Wire · founder news, decoded · regulatory
BitPay obtains MiCA authorisation from Dutch AFM regulator
◆ Published
20 July 2026
◆ Topic
regulatory
◆ Sectors
◆ Geography
◆ Source
◆ Verified
Fusion42 · 20 July 2026 · Fusion42 review
BitPay has obtained Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) authorisation from the Dutch Financial Markets Authority (AFM), becoming compliant with EU crypto asset regulation. This marks a significant regulatory milestone for the crypto payments processor in the European market.
This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of Fintech. Wire is Fusion42's founder-focused intelligence feed: each story is connected to the funds and startups it names — every one with a live profile on Raise or Scout — so founders can follow the capital and the momentum behind the headline rather than just the headline itself. Wire analysis is one of the live surfaces Arthur reasons over.
◆ The Wire takeaway
If you're building crypto or stablecoin payments in Europe, MiCA authorisation just became the entry fee to the market - and BitPay has paid it first. Call your legal team: the window to grandfathered status has closed, and regulators now have a template for what they'll accept.
◆ Related on Wire
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- MiCA Rules Trigger Dutch Crypto Exchange Collapse18 July 2026
- EU to Extend MiCA to DeFi and NFTs8 July 2026
- Crypto-Assets Without an Identifiable Issuer: Regulatory Reality Two Years Post-MiCAR ...20 July 2026
- The Consolidation: Summary of Regulatory Roundup (July 2026)18 July 2026
- Circle Brings Native EURC To Base As MiCA Gives Euro Stablecoins A Clearer Lane12 July 2026
◆ Topics
Fintech · mica-authorisation · crypto-payments · eu-regulation · bitpay · compliance