Stripe’s Bridge Secures MiCA License for EU Expansion

Stripe subsidiary Bridge secures MiCA and EMI licenses in Luxembourg, enabling regulated stablecoin services across all 27 EU member states.

Stripe has taken a significant step toward broadening its footprint in the European crypto market after its subsidiary, Bridge, was officially added to the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) register. Approval from the Luxembourg financial regulator, the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF), enables the company to provide regulated stablecoin infrastructure and digital payment services across the entire European Union.

Bridge is included in the register through its Luxembourg-based entity, Bridge Building. According to updates from the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the firm has become the 42nd licensed issuer of Electronic Money Tokens (EMT) under the MiCA framework.

Dual Licenses Open Access to the Full European Market

This registration follows Bridge successfully securing both a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) license and an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license. This dual-track regulatory approval allows the company to utilize “passporting” rights, which facilitate the delivery of services in all 27 EU member states without needing individual licenses in every jurisdiction.

These new authorizations will allow European clients to integrate cross-border payments directly into their own products, utilizing features like personalized IBANs and euro accounts.

Bridge also intends to empower corporate clients to issue their own euro-backed stablecoins. The company identifies several use cases for this infrastructure, including intra-group payments for multinational firms, loyalty programs, reward systems, crypto-specific solutions, and internal payment mechanisms for mobile applications.

Stripe Bolsters Stablecoin Infrastructure Investment

Bridge was co-founded by former Coinbase and Brex executives Zach Abrams and Sean Yu, with a primary focus on building API infrastructure for stablecoins. In 2025, Stripe acquired the company for approximately $1.1 billion, marking one of the largest deals in the history of the cryptocurrency industry.

Since the acquisition, the payments giant has steadily expanded Bridge’s regulatory reach. Beyond its European growth, the company is working toward obtaining a federal bank charter in the United States through the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), which would permit the establishment of a national trust bank dedicated to digital assets.

Securing MiCA licensing positions Bridge among a select group of companies capable of offering regulated stablecoin infrastructure throughout the European Union. This move signals that major payment processors are accelerating their crypto infrastructure investments as the European regulatory framework becomes a primary driver for market growth.