EU CRYPTO REGISTER · AUTHORISED · LAST VERIFIED
Is Bitpanda licensed under MiCA in the European Union?
Bitpanda's European entity (Bitpanda 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 9 April 2025.
Verdict: Bitpanda appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised CASPs.
| Legal entity | Bitpanda GmbH |
|---|---|
| Home Member State | Austria |
| National Competent Authority | Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) |
| Authorisation date | |
| Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) | 5493007WZ7IFULIL8G21 |
| Authorised services | Custody, Exchange for funds, Exchange for crypto, Order execution, Placing, Order R&T, Transfer services |
Source: ESMA Register of Crypto-Asset Service Providers. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
And what about derivatives?
Bitpanda's MiCA authorisation above covers spot crypto services only. Crypto derivatives - perpetual futures, options, CFDs - fall under MiFID II, a separate EU regime. Bitpanda's MiFID II status is tracked on a dedicated page.
Bitpanda holds a MiFID II authorisation via a separate legal entity. See the full MiFID II profile for Bitpanda →
Which crypto services is Bitpanda authorised to offer in the EU?
Under its MiCA authorisation issued by Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA), Bitpanda (Bitpanda 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.
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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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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.
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Exchange of crypto-assets for other crypto-assets
The exchange offers crypto-to-crypto trading (e.g. BTC to ETH). Required for most spot trading pairs not denominated in fiat.
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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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Placing of crypto-assets
The exchange can underwrite or distribute new crypto-asset issuances. Relevant for primary offerings and structured token launches.
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Reception and transmission of orders for crypto-assets on behalf of clients
The exchange can receive your order and pass it to another venue for execution. Brokerage-pattern service, often paired with order execution.
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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 Bitpanda not authorised to offer?
Bitpanda's MiCA licence does not cover: Trading platform, Advice, Portfolio mgmt. These services may still be offered by other authorised providers, or by Bitpanda under a different regulatory framework (for example, derivatives may fall under MiFID II rather than MiCA). Source: ESMA Register, retrieved 14 May 2026.
Why is Bitpanda 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 Bitpanda in the EU?
If you transact through Bitpanda's EEA-authorised entity (Bitpanda 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 Bitpanda's terms of service that your contracting entity is Bitpanda GmbH, not a non-EEA affiliate.
Frequently asked questions about Bitpanda and MiCA
Is Bitpanda licensed under MiCA?
Yes. Bitpanda 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 Bitpanda 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 Bitpanda 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 Bitpanda'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 Bitpanda's entry is on this page under 'Sources'.
Sources cited on this page
This page is updated weekly. Last verified . If you believe any information on this page is inaccurate, write to our contact page.