Europe | Crypto

Binance names Gillian Lynch as head of Europe and UK to lead its MiCA compliance and expansion across regulated crypto markets. Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, has appointed Gillian Lynch as its new head of Europe and the United Kingdom, signaling a renewed push to secure regulatory approval across the region. Lynch brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in fintech, banking and digital assets. She previously held senior roles at Gemini, Bank of Ireland and Leveris. The appointment, announced Friday, comes as Binance faces increasing scrutiny in Europe and seeks to align with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). Lynch will oversee Binance’s regional strategy, day-to-day operations and regulatory engagements across key European and UK markets. Read more

Bybit and OKX have both launched MiCA-compliant crypto exchanges in the EU, marking a significant push into Europe’s newly unified regulatory landscape. Update (July 2, 2025, at 2:10 pm UTC): This article has been updated to add commentary by Erald Ghoos, OKX Europe CEO. Crypto exchanges Bybit and OKX both launched fully regulated platforms in Europe this week as regulatory clarity continues to attract major exchanges to the bloc. According to a Wednesday announcement, crypto exchange Bybit.eu launched to serve European Economic Area (EEA) users with a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) license under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) framework. Under the rules, Bybit’s Austria-based operations, established in late May, are licensed in 29 EEA countries. Read more

Robinhood is offering tokenized US stocks and ETFs on the Arbitrum blockchain to users in Europe. Robinhood’s push into real-world assets (RWAs) is gaining momentum, with the digital brokerage launching a tokenization-focused layer-2 blockchain and introducing stock token trading for users in the European Union. Built on Arbitrum, the new layer-2 network will enable the issuance of over 200 US stock and exchange-traded fund (ETF) tokens, giving European investors access to US assets, Robinhood announced on Monday. Robinhood’s stock tokens will have zero commissions and be available for trading 24 hours a day, five days a week. Read more

The company unveiled several other features for crypto users in the U.S. and Europe.

Crypto cards now rival banks for everyday purchases in Europe, with nearly half of transactions under $12 and online spending far above the eurozone average. Crypto cards are beating traditional banks in Europe when it comes to small purchases, with 45% of crypto-linked card transactions under 10 euros ($11.7) — a category where cash has historically dominated. According to a report by CEX.IO shared with Cointelegraph, crypto card holders are showing spending patterns that mirror traditional bank card users while embracing online payments at a faster pace. The report noted a 15% rise in newly ordered CEX.IO crypto cards across Europe in 2025, signaling growing interest as more Europeans turn to digital assets for everyday payments. Read more

Samson Mow is eyeing France as a potential leader in Bitcoin adoption at the nation-state level following a recent meeting with French lawmaker Sarah Knafo. The post Jan3’s Mow Believes France Could Lead Bitcoin Nation-State Adoption in Europe appeared first on Cryptonews.

French lawmaker Sarah Knafo has invited Samson Mow to visit France, and Mow says he is keen to kick off a wave of nation-state Bitcoin adoption across Europe. Jan3 founder Samson Mow is setting his sights on ramping up Bitcoin nation-state adoption in Europe following a positive meeting with pro-Bitcoin French lawmaker Sarah Knafo. “Looking forward to starting a nation-state Bitcoin adoption wave in France and perhaps all of Europe,” Mow said in an X post on Saturday, following his meeting with Sarah Knafo, a French member of the European Parliament, at BTC Prague this week. They discussed plans to develop a Strategic Bitcoin (BTC) Reserve for France and promote “friendly regulations” for the asset. Mow said Knafo has invited his team to France. On the same day, Knafo addressed the meeting with Mow on her X account, stating, “France must take hold of these issues.” Read more

Bitget picks Georgia for the next step of its expansion in Eastern Europe, attracted by clear regulations, tax benefits and a growing crypto user base. Bitget has received regulatory approval from Georgia to operate as a digital asset exchange and custodial wallet provider within the Tbilisi Free Zone (TFZ). In a Thursday announcement, the company said its users in Georgia can now access Bitget’s full range of services, including spot trading, futures and copy trading, all within a fully compliant, locally regulated environment. Bitget has been expanding in Europe since the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) began taking effect in 2024. Read more

Europe plans to regulate decentralized finance in 2026, as lawmakers still struggle to define decentralization under MiCA, an EU crypto policy expert said. European lawmakers have yet to define “decentralization,” even as regulators begin preparing for decentralized finance (DeFi) to become a key focus of crypto policy in 2026. The world’s first comprehensive regulatory framework for the crypto industry, the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), went into effect on Dec. 30, 2024. Among its aims are to boost investor protection, prevent fraud and address stablecoin reserve management. Still, as MiCA enters its final implementation phase, policymakers are shifting their attention to regulating DeFi, where many questions remain unresolved, according to Vyara Savova, senior policy lead at the European Crypto Initiative (EUCI). Read more

Kraken has launched MiFID II-regulated crypto derivatives trading for retail and institutional users in Europe following its acquisition of a licensed Cypriot investment firm. Cryptocurrency exchange Kraken announced the launch of regulated derivatives trading on its platform under the European Union’s Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID II). According to a May 20 announcement, Kraken’s perpetual and fixed maturity crypto futures contracts will be available for trading by retail and institutional customers in the European Economic Area (EEA). The announcement follows the exchange acquiring an MiFID license in early February through the acquisition of a Cypriot investment firm, approved by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission. Kraken’s head of exchange, Shannon Kurtas, said, “Europe is one of the fastest-growing regions for digital asset trading and investment, with some of the most sophisticated and demanding clients and institutions.” Read more

With Tether stepping back and BitGo stepping up, MiCA’s rollout is already redrawing crypto’s playing field in Europe. Here’s what’s happening, and what comes next. The European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation — better known as MiCA — is now in its critical implementation phase. Designed to unify crypto regulation across all 27 EU member states, MiCA promises clarity, consumer protection and long-term market stability. But as implementation begins, cracks are already showing. In this week’s episode of Byte-Sized Insight, we explore the key provisions of MiCA now in force, particularly around stablecoins, and why some of the largest players in the market are refusing to comply. As of January 2025, crypto asset service providers (CASPs) began acquiring licenses to operate legally within the EU. A transitional or “grandfathering” period allows existing firms up to 18 months, depending on the member state, to comply. Still, with deadlines approaching, firms are being forced to act quickly. Read more

Gemini’s new derivatives offering in Europe will include perpetual futures and other derivatives, which will be available to advanced exchange users. Gemini, the cryptocurrency exchange founded by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, has received regulatory approval to expand crypto derivatives trading across Europe. Gemini secured a Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II) license from the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), allowing the exchange to offer crypto derivatives in the European Union, it announced on May 9. “Once we commence business activities, we will be able to offer regulated derivatives throughout the EU and EEA [European Economic Area] under MiFID II,” said Gemini’s head of Europe, Mark Jennings. Read more

Robinhood is reportedly working on blockchain infrastructure that will enable European retail investors to trade US securities, Bloomberg News reported on May 7. According to the report, the brokerage platform is exploring a partnership with a digital asset firm to support the initiative and is considering Arbitrum and Solana as potential blockchain layers. People with […] The post Robinhood reportedly considering Solana, Arbitrum for new blockchain securities platform in Europe appeared first on CryptoSlate.

The company has obtained a brokerage license in Lithuania as part of its planned expansion into the European market. Brokerage fintech Robinhood is reportedly developing a blockchain network that will enable retail investors in Europe to trade US securities. According to a May 7 Bloomberg report citing sources familiar with the matter, the move seeks to expand the company's local presence by offering trading of tokenized securities, such as stocks. Two crypto firms, Arbitrum and the Solana Foundation, are reportedly vying to become partners in the project. Tokenization is the process of turning real-world assets, like stocks, real estate, or commodities, into digital tokens that can be traded on a blockchain. Read more