Bitstamp gains MiFID MTF License in Europe

Key Takeaways

• The license allows the firm to offer trading options in traditional assets, including stocks, commodities, bonds, and structured products.
• Bitstamp will be able to offer derivatives products to investors, helping to usher in a trading ecosystem that supports a range of trading and investment strategies

Bitstamp, one of the world’s oldest crypto exchanges, has secured a Multilateral Trading Facility (MTF) license from Slovenia’s Securities Market Agency, enabling it to offer crypto derivatives products including perpetual swaps. 

These swaps allow traders to speculate on crypto price movements without an expiration date, meeting demand among both institutional and retail clients. The latest development comes amid the Swedish Police Authority and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) have classified crypto exchanges as “professional money launderers (PML)” after an analysis of services provided by unlicensed firms.  

The Swedish authorities have however also acknowledged the role of legitimate crypto trading platforms, without criminal intent, to tackle money laundering. The new license given to Bitstamp also allows the firm to offer trading options in traditional assets, including stocks, commodities, bonds, and structured products.

In a statement, Bitstamp’s global CEO Jean-Baptiste Graftieaux described the license as a “testament to our safety, security, trustworthiness, and compliance,” adding that it reflects the broader cryptocurrency industry’s maturation and commitment to regulation.

“With this licence, Bitstamp will be able to offer derivatives products to investors, helping to usher in a trading ecosystem that supports a range of trading and investment strategies; including helping institutional investors achieve increased capital efficiency.”

The MTF license is part of the EU’s Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II), a framework established to help exchanges meet rigorous regulatory standards. Bitstamp is among the first cryptocurrency exchanges to receive a MiFID MTF licence.

Bitstamp’s global expansion has also gained momentum this year. In March, the exchange received provisional licensing approval from Singapore’s Monetary Authority, signalling a push into the Asian market. Later, in June, Robinhood agreed to acquire Bitstamp for $200 million, a part of its global expansion efforts.