EU CRYPTO REGISTER · AUTHORISED · LAST VERIFIED
Is WhiteBIT EU licensed under MiCA in the European Union?
WhiteBIT EU's European entity (WB-Shields Innovations 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 18 June 2026.
Verdict: WhiteBIT EU appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised CASPs.
| Legal entity | WB-Shields Innovations GmbH |
|---|---|
| Home Member State | Austria |
| National Competent Authority | Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) |
| Authorisation date | |
| Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) | 254900ERDZ4CZ5IF7P56 |
| Authorised services | Custody, Exchange for funds, Exchange for crypto, Placing, Transfer services |
Source: ESMA Register of Crypto-Asset Service Providers. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
About WhiteBIT EU
WhiteBIT EU is the European arm of WhiteBIT, a consumer crypto-asset exchange that, according to the company, was founded in 2018 and forms part of the W Group serving around 35 million customers globally. The global business reports a multi-asset offering rather than a single-coin product, citing 270+ digital assets and 520+ trading pairs, with spot trading, crypto lending (savings), margin trading, staking and crypto-to-fiat conversion. At the time of writing, the dedicated EU site presents a 'Coming Soon' waitlist page rather than a live trading product. Sources: whitebit.eu, GlobeNewswire announcement
The contracting legal entity behind the EU operation is WB-Shield Innovations GmbH, based in Vienna, Austria. The wider WhiteBIT group's global headquarters is reported to be in Benidorm, Spain, while this Austrian entity is the one that holds the EU authorisation. Sources: GlobeNewswire announcement, CryptoNews
On the legal question: yes, WB-Shield Innovations GmbH holds a MiCA Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) authorisation granted by the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA), reported on 19 June 2026, which can be passported across the EEA. The authorisation covers a specific list of MiCA services: custody and administration of crypto-assets, exchange of crypto-assets for funds, exchange of crypto-assets for other crypto-assets, placing of crypto-assets, and transfer services. It does not, on this record, extend to the other MiCA services such as reception and transmission of orders, execution of orders on behalf of clients, advice on crypto-assets, or portfolio management. Anyone relying on this should confirm the entity's current entry on the FMA / ESMA registers, since coverage and passporting status can change. Sources: GlobeNewswire announcement, CryptoNews
Which crypto services is WhiteBIT EU authorised to offer in the EU?
Under its MiCA authorisation issued by Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA), WhiteBIT EU (WB-Shields Innovations 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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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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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 WhiteBIT EU not authorised to offer?
WhiteBIT EU's MiCA licence does not cover: Trading platform, Order execution, Order R&T, Advice, Portfolio mgmt. These services may still be offered by other authorised providers, or by WhiteBIT EU 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 WhiteBIT EU 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 WhiteBIT EU in the EU?
If you transact through WhiteBIT EU's EEA-authorised entity (WB-Shields Innovations 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 WhiteBIT EU's terms of service that your contracting entity is WB-Shields Innovations GmbH, not a non-EEA affiliate.
Which MiCA-authorised exchanges are alternatives to WhiteBIT EU?
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 WhiteBIT EU's entry on the register:
Frequently asked questions about WhiteBIT EU and MiCA
Is WhiteBIT EU licensed under MiCA?
Yes. WhiteBIT EU 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 WhiteBIT EU 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 WhiteBIT EU 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 WhiteBIT EU'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 WhiteBIT EU'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.