Bitvavo: availability and regulation
Bitvavo is a Dutch crypto exchange that holds a Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) licence granted by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) in June 2025, passportable across the European Economic Area. As of June 2026 it does not serve United States residents.
Information, not advice. This is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Verify the current rules with a qualified local professional and the official regulator before acting.
Bitvavo is a crypto exchange founded in Amsterdam in 2018 and is one of the largest euro denominated spot platforms in Europe. As of June 2026 it holds a Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) licence granted by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) in June 2025, which lets it serve clients across the European Economic Area. It does not serve United States residents.
What Bitvavo is
Bitvavo is a crypto exchange founded in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in 2018. It focuses on a straightforward buy and sell experience for spot crypto, with the euro as its main funding currency, and it has grown into one of the largest euro denominated spot venues in Europe.
The platform is custodial, which means Bitvavo holds the assets in your account for you. Supported assets and funding methods can vary by region. Fees are charged as trading fees that depend on volume and product, so confirm the current fee schedule and asset list on the platform before trading.
Bitvavo has positioned itself as a compliance led European platform. It held national registrations in several European countries before securing a single MiCA licence that lets it operate across the European Economic Area.
Registrations and licences
- European Economic Area. A Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) licence granted by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) in June 2025. A MiCA licence can be passported across the EEA, which covers the European Union plus Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein (as of June 2026).
- Earlier registrations. Before the MiCA licence, Bitvavo held national registrations in countries including the Netherlands, France, Austria, Italy, and Spain. The MiCA licence consolidates this into a single European authorisation (as of June 2026).
- Regulated services. Under MiCA, Bitvavo is authorised to provide services such as custody and administration of crypto assets, the operation of a trading platform, and the transfer of crypto assets on behalf of clients (as of June 2026).
- United States. Bitvavo does not serve United States residents (as of June 2026).
Each registration is stated as of 21 June 2026. Licences and registrations change. Confirm the current position on the AFM register and the legal pages of the platform before acting.
Where Bitvavo is available
As of June 2026 Bitvavo is available to residents across the European Economic Area, where it serves clients under its MiCA licence. It is strongest in the Netherlands and neighbouring euro area markets, and the euro is its main funding currency.
Bitvavo does not serve United States residents. The available assets and funding methods can differ by country, so check the current position on the platform for your country before signing up.
Bitvavo is one of several platforms available across the European Economic Area. Availability depends on where you live, so compare the exchanges that are genuinely available in your country before you choose.
Regulator and sources
The supervising authority for the MiCA licence is the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), which works alongside De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) on financial supervision in the Netherlands. The licence is recognised across the European Economic Area.
- Bitvavo official news on its MiCA licence from the AFM, 2025.
- Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) public information.
- Public reporting on Bitvavo securing a Dutch MiCA licence in June 2025.
Frequently asked questions
Is Bitvavo safe and regulated?
Bitvavo is a Dutch platform that holds a Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) licence granted by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) in June 2025. The licence can be passported across the European Economic Area. No licence removes market or platform risk, and this is information rather than advice. This is current as of June 2026.
Does Bitvavo have a MiCA licence?
Yes. The Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) granted Bitvavo a MiCA licence in June 2025, which allows it to offer regulated crypto services across the European Economic Area. This is current as of June 2026.
Which countries can use Bitvavo?
Bitvavo mainly serves residents of the European Economic Area, which covers the European Union member states plus Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein, where it operates under its MiCA licence. As of June 2026 it does not serve United States residents. Availability varies, so check the platform for your country.
Is Bitvavo available in the United States?
No. As of June 2026 Bitvavo focuses on the European Economic Area and does not serve United States residents. United States residents should compare platforms registered for that market.
Does Bitvavo hold my crypto?
Yes. Bitvavo is a custodial platform and holds the assets in your account for you. Holding your own keys requires a separate self custody wallet.
Rules change frequently. Exchange availability, registrations, and the rules that govern them can change at short notice and vary by region. The position on this page is dated 21 June 2026. Confirm the current status with the named regulator and the platform before you act.
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