# BitPay obtains Dutch MiCA license to expand EU stablecoin payments

**Published:** 2026-07-16T23:49:24.079Z  
**Topic:** Crypto Payments  
**Sentiment:** neutral  
**Publisher:** TrendWatcher — https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/a9984e1c-1c29-4b00-be35-b3bff2ffea7e

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 |

## EU‑wide passport under MiCA  
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].

## Stablecoin focus and market impact  
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].

## Competitive landscape  
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].

## What to watch  
- **Regulatory extensions:** Any further EU‑wide guidance on stablecoin classification could affect BitPay’s service scope.  
- **Stablecoin volume trends:** Monitoring the proportion of USDC transactions in BitPay’s overall payment flow will indicate market uptake.  
- **Competitor licences:** Additional CASP approvals from other Dutch or EU regulators may intensify competition for merchant contracts.

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.

## Sources
1. KuCoin — [BitPay Secures Dutch MiCA License, Expands Stablecoin... | KuCoin](https://www.kucoin.com/news/flash/bitpay-secures-dutch-mica-license-expands-stablecoin-services-across-eu)
2. 24/7 Wall St — [Ripple Just Secured a Preliminary EU License Under MiCA. What It Unlocks.](https://247wallst.com/investing/cryptocurrency/2026/06/23/ripple-just-secured-a-preliminary-eu-license-under-mica-what-it-unlocks/)
3. Gncrypto — [BitPay Wins Dutch MiCA License to Expand Stablecoin Payments](https://www.gncrypto.news/news/bitpay-dutch-mica-license-stablecoin-payments/)
4. Coinpayments — [CoinPayments – Next Generation Crypto Payment Gateway](https://www.coinpayments.net/)

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Cite as: TrendWatcher, "BitPay obtains Dutch MiCA license to expand EU stablecoin payments", https://www.trendwatcher.in/article/a9984e1c-1c29-4b00-be35-b3bff2ffea7e