Major cryptocurrency exchange KuCoin is the latest company to secure a license under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) framework.
KuCoin’s European arm, KuCoin EU, secured a MiCA license from the Financial Market Authority of Austria, the company announced in a statement.
This authorization permits KuCoin EU to offer crypto asset services across 29 countries within the European Economic Area (EEA), with the exception of Malta, according to the exchange's representatives.
“Securing the MiCA license with our local entity in Austria is a defining milestone in KuCoin’s long-term trust and compliance strategy,” stated KuCoin CEO BC Wong. He added that the regulatory framework represents “one of the highest regulatory standards worldwide.”
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KuCoin's MiCA approval follows its license application submitted in early 2025. This development comes months after several crypto asset service providers (CASPs) had already obtained MiCA authorization in other EU member states, including Austria-based Bitpanda.
The exchange explained its choice of Austria, stating in February, “The decision to choose Austria was primarily driven by the timely implementation of the MiCA accompanying laws, the stable and foreseeable regulatory environment as well as the huge talent pool.”
In addition to KuCoin, Austria’s Financial Market Authority (FMA) has granted MiCA licenses to five other CASPs: crypto-friendly Amina Bank, Bitpanda, Bybit, Cryptonow, and FIOR Digital.
“This milestone strengthens KuCoin’s commitment to responsible global expansion,” KuCoin CEO Wong reiterated. He emphasized, “Compliance is not simply a regulatory obligation — it is the foundation of our long-term mission to deliver secure, innovative, and accessible digital asset services to users worldwide.”
Blockrise, a Bitcoin-only entity, recently secured a Dutch MiCA license, enabling it to offer Bitcoin-backed loans to EU businesses.
Cointelegraph reached out to KuCoin for comment regarding the exclusion of Malta from its service offering but had not received a response at the time of publication.
Malta has previously issued multiple MiCA licenses to CASPs such as Blockchain.com and the Gemini exchange, which is owned by the Winklevoss twins. Notably, Malta has positioned itself as a significant opponent of centralized MiCA supervision within the EU, contrasting with the stance of member states like France.