Bitpanda cryptocurrency exchange scores registration in Spain
Previously, the #Austrian company has obtained licenses in #France, #Italy, #Sweden and #Czech Republic.
#Bitpanda, an Austrian cryptocurrency exchange that was valued at $4.1 billion last summer, has received registration as a digital currency exchange and digital asset custody service provider in #Spain.
The company’s name appeared in the Bank of Spain’s registry for crypto enterprises on Thursday. The registry itself opened in October 2021. At the moment, it includes 15 companies. #Bitpanda’s representative specified that the company has been de-facto operating in the country since 2014.
Spain marks the sixth #European country in which the #Vienna-based company has obtained a license. In December 2020, it registered with the Financial Markets Authority of France, while in May and June 2022, it became the first foreign #crypto provider with registration in Sweden and one of the first to get the Italian virtual asset services provider (VASP) license.
In the company’s announcement, #Bitpanda co-founder and co-CEO Eric Demuth pledged its commitment to providing a safe environment for trading amid the market crisis:
In February 2022, Bitpanda acquired United Kingdom-based #Trustology, a crypto custodian and wallet service provider, intending to rebrand it to #Bitpanda Custody and start providing native crypto custody services focused on institutional investors. The #exchange platform claimed its maiden acquisition is the first step toward the launch of #Bitpanda Pro, its prime brokerage services platform and an over-the-counter trading desk.
“We have applied for registration in every market we have a presence, and have already secured registration and licences as a virtual asset service provider in #Italy, #Austria, #Sweden, #France, the #Czech Republic and now #Spain. We do, of course, want to expand our presence in further #European markets, but will only do so when we can ensure we are fully compliant with local regulatory requirements.”
Under the upcoming Markets in Crypto Assets bill, #European Union authorities would grant #crypto companies an opportunity to operate on the pan-European level, should they get registered in one of the EU countries.