Crypto.com has recently made a significant expansion in its European operations by obtaining a Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) license. This regulatory milestone allows the popular mobile-first crypto exchange and payments platform to offer cryptocurrency derivatives across the European Economic Area (EEA). The license was secured through Crypto.com’s acquisition of A.N. Allnew Investments, a Cyprus-based investment services firm, with approval from the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC).
This latest achievement comes on the heels of Crypto.com’s earlier success in January 2025, when it received in-principle approval under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulatory framework. With both licenses in hand, Crypto.com now has the legal infrastructure to operate a wide range of financial products in the EU, including contracts for difference (CFDs) and other crypto derivatives.
In a statement following the announcement, Kris Marszalek, co-founder and CEO of Crypto.com, expressed the company’s commitment to expanding its regional reach. “We have already expanded our brand presence in Europe since receiving our MiCA license, and we now look forward to providing customers across the region even more ways to engage with our platform through these new offerings,” he said.
Crypto.com’s move is part of a broader trend among major crypto exchanges pursuing MiFID licenses to gain access to Europe’s regulated financial markets. Other exchanges, such as Kraken and Coinbase, have also been making strategic moves to align their derivative offerings with EU laws. Kraken, for instance, recently launched its regulated crypto derivatives platform using a MiFID II-regulated Cyprus entity, following its acquisition of futures platform NinjaTrader.
Similarly, Coinbase announced its acquisition of Deribit, one of the world’s largest crypto derivatives platforms, in a $2.9 billion deal. This move underscores Coinbase’s belief in the profitability and importance of derivatives trading, as the company looks to enhance its profitability through strategic acquisitions.
Gemini has also secured regulatory approval through Malta’s financial services authority to expand its European crypto derivatives offerings. As Europe becomes a focal point for regulatory clarity and innovation, exchanges are responding to the demand for compliance-ready trading options while future-proofing their operations in anticipation of stricter global standards.
With MiCA and MiFID II providing clear guidelines, Europe now offers crypto firms a legitimate path to offer advanced financial instruments like derivatives. By obtaining MiFID licenses, exchanges can “passport” their services across EU member states, reducing the regulatory burden and facilitating broader access to financial products.
Cyprus and Malta have emerged as key gateways into the European market, attracting many MiFID license acquisitions due to their business-friendly policies, English-speaking regulatory environments, and robust financial services infrastructure. The success of MiFID- and MiCA-driven crypto regulation in Europe could serve as a model for other jurisdictions worldwide, with countries in Asia, Latin America, and North America closely watching developments.
Overall, Crypto.com’s latest regulatory milestone marks a significant step forward in its European expansion strategy. By securing a MiFID license, the platform is well-positioned to offer a diverse range of financial products to customers across the EEA, reshaping the crypto landscape in Europe and potentially influencing global regulatory standards in the future.