Cryptocurrency exchange BingX has secured a MiCA license through its European subsidiary, MEGE zweite GmbH, after Austria's financial regulator approved four crypto services on October 13, 2026. According to reports from the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA), the approval allows BingX EU to provide cryptocurrency custody, exchanges between cryptocurrencies and conventional money, crypto-to-crypto exchanges, and digital asset transfer services. The authorization was issued under Article 63 of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation and covers the services specifically listed in the regulatory notice. As reported by BingX EU on October 14, 2026, the Vienna-based unit now holds MiCA authorization as a crypto-asset service provider and has been listed in the European register of crypto-asset service providers. The license enables BingX EU to operate under the European passport across 29 countries in the European Economic Area (EEA).
The license specifically authorizes BingX EU to hold and administer crypto assets for customers, exchange cryptocurrencies for conventional money, facilitate exchanges between different crypto assets, and transfer digital assets on behalf of clients. As reported by the FMA, the approval does not authorize every service that a cryptocurrency exchange might provide, including operating a multilateral crypto trading platform, managing customer portfolios, providing investment advice, or executing leveraged derivatives contracts. The company announced that the approval would support services for individual and institutional customers across Europe, with CEO Daniel Lai emphasizing the priority to provide European users with trusted and locally regulated trading experience. BingX EU lists crypto custody, exchange, and brokerage among its planned services, though the initial rollout has not been detailed. However, the license does not cover futures trading, and the company must cease offering USDT by January 8, 2027.
BingX EU intends to use its Austrian authorization to reach customers across the European Economic Area (EEA), subject to completing required cross-border notification procedures. According to the company announcement, the expansion covers 29 EEA countries, though access in individual jurisdictions remains subject to the required cross-border arrangements. The company has not announced a date for launching its regulated services across European markets, with preparations continuing alongside discussions with Austrian and other European regulators. Under MiCA regulations, companies must notify their home regulator about intended service countries and expected starting dates, with the home authority having 10 working days to communicate notifications to destination countries. The announcement leaves several points open, with the sequence reading as license first, rollout second, and the next marker being completed passporting arrangements and a published launch date.
The approval arrives after the European Union's final MiCA transition deadline on July 1, 2026, when existing crypto service providers had to meet common European requirements. As reported by the FMA, the decision follows a regulatory application process that BingX had previously discussed with customers, with the company confirming in a June 16 update that its European subsidiary had submitted an application. Austria has granted MiCA authorizations to several other cryptocurrency businesses, including AMINA Bank in November 2025 and WhiteBIT EU in June 2026. The MiCA Crypto Alliance introduced a searchable database in August 2026 using European Securities and Markets Authority records to track authorized cryptocurrency providers. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has urged investors to check the ESMA Interim MiCA Register before investing or transferring funds, with MiCA protections applying to specific authorized EU firms rather than group companies sharing their brand.
The approval follows regulatory developments involving other major digital asset firms pursuing European authorization. On October 8, BNY expanded its digital asset custody platform to select institutional clients in the EU, following the addition of its European banking entity to ESMA's MiCA register in July. On July 6, Ripple received CASP authorization from Luxembourg's Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF), supporting its digital asset services and institutional payment infrastructure across all 30 EEA countries. While BNY's authorization focuses on institutional custody and Ripple's covers digital asset services, BingX EU plans to offer custody, exchange, and brokerage services through its European platform. The regulatory landscape has evolved significantly since July 1, when ESMA confirmed the final deadline with no extensions, after which firms without authorization could no longer serve EU clients.
