EU Set to Grant Licenses to Major Crypto Firms Under MiCA
Date: June 13 2025 — Reuters
Two major crypto companies, including Gemini (founded by the Winklevoss twins), are poised to receive operating licenses under the EU’s new Markets in Crypto‑Assets (MiCA) regulation. This would grant them permission to operate across all 27 EU member states.
Malta has already issued licenses to Gemini, OKX, and Crypto.com, prompting scrutiny over whether its regulatory oversight is sufficiently robust. Concerns include that smaller national regulators may inadvertently spark a “regulatory race to the bottom.” Meanwhile, Luxembourg is preparing to license Coinbase—a move seen as outperforming Ireland’s slower approval pace. EU leaders are now debating expanding the powers of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) to harmonize approvals and prevent regulatory arbitrage .
