365int
tags: kraken, mica, ireland, crypto, eu, license, exchange
Kraken just got a big win in Europe. The crypto exchange grabbed a MiCA license from Ireland’s central bank. That means it can now offer regulated crypto services across all 30 EU member states.
This follows earlier licenses Kraken got under MiFID in February and EMI in 2023.
Kraken’s co-CEO Arjun Sethi said it best: “Trust is the most valuable currency in crypto.”
Other big exchanges are racing to get their MiCA licenses too. Coinbase, OKX, Bybit, Crypto.com — all in the mix. Gemini’s still waiting on its approval in Malta.
MiCA rules kicked in across Europe this year. They aim to make crypto regulation the same everywhere in the EU.
Not everyone’s on board. Tether’s skipping the MiCA party. As a result, some platforms are dropping its USDT stablecoin.
Meanwhile, back in the US, Kraken just moved its HQ to Wyoming. It’s hoping for clearer crypto rules there too.
Fun fact: the SEC dropped a lawsuit against Kraken this March. They’d claimed Kraken was acting like a bank, broker, and exchange — without a license.
