Kraken, one of the world’s oldest and most famous cryptocurrency exchanges, secures a market for crypto assets (MICA) licenses from the Central Bank of Ireland.
The license allows the company to provide fully regulated digital asset services across the European Economic Area (EEA).
Approval It is a major milestone for Kraken and is looking to enhance its European presence. This license allows Kraken to provide services in all 30 EEA countries.
MICA began operation in 2024 and is considered the widest range of crypto regulations worldwide. Establish clear rules regarding asset issuance, trading platforms, stupid issuers, and management services.
Licenses allow crypto exchanges to work in new jurisdictions. More importantly, it is a concrete step towards compliance and long-term success.
Kraken focuses on the EU market
The MICA license lies on Kraken’s robust regulatory foothold in Europe. Since then, I have had an electronic money agency (EMI) license. march In 2025, we received the market for the Financial Instruments Directive (MIFID) license February 2025.
These licenses support great growth opportunities across retail, professional and institutional client segments, including spot trading, derivatives and payments.
In addition, the company is also VASP registered in several EU countries (Ireland, France, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain). These registrations demonstrate Kraken’s serious commitment to operating in fully regulated capabilities across the country, as already in most states. Kraken has had a strong European presence since 2013.
Today, Kraken is one of the most fluid and reliable euro markets for trading cryptocurrency. MICA licensing allows Kraken’s subsidiary Fractal to provide a variety of crypto services to retailers and institutions, including spot trading, derivatives and payments, across a harmonious continent-wide regulatory regime.
“Along with securing a license from the Central Bank of Ireland, which has a long legacy and experience as a strict financial regulator, it is not just about compliance, but it is a strong signal of Kraken’s commitment to expanding crypto ecosystems through responsible innovation.
Kraken wasn’t the only one who decided to utilize Mica’s harmonious regulatory framework. Tier One exchanges such as Coinbase, OKX, Crypto.com, Bybit have already been applied or acquired domestically in 2025 prior to the framework.
Gemini, a US exchange run by the Winklevos brothers, is believed to be on the verge of approval through Maltese regulations, one of the most well-known stepping stones of jurisdiction for fintech licensing.
The US is lagging behind Mica Crypto regulations
Kraken’s MICA victory arrives days after the exchange moved home offices to Wyoming, the US state, where crypto-friendly laws have earned its home offices.
The move nods to Wyoming’s friendly stance towards blockchain and signals that crypto exchanges are hedging bets on multiple jurisdictions to drive growth overseas.
But the larger US regulatory environment is hazy. Congressional members are still moving back and forth on details of federal digital asset regulations addressing the market, stability and market structure framework for standalone billing. Some states have been industry friendly, but federal agencies such as the Securities and Exchange Commission have become more aggressive.
The US struggles with cryptography regulation, but Kraken’s MICA approval could give it an advantage over global competition. It highlights European leadership in cryptography regulation and how clarity of surveillance is important for the future of digital finance.
Discover more from Earlybirds Invest
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
