BitPay has obtained a crypto-asset service provider license from the Dutch regulator. Thanks to the unified European MiCA rules, it can offer its payment services across the European Union. The company aims to focus particularly on expanding payments with cryptocurrencies and stablecoins.
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American cryptocurrency payment company BitPay can significantly expand its presence in the European market. The Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets, known by the acronym AFM, approved its application for a crypto-asset service provider license, or CASP.
BitPay announced obtaining the license on Thursday, July 16. The authorization was granted to the European company BitPay B.V. under the Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation, known primarily by the acronym MiCA. The license allows the company to provide regulated services related to cryptocurrency payments in European Union member states.
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One license opens BitPay’s path to the entire EU
MiCA created common rules for companies that offer trading, custody or transfers of cryptocurrencies and other services related to digital assets in the European Union. A company that obtains a CASP license in one member state can also use it in other European market countries through the so-called European passport.
In BitPay’s case, the license was issued by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets. It is responsible in the Netherlands for assessing applications from crypto-asset service providers and for their subsequent supervision. Companies must have authorization from AFM or another European regulator to legally offer their services.
The license will enable BitPay to support, for example, cryptocurrency payment processing, cross-border transfers, consumer payments with digital assets, or buying, selling and exchanging cryptocurrencies through partner services. The company can thus reach not only individual users, but also European merchants who want to accept digital currencies.
BitPay bets on stablecoin payments
One of the main areas of further growth is to be stablecoins. These are digital currencies whose value is typically pegged to, for example, the US dollar or euro. Unlike bitcoin or ether, their price generally changes less, so they can be more practical for everyday payments and cross-border transfers.
BitPay already supports multiple cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, including USDC, USDT, DAI or the euro-based EURC. At the same time, it allows merchants to accept cryptocurrency payments without having to hold digital assets long-term. They can receive the amount in conventional currency directly to their bank account.
Europe, according to company leadership, represents one of the key markets for further development of digital payments. “Europe is one of the most important regions for the future of payments,” said BitPay’s European director Jonathan Arler.
For BitPay, license approval is important not only in terms of expansion itself, but also because of credibility. Cryptocurrency companies must, under MiCA, meet requirements regarding corporate governance, protection of client assets, internal controls, transparency and compliance with anti-money laundering rules.
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After July 1, only licensed companies can operate in the EU
BitPay’s announcement comes shortly after the end of the European regulation’s transitional period. From July 1, 2026, companies providing cryptocurrency-related services to European clients must have a license under MiCA. Companies that did not obtain authorization must terminate or restrict regulated services. The transitional period allowed some providers to continue under original national rules until the end of June 2026 at the latest.
Obtaining a license is not automatic even for the biggest market players. Cryptocurrency exchange Binance withdrew its application filed in Greece after failing to complete the licensing process before the deadline. The company stated it wants to apply for authorization in another member state, but had to restrict some European services in the meantime.
Conversely, blockchain payment company Ripple announced it obtained a full CASP license from the Luxembourg financial regulator. The authorization, similarly to BitPay, allows it to provide regulated services across the European Economic Area.
MiCA is transforming the European crypto market
The gradual granting of licenses shows how the European cryptocurrency market is transforming after MiCA’s introduction. While companies previously followed mainly different rules of individual states, they must now meet a common European standard.
For ordinary users, the new rules should bring primarily greater clarity about which companies are authorized to offer cryptocurrency services. However, the license itself does not mean that all products available on a given platform are risk-free or that every service the company offers automatically falls under MiCA regulation.
For BitPay, the Dutch authorization primarily represents an opportunity to expand regulated cryptocurrency and stablecoin payments in the single European market. The company has now joined the ranks of companies that managed to meet the new requirements shortly after the end of MiCA’s transitional period.
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