Kraken secures EU MiFID license, enabling launch of regulated derivatives offering

We’re excited to announce we have obtained a Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) license in the EU. The license was obtained through the acquisition of a Cypriot Investment Firm, which was recently approved by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC).

This milestone marks a significant step in our expansion strategy, allowing us to offer fully compliant and regulated derivatives products to advanced crypto traders across selected EU markets.

The newly secured license reinforces our commitment to meeting the growing demand for secure and regulated crypto derivatives trading in the EU. In the coming months, we will work on meeting the conditions to go live and launch the products in local EU markets. 

“As we continue to expand our services across the globe, our focus on the European market remains a top priority,” said Shannon Kurtas, Kraken Co-GM of Pro & Exchange. “This acquisition reflects our confidence in the EU and underscores our commitment to providing a trusted, regulated environment for advanced crypto traders and investors.”

This offering allows advanced traders to gain exposure to a wide selection of assets in a capital-efficient and flexible manner, using a variety of collateral currencies to back their positions.

As one of the most active regions for crypto derivatives trading, Europe represents one of our key growth markets. The ability to offer regulated and fully compliant derivatives products from an EU-regulated base aligns with our strategy of expanding our offerings to meet the evolving needs of sophisticated investors.

We have been at the forefront of unlocking advanced, regulated trading opportunities for advanced and institutional investors. In 2019, we acquired Crypto Facilities, a U.K. FCA-regulated crypto futures platform, which later became the first licensed crypto futures platform in the U.K.

We remain committed to setting industry standards for security, innovation, and compliance while delivering best-in-class trading experiences for our growing EU client base.

These materials are for general information purposes only and are not investment advice or a recommendation or solicitation to buy, sell, stake or hold any cryptoasset or to engage in any specific trading strategy. Kraken does not and will not work to increase or decrease the price of any particular cryptoasset it makes available. Some crypto products and markets are regulated and others are unregulated; regardless, Kraken may or may not be required to be registered or otherwise authorised to provide specific products and services in each market, and you may not be protected by government compensation and/or regulatory protection schemes. The unpredictable nature of the cryptoasset markets can lead to loss of funds. Tax may be payable on any return and/or on any increase in the value of your cryptoassets and you should seek independent advice on your taxation position. Geographic restrictions may apply. See Legal Disclosures for each jurisdiction here.