Bitstamp, the crypto exchange from Luxembourg
Bitstamp entered EU regulation through payments law: Luxembourg's supervisor licensed it as a payment institution long before crypto had rules of its own. Today the Bitstamp exchange holds a MiCA license from the same supervisor, the CSSF, and belongs to the US broker Robinhood, which brands it Bitstamp by Robinhood.
Exchange and institutional services
Bitstamp was founded in 2011 and has offices in Luxembourg, the UK, Slovenia, Singapore and the US, according to Robinhood's announcement of the completed takeover. Robinhood calls it the world's longest running cryptocurrency exchange and states that it holds more than 50 active licenses and registrations around the world. Next to its spot exchange, Bitstamp offers crypto-as-a-service, institutional lending and staking. Under crypto-as-a-service a bank or broker gives its own clients crypto trading that runs on Bitstamp's infrastructure. With Bitstamp, Robinhood took over its first institutional crypto business.
From payment institution to MiCA license
Luxembourg's CSSF granted Bitstamp a payment institution license under the EU payment services rules, the first such license for a crypto exchange in the EU; fintech in Luxembourg tells how that application took nearly two years. Under MiCA, the CSSF then authorized Bitstamp as the first crypto-asset service provider in Luxembourg, Luxembourg for Finance reported. The authorization covers crypto trading, the execution of client orders and crypto custody across the European Union.
For a payment firm or bank in Germany that works with Bitstamp, the counterparty is therefore a Luxembourg entity supervised by the CSSF, and MiCA's passport makes that license valid in every member state. European crypto exchanges explains how to check such a license in the ESMA register.
Bitstamp in euro trading
Bitstamp runs an order book exchange with euro pairs. The largest crypto exchanges by euro volume includes Bitstamp in its list for euro spot trading and explains how an order book differs from broker pricing. Exchanges based in other EU hubs work under the same MiCA rules from their own supervisors: Coinbase from Luxembourg as well, Bitvavo from the Netherlands and Bitpanda from Austria and Germany.
Upcoming crypto and digital asset events
Crypto exchanges at Finance Loop
Finance Loop supported the Bybit EU x Circle Roadshow and a Bybit EU crypto evening in Frankfurt, where exchanges discussed regulated crypto trading and stablecoins under MiCA. Market infrastructure is also a topic of the Crypto Assets Conference in Frankfurt, which Finance Loop partnered with.
Investment & Digital Assets
Payments & Digital Money
Risk & Compliance
Is Bitstamp regulated in the EU?
Yes. Luxembourg's CSSF authorized Bitstamp as a crypto-asset service provider under MiCA, for trading, order execution and custody across the EU. Earlier, the CSSF had licensed Bitstamp as a payment institution.
Who owns Bitstamp?
Robinhood owns Bitstamp after completing its acquisition, and markets the exchange as Bitstamp by Robinhood.
Where is Bitstamp based?
Bitstamp is headquartered in Luxembourg and has further offices in the UK, Slovenia, Singapore and the US.
Bitstamp and Finance Loop
Finance Loop covers regulated crypto exchanges at events such as the Bybit EU evenings in Frankfurt and at the Crypto Assets Conference, which Finance Loop partnered with. Exchanges belong to Finance Loop's Investment & Digital Assets track, their payment licenses and stablecoins to Payments & Digital Money.
Finance Loop is a professional network and has the goal of driving the adoption of emerging technologies in finance, such as AI, digital payments, cloud and blockchain solutions. Finance Loop helps its members build skills and personal networks in these fields: Investment & Digital Assets, Payments & Digital Money, Digital Infrastructure & Sovereignty, and Risk & Compliance.