where it plans to employ at least 20 staff.

This is potentially a much more significant move than it would have been just a few years ago. Following the introduction of the Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation (MiCA) in April 2023, a license to operate in one EU member state grants the holder the right to operate in all 27, gaining access to the pan-European market in the process.

This is due to a process known as “passporting,” and it means other European nations lose the ability to block Crypto-Asset Service Providers, or CASPs, once they’re licensed to operate in another member state. But there is a carve out for instances where there’s a firm legal basis.

Regulators voice concerns

Some EU regulators raised suspicions about the nature of these types of related rapid approvals. One unidentified senior regulatory official told Reuters that the European Securities and Markets Authority, or ESMA, was concerned about accepting licenses granted in countries where regulators have fewer staff. ESMA is currently analyzing Malta’s licensing process, with a report expected to be released.

A spokesperson for the Malta Financial Services Authority said its ability to grant approvals quickly is due to “in-depth understanding acquired over these years” and added that it has strict standards regarding the prevention of money laundering.

Concerns were also expressed about Luxembourg’s decision to grant a license to Coinbase, with one anonymous source highlighting the relatively small size of Coinbase’s planned footprint in the country. Luxembourg’s officials did not comment on the potential approval.



Peter Curk, CEO of UK crypto portfolio management platform ICONOMI, told Decrypt that though the MiCA was originally designed to harmonize crypto oversight, “if regulatory capacity differs across member states, we risk a ‘race to the bottom’ in standards, diluting consumer protection and cross‑border trust.”

“Europe’s challenge is balancing agility with the depth of scrutiny,” said Curk. “The debate isn’t just about licenses, it’s about the EU’s collective reputation in digital finance.”

“National competition is healthy, but not at the expense of regulatory cohesion,” he added, suggesting that granting EMSA more oversight powers would signal high collective standards on behalf of the EU and improve MiCA’s credibility in the world of finance.

The CEO suggested that if EU member states treat MiCA as “a license arbitrage opportunity,” they risk ultimately sending business to other regions like the U.S..

Edited by Stacy Elliott.

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