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BitPay secured a Dutch CASP license on July 16 2026, enabling EU-wide crypto and stablecoin payments and giving merchants a regulated provider across all 27
BitPay received a crypto‑asset service provider (CASP) license from the Netherlands’ Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) on July 16 2026, granting it a passport to offer payment processing, cross‑border transfers and stablecoin services throughout the entire EU — a regulatory milestone that could accelerate merchant adoption of crypto payments.
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| License date | July 16 2026 |
| Regulator | Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) |
| Scope | EU‑wide crypto‑asset service provider (CASP) |
| Primary focus | Stablecoin payments, chiefly USDC |
The AFM authorization replaces BitPay’s earlier, fragmented compliance regime, which relied on supervision by the Dutch Central Bank (DNB) for anti‑money‑laundering purposes. By securing a single MiCA‑compliant licence, BitPay can now operate across all 27 EU member states without needing separate national registrations, mirroring the approach taken by other Dutch‑licensed firms such as MoonPay [1]. This “passport” model is a core feature of the EU’s Markets in Crypto‑Assets (MiCA) framework, which came into force with a July 1 deadline that obliges crypto service providers to obtain national authorisations [3].
BitPay’s immediate priority is expanding its stablecoin payment infrastructure, with USDC identified as its primary stablecoin. The company reports that stablecoin transactions already constitute a “substantial and growing share” of its total payment volume, although exact figures are not disclosed [1]. For merchants hesitant to accept crypto due to regulatory uncertainty, BitPay now offers a formally authorised partner, potentially lowering the compliance barrier and encouraging broader adoption of stablecoin payments across Europe [1][3].
BitPay joins a small but growing cohort of crypto firms with EU‑wide licences. Ripple recently obtained a preliminary CASP licence in Luxembourg, and Coinbase secured a full MiCA licence in the same jurisdiction in 2025 [2]. While BitPay’s Dutch licence is not the first, its focus on stablecoin processing differentiates it from peers that primarily handle broader crypto‑asset services. The clustering of licences in the Netherlands suggests the country is emerging as a hub for crypto firms seeking a streamlined path to EU compliance [1].
BitPay’s Dutch MiCA licence removes a key regulatory hurdle, positioning the firm to accelerate stablecoin payment adoption across Europe. The next test will be whether merchants translate this regulatory clarity into measurable growth in stablecoin transaction volume.
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AI-assisted synthesis by the TrendWatcher Editorial Desk · sourced from 4 outlets · Jul 16, 2026 · How we report
It authorizes BitPay B.V. to provide regulated crypto‑asset services, including payment processing, cross‑border transactions and stablecoin‑denominated payments throughout the EU.
The Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) granted the authorization.
BitPay’s head of Europe, Jonathan Arler, described Europe as one of the most important regions for the future of payments.
BitPay already holds money‑transmitter licences and other approvals in several key jurisdictions outside the EU.
The company intends to continue investing in its European infrastructure and strategic partnerships to further integrate digital assets into commerce and consumer finance.