EU CRYPTO REGISTER · AUTHORISED · LAST VERIFIED
Is BBVA licensed under MiCA in the European Union?
BBVA's European entity (Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A.) is recorded as an authorised Crypto-Asset Service Provider under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, with its authorisation issued by Spain on 5 March 2025.
Verdict: BBVA appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised CASPs.
| Legal entity | Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. |
|---|---|
| Home Member State | Spain |
| National Competent Authority | |
| Authorisation date | |
| Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) | K8MS7FD7N5Z2WQ51AZ71 |
| Authorised services | Custody, Order execution, Transfer services |
Source: ESMA Register of Crypto-Asset Service Providers. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
About BBVA
BBVA is the crypto-asset offering of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A., a global banking group headquartered in Madrid, Spain. The bank traces its origins to 1901, founded as Banco de Bilbao, and according to research summaries is the second-largest bank in Spain. Unlike a standalone consumer crypto exchange, BBVA delivers crypto services inside its existing banking app to its own banking customers rather than as a separate trading venue. Sources: BBVA crypto-assets page, BBVA Spain announcement
BBVA states that it offers buying, selling and holding of Bitcoin and Ether for retail customers in Spain through the BBVA mobile app, with euro funding handled through standard BBVA banking channels. The service is described as spot-only and customer-initiated, with no investment advice provided, and it does not currently include staking, savings or recurring-purchase plans, or crypto card features. A separate BBVA Switzerland service offers Bitcoin trading and custody to private banking clients, which sits outside the EU MiCA framework. Sources: BBVA Spain announcement, BBVA Switzerland announcement
On the legal point, the contracting entity is Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A., supervised in Spain by the Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV). On this record, BBVA is authorised for three MiCA crypto-asset services: custody and administration of crypto-assets, execution of orders, and transfer services. That authorisation does not, on this record, extend to other MiCA crypto-asset services such as operating a trading platform, exchange against funds or other crypto-assets, placement, reception and transmission of orders, or advice and portfolio management. As a regulated bank integrating a narrow spot trade-and-custody service into its app, BBVA should be read as an institutional banking provider rather than a full-service consumer crypto exchange. Sources: BBVA Spain announcement, BBVA crypto-assets page
Which crypto services is BBVA authorised to offer in the EU?
Under its MiCA authorisation issued by Spain, BBVA (Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A.) is approved to provide the following services to EEA residents. Each service is defined in Article 3(1)(16) of Regulation (EU) 2023/1114.
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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.
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Execution of orders for crypto-assets on behalf of clients
The exchange can place orders for you on third-party venues (smart-routing). Less common in retail crypto; relevant for brokerage-style services.
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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 BBVA not authorised to offer?
BBVA's MiCA licence does not cover: Trading platform, Exchange for funds, Exchange for crypto, Placing, Order R&T, Advice, Portfolio mgmt. These services may still be offered by other authorised providers, or by BBVA 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:
What does this mean for users of BBVA in the EU?
If you transact through BBVA's EEA-authorised entity (Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A.), 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 BBVA's terms of service that your contracting entity is Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A., not a non-EEA affiliate.
Which MiCA-authorised exchanges are alternatives to BBVA?
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 BBVA's entry on the register:
Frequently asked questions about BBVA and MiCA
Is BBVA licensed under MiCA?
Yes. BBVA appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised Crypto-Asset Service Providers, with its authorisation issued by the competent authority of Spain.
Which EU countries can BBVA 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 BBVA 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 BBVA'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 BBVA's entry is on this page under 'Sources'.
Sources
- ESMA Register of Crypto-Asset Service Providers
- ESMA MiCA Register - BBVA (Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A.)
- BBVA official website
- BBVA crypto-assets product page (criptoactivos)
- BBVA to offer Bitcoin and Ether trading and custody in Spain
- BBVA Switzerland opens Bitcoin trading to private banking clients
This page is updated weekly. Last verified . If you believe any information on this page is inaccurate, write to our contact page.