EU CRYPTO REGISTER · AUTHORISED · LAST VERIFIED
Is IG Europe GmbH licensed under MiCA in the European Union?
IG Europe GmbH's European entity (IG Europe GmbH) is recorded as an authorised Crypto-Asset Service Provider under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, with its authorisation issued by Germany on 21 November 2025.
Verdict: IG Europe GmbH appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised CASPs.
| Legal entity | IG Europe GmbH |
|---|---|
| Home Member State | Germany |
| National Competent Authority | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) |
| Authorisation date | |
| Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) | 213800HFC5G4V293BN91 |
| Authorised services | Custody, Exchange for funds, Exchange for crypto, Order execution |
Source: ESMA Register of Crypto-Asset Service Providers. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
About IG Europe GmbH
IG Europe GmbH is the German entity of the IG group, a multi-asset trading business rather than a consumer crypto exchange. Its public-facing site markets a trading platform for CFDs and leveraged products, and it discloses on that site that 71% of retail investor accounts lose money trading CFDs with the provider. According to research summaries, IG Europe GmbH is part of IG Group Holdings plc, a publicly listed UK-headquartered trading group, with IG Europe GmbH established in Germany. Sources: IG Europe GmbH website, IG Group (Wikipedia)
On the legal point, the contracting entity is IG Europe GmbH, incorporated in Germany and supervised by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). Under MiCA, it is authorised for the following crypto-asset services: custody and administration of crypto-assets, exchange of crypto-assets for funds, exchange of crypto-assets for other crypto-assets, and execution of orders for crypto-assets. Services outside that list, for example portfolio management, transfer services, advice, or operating a trading platform, are not covered by this authorisation. Source: IG Group regulation page
It is worth distinguishing what IG Europe GmbH offers from a spot retail exchange. Research summaries indicate that its own EU crypto product is delivered as CFDs on cryptocurrencies rather than spot trading, custody, savings, staking, or card products for end users, and that for spot crypto access IG Europe has reported a partnership with the MiCA-licensed Austrian exchange Bitpanda. These are statements drawn from third-party reporting and the group's own materials, and prospective users should verify current product scope directly. Sources: Finance Magnates report, IG Europe GmbH website
Which crypto services is IG Europe GmbH authorised to offer in the EU?
Under its MiCA authorisation issued by Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), IG Europe GmbH (IG Europe 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.
Which services is IG Europe GmbH not authorised to offer?
IG Europe GmbH's MiCA licence does not cover: Trading platform, Placing, Order R&T, Advice, Portfolio mgmt, Transfer services. These services may still be offered by other authorised providers, or by IG Europe GmbH 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 IG Europe GmbH licensed in Germany?
Germany's BaFin runs a strict, banking-style authorisation model. Trade Republic, which already held a German banking licence, was authorised in April 2025. BaFin previously refused Binance's German licence application in 2023, leading Binance to withdraw from the German market. Source: Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).
| National Competent Authority | Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) |
|---|---|
| Investor compensation | EdW (compensation scheme for securities firms) plus bank-deposit cover where applicable. |
| Regulatory context | BaFin's banking-style scrutiny is the highest barrier among MiCA NCAs. |
What does this mean for users of IG Europe GmbH in the EU?
If you transact through IG Europe GmbH's EEA-authorised entity (IG Europe 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 IG Europe GmbH's terms of service that your contracting entity is IG Europe GmbH, not a non-EEA affiliate.
Which MiCA-authorised exchanges are alternatives to IG Europe GmbH?
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 IG Europe GmbH's entry on the register:
Frequently asked questions about IG Europe GmbH and MiCA
Is IG Europe GmbH licensed under MiCA?
Yes. IG Europe GmbH appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised Crypto-Asset Service Providers, with its authorisation issued by the competent authority of Germany.
Which EU countries can IG Europe GmbH 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 IG Europe GmbH 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 IG Europe GmbH'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 IG Europe GmbH's entry is on this page under 'Sources'.
Sources
This page is updated weekly. Last verified . If you believe any information on this page is inaccurate, write to our contact page.