Major crypto platforms gain regulatory approval to operate across European Economic Area
In a significant development for the European cryptocurrency landscape, fintech giant Revolut and Swiss Bitcoin app Relai have both secured Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) licenses, enabling them to provide comprehensive crypto services across all 30 markets in the European Economic Area.
Revolut Goes "Full Steam Ahead"
Revolut, which serves over 65 million customers and holds a valuation exceeding $45 billion, obtained its MiCA license from the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission. The London-based fintech is migrating its EEA-based crypto customers to Revolut Digital Assets Europe Ltd (formerly RT Digital Securities Cyprus Ltd), registered with the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission under number 001/22.
Celebrating the regulatory milestone, Leonid Bashlykov, Revolut's Head of Crypto product, announced the company is "going full steam ahead, setting standards and making crypto available to everyone."
To mark the occasion, Revolut unveiled its "Crypto 2.0" offering, featuring:
- 1:1 Stablecoin exchanges – Users can convert exactly $1.00 in cash to $1.00 in stablecoins with seamless on- and off-ramping
- Zero-fee staking – 0% commission on staking with APY rates up to 22%
- Revolut X – A professional trading platform with 0% maker fees and 0.09% taker fees, now live on web, iOS, and Android, supporting 280+ tokens and 400+ trading pairs
- Multi-chain crypto remittances and enhanced services for businesses
The announcement has been met with enthusiastic support from the crypto community on social media.
Relai Expands Beyond Switzerland
Swiss-based Bitcoin-focused app Relai received its MiCA license from the French Financial Markets Authority (AMF), making it one of the first Bitcoin-specific companies to achieve this regulatory status.
"We're incredibly proud to be one of the first Bitcoin companies to get the MiCA license and are eager to expand to France first and Europe in a second step," said Julian Liniger, Relai's co-founder and CEO.
Understanding MiCA's Impact
The Markets in Crypto Assets regulation came into effect at the end of 2024, establishing a comprehensive regulatory framework for crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) across the European Union. While companies previously operated with virtual asset service provider (VASP) registrations from individual EU or EEA countries, MiCA created a harmonized standard with a grace period of up to 18 months for compliance.
The new framework allows licensed companies to:
- Operate seamlessly across all 30 EEA markets with a single license
- Provide secure digital asset custody
- Offer institutional-grade treasury tools
- Deliver localized products tailored to EU markets
Growing List of Compliant Platforms
Revolut and Relai join other major crypto firms that have already secured MiCA licenses, including Kraken, Gemini, Bitvavo, and Blockchain.com (licensed by the Maltese Financial Services Authority).
Blockchain.com emphasized that the regulatory clarity enables the company to "scale our services across Europe, including secure digital asset custody, institutional-grade treasury tools, and localized products tailored to EU markets, thus ensuring a harmonized distribution of our services across all member states."
Additional companies, such as stablecoin-focused Layer 1 blockchain Plasma, are also advancing their European expansion plans, having obtained a VASP license in Italy and opened an Amsterdam office, with MiCA license applications in progress.
What This Means for Users
For customers, the migration to MiCA-compliant entities means continued access to crypto services with the added assurance of EU regulatory oversight. Revolut has confirmed that the transition involves no changes to app access, available crypto products, or fee structures.
The MiCA licensing wave represents a maturation of Europe's crypto market, providing consumers with greater regulatory protection while enabling compliant companies to scale their operations across the continent with confidence.
