The Dutch AFM approved BitPay as a crypto-asset service provider on July 16, 2026, allowing the firm to offer regulated payment services across all 27 EU member states.
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BitPay received authorization from the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets on July 16, 2026, under the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation. The approval lets the company offer regulated crypto payment services across all 27 EU member states through a single license.
The authorization replaces BitPay's previous registration with the Dutch Central Bank, which covered only anti-money laundering compliance. The MiCA framework grants passporting rights, meaning BitPay can serve customers in any EU country without separate national approvals.
BitPay Chief Compliance Officer Thom de Jong called the authorization an important operational milestone.
– Thom de Jong, BitPay Chief Compliance Officer
The company plans to expand stablecoin payment services in Europe. BitPay currently supports USDC as its primary stablecoin option and said stablecoin transactions account for a growing share of its payment volume. The broader stablecoin payment infrastructure has drawn interest from major payment networks. Visa and Mastercard joined more than 140 firms to launch an open USD stablecoin initiative earlier this year.
BitPay was founded in May 2011 by Tony Gallippi and Stephen Pair. It is one of the longest-operating crypto payment processors. The company has adapted to shifting regulatory requirements across multiple jurisdictions.
The Netherlands has become a preferred jurisdiction for crypto firms seeking MiCA authorization. The Dutch regulator has also approved MoonPay under the same framework. These approvals show continued implementation of the EU's unified crypto rules.
BitPay now holds a harmonized authorization covering the full European Union market. The company will continue expanding compliant stablecoin payment services under the MiCA framework.
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