Stripe's Bridge Wins EU Stablecoin License in Luxembourg

Stripe's Bridge has secured both a Markets in Crypto Assets authorization and an Electronic Money Institution license from Luxembourg, giving it the regulatory green light to offer euro-backed stablecoin services across all 27 European Union member states.

EU regulation treats stablecoins as both crypto assets under MiCA and electronic money under payment services rules. Companies need approval under both frameworks to issue or redeem euro-denominated stablecoins legally. Bridge now holds that combination.

The licenses let Bridge provide more than just stablecoin issuance. Business clients can get named virtual International Bank Account Numbers and euro accounts that work across the EU, replacing the need for separate banking relationships in each member state. Clients can create their own euro-backed stablecoins for payment systems and loyalty programs, using Bridge's compliance and reserve infrastructure. Enterprises can send custom stablecoins for fund transfers between subsidiaries, reducing reliance on correspondent banking networks. Banks can settle interbank transactions using stablecoin rails instead of standard messaging systems.

“A business in the EU can now issue its own euro stablecoin and pair it with named IBANs and named EUR payouts across all 27 member states, on a single integration,” said Mai Leduc Blount, Bridge's head of product.

Luxembourg is becoming a regulatory gateway for digital asset firms targeting Europe. Standard Chartered secured both MiCA and EMI licenses there on June 29 as part of its digital asset strategy. Ripple received its first MiCA CASP approval from the CSSF on June 23, with plans to add an EMI license. Coinbase got its MiCA approval from the same regulator in June 2025. French fintech Fipto became the first dual-licensed stablecoin payments provider in Europe earlier this year. The pattern reflects a simple requirement: MiCA creates a single rulebook but requires separate authorization for e-money tokens. Companies that hold both can offer regulated stablecoin services across the entire bloc without country-by-country licensing.

According to FXC Intelligence, stablecoin use for cross-border payments accelerated in 2025, driven by payment companies using the technology for treasury management and settlement, not just crypto-native applications. The Bank for International Settlements notes that cross-border money transfers remain slower and more expensive than domestic ones, involving multiple jurisdictions and intermediaries.

Bridge's announcement noted that there is little empirical evidence so far that stablecoins consistently offer cheaper settlement than existing payment systems. The outcome varies by corridor, liquidity arrangements, and currency conversion costs. MiCA regulation should provide a more predictable environment. Cost savings remain unproven at scale.

The approval gives Bridge a direct route to compete with traditional banks and other fintechs in EU stablecoin payments. Licensing is becoming table stakes rather than a differentiator. The real race is about integration and settlement functionality. Bridge now holds both licenses, joining Standard Chartered, Ripple, Coinbase, and Fipto in Luxembourg's growing list of dual-authorized stablecoin providers.