“Four companies specializing in digital assets have recently obtained the coveted Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) licenses in the Netherlands, which permits them to conduct business throughout the 27-member European Union.

Crypto service provider MoonPay, digital asset manager BitStaete, bitcoin-focused fintech firm ZBD, and prime brokerage and clearinghouse Hidden Road have all successfully secured the crypto asset service providers license from the Netherlands’ financial regulator, the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), as per a December 30 filing.

The MiCA framework has been specifically designed for crypto businesses and mandates that companies must obtain a Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP) license from one EU member state. This license then permits them to conduct operations across the whole of the European Union.

Although the European Union had set a December 30 deadline for member states to implement MiCA, not all countries have been able to comply.

“MICA’s introduction is a landmark moment for the European digital asset sector. We are thrilled to be among the early adopters of this new regulatory structure, having worked closely with the Dutch AFM,” stated Ivan Soto-Wright, MoonPay’s CEO and co-founder.

In a separate development, fan engagement platform Socios.com has received approval from the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA). This authorization grants it a class 3 Virtual Financial Assets Act (VFAA) license, allowing it to function as a regulated Virtual Financial Asset service provider.

Meanwhile, the UK, which has been closely mirroring the EU’s approach to crypto, added crypto trading company GSR Markets to its crypto register at the end of 2024.”