Germany has strengthened its position as the European Union leader in crypto asset service provider authorizations after six cooperative banks joined the latest MiCA register. According to reports from crypto.news, the six newly approved institutions include Raiffeisenbank Aidlingen, Ihre Volksbank, VR Bank Mittelfranken Mitte, Volksbank Euskirchen, VR Bank Ried Überwald and Volksbank Backnang. This brings Germany's total number of authorized CASPs to 79, significantly ahead of France's 35 and the Netherlands' 29 authorized providers.
Germany's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) issued a dedicated risk-management rulebook today for small and midsized investment firms, effective January 1, 2027. The new WpI MaRisk circular replaces the analogous bank-focused MaRisk framework for these investment firm categories, providing greater legal clarity and accounting for operating models that differ from credit institutions. The framework covers firms that execute client orders, deal in derivatives, or hold client money, with German entities operated by CFD and FX groups potentially falling within the scope.
As of August 2026, only a few Volksbanken publicly offer crypto trading through the DZ Bank-operated meinKrypto platform, accessible via the VR Banking App. The service is licensed under EU regulations and allows trading of Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, and Cardano, but availability depends on each bank's decision to activate it. Fees vary by institution and include commissions plus spreads, with no unified pricing structure across participating banks.
The European Securities and Markets Authority updated its interim Markets in Crypto Assets register on Friday, raising the number of authorized crypto asset service providers across Europe to 331. As reported by crypto.news, this represents an increase of 87 providers since ESMA's August 12 update, with all six newly added providers being German cooperative banks. The EU's total MiCA authorizations have grown substantially from 244 valid licenses as of June 29, demonstrating continued regulatory expansion across member states.
Germany's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, BaFin, attributed the country's high MiCA authorization numbers to its large financial sector and numerous credit institutions eligible for crypto services. According to crypto.news, MiCA introduced a common authorization system that allows approved providers to use passporting rights across the EU after completing required notification processes. The regulation entered full application at the end of 2024, with transitional arrangements ending on July 1, 2026, making the authorization register crucial for firms and customers seeking compliant crypto services. However, trading availability remains limited as each bank independently decides whether to activate the meinKrypto platform for their customers.
