• KuCoin EU secured a MiCA license to operate legally in Austria.
• The approval opens regulated access to all European Economic Area markets.
• The license follows the exchange’s recent registration with AUSTRAC in Australia.

KuCoin’s European branch has reached a major milestone with the approval of a Markets in Crypto Assets license in Austria. The company confirmed the development in an emailed announcement, marking a significant step in its broader plan to strengthen compliance across major regions. The license enables KuCoin EU to deliver regulated services in Austria and unlocks the passporting rights built into the MiCA framework.

The approval allows the exchange to have a clearer definition in terms of its regulatory status in the wake of plans by European regulators to introduce structure into the cryptocurrency space. MiCA, which was fully enforced at the end of last year, represents the bedrock underpinning such changes. MiCA enables EU-wide rules regarding consumer protection, conduct, and protection standards in the crypto space. The approval of KuCoin represents an element of its plans to operate under such rules.

Also Read: FINTRAC Slams KuCoin With Massive C$19.5M Penalty Over Compliance Failures

New Framework Accelerates Cross-Border Market Entry

MiCA makes it possible for crypto businesses to get license approval in any of the participating countries and expand operations in the whole European Economic Area. It means that there shall be no need to get approval from all 27 countries, and the process of entering the market will not take long. It means that the predictability factor in Europe will make it easier to understand how exchanges want the law to keep up with the pace of the concerned sectors.

However, the same framework has raised concerns among researchers and policymakers in the region. There are concerns that some countries in the region have authorized licenses too quickly, causing gaps in regulation. These concerns are increasing as many firms begin to show support through new licenses in the MiCA framework. All these are currently being discussed in terms of enforcement in the region. It can safely be said that improvements in these aspects will continue as MiCA expands.

KuCoin Broadens Its International Regulatory Reach

The approval by the Austrian government follows closely after the registration of the exchange with Austrac, which stands for Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre. Austrac is Australia’s financial intelligence agency, and the subsequent registration enables the exchange to operate in the country in line with the local compliance requirements. According to KuCoin, the company has more than 40 million users in 200 countries.

Amidst rising concerns against exchanges regarding increased regulatory standards, having proper approvals stands out in the competitive process. The recent license acquired by KuCoin further helps it in exploiting the well-structured regulatory framework in the European region as it tries to win the hearts of users who appreciate exchanges working under strictly outlined rules.

A previous version of the information misstated the exchange’s user base. KuCoin reports 40 million users in 200 countries, not 200 million.

Also Read: KuCoin Expands Australia Crypto Market with Sydney Office Launch