Kraken unlocks EU market access with MiCA license from Ireland

Crypto exchange Kraken is expanding its European presence through a Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) license granted by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Announced in a June 25 blog post, the license allows the exchange to scale its regulated services across all 30 European Economic Area (EEA) member states.

With this authorization, Kraken can offer a broader range of fully regulated products, including trading, derivatives, and payments solutions, building on its existing Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) registrations in several key European markets, such as France, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands.

The MiCA greenlight follows Kraken’s acquisition of a Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) license through its Cyprus-regulated entity in February. Kraken Co-CEO Arjun Sethi celebrated the latest milestone, highlighting that it reflects the exchange’s broader efforts to meet regulatory standards across Europe.

“Securing a license from the Central Bank of Ireland, with its long heritage and experience as a rigorous financial regulator, isn’t just about compliance. It’s a powerful signal of Kraken’s commitment to expanding the crypto ecosystem through responsible innovation,” he said in the statement.

Kraken joins other crypto exchanges, including Coinbase,  Bitstamp, and Crypto.com, that have received similar approvals in jurisdictions like Luxembourg and Malta. 

Earlier in March, the exchange also obtained an electronic money institution license from the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority, which allows it to establish partnerships with traditional financial institutions and offer a range of services to users within the region. 

The EU’s MiCA framework came into full effect in December 2024 and requires crypto exchanges and platforms to obtain regulatory approval and comply with uniform standards to operate within the region.