EU CRYPTO DERIVATIVES · BITSTAMP · LAST VERIFIED
Is Bitstamp MiFID II-authorised for crypto derivatives in the European Union?
Bitstamp's European derivatives entity (Bitstamp Financial Services Ltd. (Slovenian: Bitstamp finančne storitve d.o.o.)) is recorded as an authorised investment firm under Directive 2014/65/EU (MiFID II), authorised by the Slovenian Securities Market Agency (Agencija za trg vrednostnih papirjev, ATVP).
Verdict: Bitstamp holds a MiFID II authorisation for crypto derivatives in the EEA.
| Authorised legal entity | Bitstamp Financial Services Ltd. (Slovenian: Bitstamp finančne storitve d.o.o.) |
|---|---|
| Home Member State | Slovenia |
| National Competent Authority | Slovenian Securities Market Agency (Agencija za trg vrednostnih papirjev, ATVP) |
| Authorising statute | MiFID II (Slovenian Financial Instruments Market Act, ZTFI-1, transposing MiFID II) |
| Live retail product status | MTF licence granted (24 October 2024); perpetual-swap trading information now published by the issuer; live retail EEA availability not independently confirmed |
| Products offered to EEA users | Crypto derivatives including perpetual swaps, traded on the Slovenian MTF. Per Bitstamp's October 2024 press release, this is described as 'the first time a fully MTF-regulated crypto derivatives platform will be available in the EU under MiFID II'. |
Source: Bitstamp Legal - Bitstamp Financial Services Ltd. (issuer-published). Verified 30 June 2026.
Live status note: Bitstamp holds the MTF authorisation for crypto derivatives including perpetual swaps, and now publishes perpetual-swap trading information through Bitstamp Financial Services Ltd. Whether live retail trading is available to EEA users could not be independently confirmed against a second primary source at the time of writing. We will update this entry when live retail availability is confirmed by primary source.
What can Bitstamp legally offer EEA derivatives users?
Bitstamp Financial Services Ltd. (Slovenian: Bitstamp finančne storitve d.o.o.) is authorised by the Slovenian Securities Market Agency (Agencija za trg vrednostnih papirjev, ATVP) under MiFID II. The specific investment-service permissions held determine which products the firm can legally provide. Each permission is granted at the firm level by the national regulator.
Reception and transmission of orders on behalf of clients
A MiFID II investment service granted under the Investment Firms Regulation framework.
Execution of orders on behalf of clients (brokerage services)
A MiFID II investment service granted under the Investment Firms Regulation framework.
Operation of a multilateral trading facility (MTF) for crypto derivatives
A MiFID II investment service granted under the Investment Firms Regulation framework.
What does this mean for me as a user of Bitstamp?
If you use Bitstamp for crypto derivatives in the EEA, you are contracting with Bitstamp Financial Services Ltd. (Slovenian: Bitstamp finančne storitve d.o.o.), a Slovenia-authorised investment firm under MiFID II. That means the protections set out in Title II of MiFID II apply to your relationship: client-asset segregation under Article 16(8), a mandatory appropriateness assessment before complex products are offered to retail clients (Article 25(3)), and best-execution obligations (Article 27).
This is structurally different from the regulatory status of crypto derivatives offered globally on bybit.com, binance.com, or other non-EEA platforms. Those platforms operate under non-EEA legal entities and the MiFID II protections do not apply to your relationship with them.
Note on live product status: Bitstamp holds the MTF authorisation for crypto derivatives including perpetual swaps, and now publishes perpetual-swap trading information through Bitstamp Financial Services Ltd. Whether live retail trading is available to EEA users could not be independently confirmed against a second primary source at the time of writing. We will update this entry when live retail availability is confirmed by primary source.
What about Bitstamp's spot crypto business?
Bitstamp operates the spot crypto business through a separate legal entity: Bitstamp Europe S.A. (Luxembourg, CSSF MiCA CASP + Payment Institution; EEA passport). The MiCA authorisation covers spot trading, custody, fiat conversion, and the other crypto-asset services defined in Article 3(1)(16) of Regulation (EU) 2023/1114. It does not cover derivatives.
See the full MiCA spot profile: Bitstamp MiCA status →
How does Bitstamp compare to the other MiFID II-authorised crypto-derivative firms in our register?
As of , six firms in our v2 register hold MiFID II authorisations covering crypto derivatives in the EEA: Kraken (CySEC Cyprus, CIF 342/17), Coinbase (CySEC Cyprus, CIF 374/19), OKX (MFSA Malta), Crypto.com (CySEC Cyprus, CIF 344/17), Bitstamp (ATVP Slovenia MTF) and Bitpanda (FMA Austria CFDs). Kraken, Coinbase, and OKX have verified live retail products. The other three hold the relevant licences with the live-status nuance explained on each profile page.
Frequently asked questions about Bitstamp and MiFID II
Is Bitstamp legally allowed to offer me crypto derivatives in the EU?
Yes. Bitstamp Financial Services Ltd. (Slovenian: Bitstamp finančne storitve d.o.o.) holds a MiFID II authorisation from the Slovenian Securities Market Agency (Agencija za trg vrednostnih papirjev, ATVP), reference the firm's MiFID II authorisation reference. The authorisation passports across all 30 EEA member states.
What protections does the MiFID II authorisation give me when I trade with Bitstamp?
Client-asset segregation under Article 16(8), an appropriateness assessment before complex products are offered (Article 25(3)), best execution under Article 27, and access to the home-state Investor Compensation Scheme. See the full MiFID II protections explainer.
Does Bitstamp require KYC and an experience check before I can trade?
Yes. MiFID II Article 25(3) requires an appropriateness assessment for retail clients trading complex products. You complete a short questionnaire on knowledge and experience. The firm records the result and uses it to determine product access.
How does The Crypto Register verify MiFID II authorisations?
Every MiFID II authorisation claim on this site is verified against at least two primary sources: the firm's own published regulatory disclosures, plus an independent regulator or press source. Our full methodology describes the verification process. Corrections welcome at our contact page.
Sources cited on this page
All facts on this page are verified against at least two primary sources per our methodology. Corrections welcome at our contact page.