BitPay says it has secured Dutch licensing under the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) and plans to expand stablecoin settlement across Europe. The company released the announcement through a wire service on July 16.
The claim cannot be verified against official regulatory records. BitPay does not appear on the Dutch Financial Markets Authority (AFM) CASP register or the European Securities and Markets Authority's consolidated licensing database. Multiple sources from July 5 and July 15 reported that BitPay holds no MiCA license and has never entered EU crypto-asset service provider licensing.
MiCA, which took effect in December 2023, requires crypto service providers operating in the EU to obtain authorization from their national regulator or face enforcement action. The AFM maintains a public register of licensed crypto parties in the Netherlands. Operators must appear there to legally offer services including stablecoin issuance or custody within EU jurisdiction.
BitPay, a US-incorporated payment processor, has long offered cryptocurrency settlement to merchants in Europe without formal MiCA authorization. The company did not respond to requests for comment on the discrepancy between its announcement and the absence of its name from regulatory lists.
The full text of the wire announcement has not been publicly accessible for independent verification. The claim comes as payment platforms and exchanges face tightening EU compliance deadlines and heightened scrutiny of cross-border crypto services.
