tl;dr
Coinbase has secured approval under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, receiving a license from Luxembourg's financial regulator CSSF to operate across all 27 EU member states. This milestone makes Coinbase the first American crypto exchange formally recognized under MiCA, promptin...
Coinbase, the largest US-based crypto exchange, has achieved a significant milestone by securing approval under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation. Licensed by Luxembourg’s financial regulator, the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF), Coinbase can now legally operate crypto services across all 27 EU member states. This makes Coinbase the first American exchange formally recognized under MiCA.
Following this regulatory green light, Coinbase has moved its European headquarters from Ireland to Luxembourg, a country known for its progressive stance on digital innovation and robust regulatory framework. The decision reflects Luxembourg’s leadership in balancing innovation with regulatory maturity, having enacted multiple blockchain-related laws and advancing digital finance policy nationally.
Coinbase’s chief policy officer, Faryar Shirzad, emphasized the importance of this licensing as a major advancement for the company’s European operations. CEO Brian Armstrong marked the occasion by meeting with Luxembourg Prime Minister Luc Frieden and other officials. The MiCA framework aims to unify rules across the EU to protect consumers, ensure compliance, and reduce regulatory fragmentation.
With the new licensing, Coinbase joins prominent global competitors like OKX, Bybit, and Crypto.com in formally operating under MiCA. The company highlighted that while MiCA establishes a strong foundation for a thriving crypto ecosystem, continued swift and ambitious regulatory efforts are essential to keeping Europe competitive globally.