Four prominent digital asset firms have been awarded the highly sought-after Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) license in the Netherlands, enabling them to operate freely across all 27 EU member states. The recipients of the Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) license from the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) include MoonPay, a leading crypto platform, BitStaete, a digital asset management company, ZBD, a bitcoin lightning FinTech, and Hidden Road, a prime brokerage and clearing company, as per a recent filing dated December 30. The MiCA framework serves as a tailored regulatory guideline for crypto companies, requiring them to obtain a CASP license from one EU member state to facilitate seamless operations across the entire European Union. Although the EU had set a December 30 deadline for its member states to implement MiCA, not all countries have met this deadline.
Ivan Soto-Wright, CEO and co-founder of MoonPay, stated, 'The introduction of MiCA marks a significant milestone for the European digital asset industry, and we are proud to have collaborated with the Dutch AFM to be among the first to adopt this new regulatory framework.' Additionally, Socios.com, a fan engagement platform, has secured authorization from the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) to operate as a regulated Virtual Financial Asset service provider under a Class 3 Virtual Financial Assets Act (VFAA) license. In a related development, the UK, which is closely following the EU's approach to crypto regulation, has added crypto trading firm GSR Markets to its crypto register as of late 2024.