Coinbase has chosen Luxembourg as the base for its European operations after obtaining a Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license from the country’s financial regulator, the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF).
The approval allows the exchange to roll out its complete range of crypto services—trading, custody, and staking—across all 27 EU member states, reaching an estimated 450 million residents.
The San Francisco–based exchange said Luxembourg’s forward-leaning stance on digital assets made it an obvious choice. The Grand Duchy has already pushed four blockchain-focused laws through its parliament and is pursuing a “whole-of-government” strategy to support distributed-ledger technology. Coinbase described the new hub as a cornerstone of its wider European growth plan.
MiCA, passed by the European Parliament last year, establishes uniform rules for crypto companies operating in the EU, covering everything from token issuance and stablecoin reserves to wallet services and consumer protection. With its license in hand, Coinbase can now passport services throughout the single market without needing separate approvals in each country.
The move strengthens Coinbase’s presence in a region that has prioritized regulatory clarity for digital assets—an advantage the company hopes will accelerate mainstream adoption across Europe.
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