EU CRYPTO REGISTER · AUTHORISED · LAST VERIFIED
Is 21bitcoin licensed under MiCA in the European Union?
21bitcoin's European entity (FIOR Digital GmbH) is recorded as an authorised Crypto-Asset Service Provider under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, with its authorisation issued by Austria on 27 November 2025.
Verdict: 21bitcoin appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised CASPs.
| Legal entity | FIOR Digital GmbH |
|---|---|
| Home Member State | Austria |
| National Competent Authority | Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) |
| Authorisation date | |
| Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) | 529900HMYYJR2NHVZ124 |
| Authorised services | Custody, Exchange for funds, Transfer services |
Source: ESMA Register of Crypto-Asset Service Providers. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
About 21bitcoin
21bitcoin is a Bitcoin-only consumer app operated by FIOR Digital GmbH, an Austrian company that trades under the 21bitcoin brand. The product is deliberately single-asset: it lets users buy, sell and hold bitcoin rather than offering a broad menu of tokens. According to its own site, 21bitcoin describes itself as built 'for Bitcoin, not memecoins or risky tokens' and states that more than 100,000 people in Europe use the service. The company says it was founded in 2020 and is headquartered in Salzburg, Austria. Sources: 21bitcoin.app, 21bitcoin About page
On the service side, 21bitcoin offers spot buying and selling of bitcoin, an automated recurring-buy 'Auto Invest' savings feature, and EUR funding over SEPA. The company states that euro balances are held at a regulated German bank, VR Bank Bayern Mitte, through a virtual IBAN, with free SEPA transfers of up to €100,000. Custody of clients' bitcoin is provided through its custodian partner BitGo; 21bitcoin states the bitcoin is held in cold storage at a 1:1 ratio, is not lent out, and is covered by $250 million of insurance against hacks and theft. There is no staking (which Bitcoin does not support) and no crypto card product. Sources: 21bitcoin.app, BitGo Europe custody announcement
On the legal point: the entity holding the licence is FIOR Digital GmbH, not the '21bitcoin' brand name itself. FIOR Digital GmbH has been authorised as a crypto-asset service provider (CASP) under Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 (MiCA) by the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA). That authorisation covers custody and administration of crypto-assets on behalf of clients, exchange of crypto-assets for funds, and transfer services for crypto-assets. The MiCA licence therefore covers the buy, sell, hold and transfer activity the app provides; it does not by itself confer authorisation for services outside that list, such as operating a trading platform, portfolio management or advice. Sources: FMA Austria authorisation notice, AMF France CASP white list
Which crypto services is 21bitcoin authorised to offer in the EU?
Under its MiCA authorisation issued by Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA), 21bitcoin (FIOR Digital GmbH) is approved to provide the following services to EEA residents. Each service is defined in Article 3(1)(16) of Regulation (EU) 2023/1114.
-
Providing custody and administration of crypto-assets on behalf of clients
The exchange holds your crypto in its own wallets. Authorisation here means MiCA's segregation and insurance rules apply: client crypto-assets must be ring-fenced from the exchange's own funds.
-
Exchange of crypto-assets for funds
The exchange offers crypto-to-fiat (e.g. BTC to EUR) and fiat-to-crypto conversion. Authorisation here implies MiCA's pricing transparency requirements.
-
Providing transfer services for crypto-assets on behalf of clients
The exchange can move crypto between addresses on your behalf, including off-platform withdrawals. The Travel Rule applies to these transfers.
Which services is 21bitcoin not authorised to offer?
21bitcoin's MiCA licence does not cover: Trading platform, Exchange for crypto, Order execution, Placing, Order R&T, Advice, Portfolio mgmt. These services may still be offered by other authorised providers, or by 21bitcoin under a different regulatory framework (for example, derivatives may fall under MiFID II rather than MiCA). Source: ESMA Register, retrieved 30 June 2026.
See other MiCA-authorised exchanges by service:
Why is 21bitcoin licensed in Austria?
Austria's FMA has been an active MiCA gatekeeper, authorising Bitpanda (a domestic champion), Bybit's EU entity and KuCoin EU. The FMA's known stance: tight scrutiny on AML compliance, with KuCoin EU subjected to a ban on new business in late 2025 before it staffed up its compliance function. Source: Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA).
| National Competent Authority | Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) |
|---|---|
| Investor compensation | Austrian compensation scheme; verify scope via FMA. |
| Regulatory context | Bitpanda's home jurisdiction; FMA scrutiny is comparatively heavy. |
What does this mean for users of 21bitcoin in the EU?
If you transact through 21bitcoin's EEA-authorised entity (FIOR Digital GmbH), the protections introduced by MiCA apply to your relationship from onwards. In practical terms this means: client crypto-assets are ring-fenced from the exchange's own funds (Article 70 MiCA), the authorised entity holds prudential capital, has formal complaint-handling procedures, and is subject to transparency obligations on fees and order execution. Source: Regulation (EU) 2023/1114.
One thing to verify yourself: the legal entity you contract with day-to-day must match the entity in the ESMA register. Some global exchanges operate multiple legal entities under one brand. Confirm in 21bitcoin's terms of service that your contracting entity is FIOR Digital GmbH, not a non-EEA affiliate.
Which MiCA-authorised exchanges are alternatives to 21bitcoin?
Three MiCA-authorised providers to consider. Drawn from the ESMA register, never paid placement.
| Provider | Home Member State | Authorised | Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaric Securities | Bulgaria | 9 services | |
| OKX | Malta | 9 services | |
| Kraken | Ireland | 8 services |
Related reading
Understand the regulatory context behind 21bitcoin's entry on the register:
Frequently asked questions about 21bitcoin and MiCA
Is 21bitcoin licensed under MiCA?
Yes. 21bitcoin appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised Crypto-Asset Service Providers, with its authorisation issued by the competent authority of Austria.
Which EU countries can 21bitcoin serve under this licence?
A MiCA authorisation in one EEA member state permits passporting across all EEA member states, subject to a notification process to each host-state regulator.
Are my crypto-assets on 21bitcoin protected under MiCA?
MiCA introduces ring-fencing of client crypto-assets, prudential capital requirements for the authorised entity, complaint-handling obligations, and conduct rules. It does not provide a deposit-guarantee scheme equivalent to bank deposit insurance.
What's the difference between the authorised entity and the global brand?
Some global exchanges operate multiple legal entities. The MiCA authorisation applies only to the specific legal entity in the ESMA register, not to the global brand. Verify the contracting entity in 21bitcoin's terms of service.
Where can I check the official record?
The ESMA register publishes the authoritative list and updates it weekly. The direct link to 21bitcoin's entry is on this page under 'Sources'.
Sources
- ESMA Register of Crypto-Asset Service Providers
- Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA)
- ESMA MiCA Register - 21bitcoin (FIOR Digital GmbH)
- 21bitcoin official website
- Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) - Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR)
- 21bitcoin - About (FIOR Digital GmbH)
- FMA Austria - Granting of authorisation, FIOR Digital GmbH
- AMF France CASP white list - FIOR Digital GmbH
This page is updated weekly. Last verified . If you believe any information on this page is inaccurate, write to our contact page.