Home
Cryptocurrency
Cryptocurrency News
WhiteBIT Receives MiCA Licence in Austria as EU Deadline Nears

WhiteBIT Receives MiCA Licence in Austria as EU Deadline Nears

Approval allows the exchange to offer services across the EEA.

Written by Rahul Dhingra, Edited by David Delima | Updated: 22 June 2026 15:37 IST

WhiteBIT Receives MiCA Licence in Austria as EU Deadline Nears

Photo Credit: Unsplash/Guillaume Périgois

WhiteBIT expands its European operations through MiCA authorisation

Click Here to Add Gadgets360 As A Trusted Source

Highlights

WhiteBIT can now passport services across the EEA
Licence granted by Austria’s Financial Market Authority
MiCA transition period ends on July 1

Lithuania-based crypto exchange, WhiteBIT, has secured the European Union's (EU) Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) from the Austrian Financial Market Authority. Therefore, WhiteBIT is permitted to provide crypto services across the entire European Economic Area (EEA) with a single permit. Under the MiCA framework, crypto firms authorised in one EU country can "passport" their services across the entire EEA without needing to obtain separate licenses in each jurisdiction. According to WhiteBIT, the license will facilitate the roll-out of a specific platform in Europe, which is whitebit.eu.

Approval Comes Weeks Before MiCA Transition Period Ends

According to WhiteBIT, its parent company, the W Group, has over 35 million clients around the globe. Being established in 2018, WhiteBIT has partnerships with companies such as Visa, FACEIT, FC Barcelona, Juventus, and Ukraine's football team. The country has not granted any form of grandfathering for the virtual asset service providers (VASPs) beyond December 31, 2025, which makes it among the early adopters of the MiCA regime within the EU.

Cryptocurrency Discussion

Explore More...

WhiteBIT's approval has come at the right time for the exchange, as there are fewer than two weeks before the EU's MiCA transition expires on July 1. Post that date, crypto exchanges that are operating under legacy national registrations must either hold a MiCA license or halt their operations in the bloc.

Bitcoin Price Rises Above $64,000 Despite Macroeconomic Uncertainty

Other exchanges, such as Binance, are still struggling with the licence as the application would be denied by EU regulators, thus effectively blocking their ability to operate in the region.

However, the crypto exchange said that Greece's regulator, the Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC), a national competent authority under the MiCA framework, has completed reviewing Binance's application for compliance with MiCA and found it to be in line with the requirements, pending European Securities and Markets Authority's (ESMA) approval.

Other countries, such as France, have always taken a firm stance regarding MiCA. In September 2025, the country warned that it would block companies licensed in other European Union (EU) nations from operating in the country without MiCA. This move has raised concerns about enforcement gaps, which allow companies to use licences obtained in one country to operate across the EU.

The MiCA licensing of WhiteBIT showcases how the crypto exchanges are trying to get their license before the July 1 deadline set by the EU. As the transitional period comes to an end, companies that are currently running under previous national licenses will have more pressure to follow the EU regulatory regime or stop providing services altogether. The upcoming few weeks will be very important for the crypto industry in Europe.

Cryptocurrency is an unregulated digital currency, not a legal tender and subject to market risks. The information provided in the article is not intended to be and does not constitute financial advice, trading advice or any other advice or recommendation of any sort offered or endorsed by NDTV. NDTV shall not be responsible for any loss arising from any investment based on any perceived recommendation, forecast or any other information contained in the article.

Comments

Get your daily dose of tech news, reviews, and insights, in under 80 characters on Gadgets 360 Turbo. Connect with fellow tech lovers on our Forum. Follow us on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News for instant updates. Catch all the action on our YouTube channel.

Further reading: Cryptocurrency, MICA, WhiteBIT, EU

Rahul Dhingra

Email Rahul Dhingra

Rahul Dhingra is a crypto writer at Gadgets 360, where he covers the exciting world of Cryptocurrency, Blockchain, Defi and Web3. Before joining Gadgets 360, he worked as a content specialist for a European-based Crypto Exchange. Rahul loves storytelling, not just through the written word but also through the visual medium. Beyond his professional life, Rahul is a sports fanatic. Whether it’s cricket or football, his passion for the game is contagious. More