BitGo Europe has achieved a significant milestone with fresh BaFin approval, allowing the company to launch fully regulated cryptocurrency trading services from its Frankfurt headquarters. This move represents a major expansion for the company, which previously offered custody and staking services and now adds both over-the-counter and electronic trading to its suite of institutional offerings.
This development means that BitGo Europe is now one of the very few companies in Europe able to provide custody, staking, transfers, and trading under a single, regulated framework. The approval is part of the broader MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) regulation, which harmonizes digital asset rules across the European Union.
What’s new with this approval?
Earlier in 2025, BaFin granted BitGo Europe a MiCA license, enabling it to offer digital asset services across all 27 EU member states. Today’s announcement extends those permissions to include regulated trading.
This means institutional clients can now access aggregated liquidity and trade execution through a supervised German entity, strengthening both security and compliance for users.
Why Germany, and why is this important?
Germany is not only the largest economy in the EU but has also been one of the first to fully implement MiCA regulations. By establishing its trading operations in Frankfurt under BaFin’s oversight, BitGo Europe meets growing demand from institutions that require their digital assets to be held and traded under strict rules, transparent controls, and robust operational standards.
This strategic positioning also places BitGo Europe alongside other major players, like Coinbase and Kraken, which already offer comprehensive regulated services in Europe.
A look back at BitGo’s regulatory journey
- November 2023: BaFin granted BitGo a crypto custody license under German law, moving the company from transitional status to a fully licensed entity.
- May 2025: BaFin issued a MiCA license to BitGo Europe, allowing it to operate across the EU. Shortly after, French regulator AMF authorized the company to offer services in France.
- September 2025: BaFin extended the company’s license to include regulated trading, completing its transition into a full-service digital asset platform.
What this means for institutional clients
- Simplified Operations: Institutions can now manage custody, staking, transfers, and trading through a single regulated partner, reducing complexity and streamlining due diligence.
- Regulatory Clarity: Operating under MiCA ensures consistent rules across the EU, while BaFin’s oversight guarantees high standards for governance and transparency.
- Improved Trading: Clients gain access to competitive pricing and deep liquidity, which is especially important for larger trades.
The competitive landscape
With this latest BaFin approval, BitGo Europe joins a small group of firms offering a full range of regulated digital asset services in Europe. This comes at a time when demand for trusted, onshore crypto services is rising, particularly following the introduction of crypto ETFs and increased corporate treasury involvement.
What’s next for BitGo Europe?
Attention now turns to how the company will leverage its expanded capabilities. Key areas to watch include:
- The range of trading instruments offered, such as spot pairs and staking-related products.
- How quickly BitGo Europe rolls out its services in other EU countries using its MiCA passporting rights.
- Whether existing custody clients, including funds, businesses, and banks, choose to consolidate their trading activities with BitGo.
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Final note
The latest BaFin approval enables BitGo Europe to evolve from a focused custody provider into a comprehensive, regulated trading platform for institutional clients across the EU. For compliance-minded organizations, this means a simpler, safer, and more efficient way to engage with digital assets within a well-defined regulatory framework.
