Crypto exchange Bitget has appointed Oliver Stauber, former chief legal officer at Bitpanda and ex-head of KuCoin EU, as chief executive officer of Bitget EU, marking a major step in its European regulatory strategy under the Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation framework. The company plans to establish Vienna as its European headquarters and expects regulatory approval in Austria by the second quarter of 2026.
The move comes as crypto firms race to secure MiCA authorization across the European Union, with regulators tightening oversight and setting clear expectations for licensing, governance and consumer protection.
Bitget EU eyes MiCA approval by mid-2026
Bitget confirmed that its European entity applied for a MiCA license in Austria in 2025 and will not provide services to users in the European Economic Area until approval is granted. Stauber said the company is taking a conservative approach, choosing to wait for full authorization rather than operating in legal grey areas.
According to Stauber, Bitget EU expects a decision from Austrian regulators in the second quarter of 2026. Once licensed, the entity will begin onboarding EEA users under a fully compliant framework aligned with MiCA and local conduct rules.
Gracy Chen, chief executive officer of Bitget, said Stauber’s appointment strengthens the company’s long-term commitment to Europe, citing his regulatory experience and operational background as key assets in navigating the region’s complex compliance landscape.
Ring-fencing EU users from offshore operations
A core part of Bitget’s European strategy involves separating EEA users from its offshore global platform. Stauber said Bitget EU will use Internet Protocol detection and enhanced Know Your Customer processes to prevent European residents from accessing unlicensed services through geographic workarounds, reverse solicitation or targeted marketing.
The aim is to ensure that all EEA users interact only with the regulated European entity once it goes live. This ring-fencing approach reflects growing regulatory pressure on crypto firms to demonstrate clear separation between licensed and non-licensed operations.
Stauber noted that regulators are increasingly focused on enforcement in this area, making robust controls essential for any firm seeking long-term access to the European market.
Stricter token listings under MiCA rules
Bitget EU plans to significantly narrow its list of available digital assets for European users. Stauber said the company is currently conducting a detailed audit of its token inventory to assess compliance with MiCA requirements.
Only assets that meet the regulation’s standards for whitepapers, liquidity, transparency and consumer disclosure will be offered in the EEA. Tokens that fall short on market integrity or fail to provide adequate information to users will be excluded from the European platform.
This stricter listing policy reflects a broader shift under MiCA, which places responsibility on service providers to vet assets before making them available to retail and professional clients.
Broker-led model with market integrity controls
Unlike its global platform, Bitget EU will operate as a broker rather than a traditional exchange. Under this model, the company will act as the counterparty to client trades while sourcing liquidity from multiple independent providers, following best-execution principles.
Stauber said the European platform will closely resemble the existing Bitget interface in terms of user experience, but will sit within a separate legal structure designed to reduce market risk for EU clients and meet MiCA and European Securities and Markets Authority expectations.
The company also plans to deploy market surveillance systems to monitor trading activity, identify potential market abuse and prevent manipulative or disorderly behavior. These controls are expected to play a central role in satisfying regulatory requirements around market integrity.
Vienna chosen as Bitget’s European hub
Bitget selected Vienna as its European base due to its central location within the EU, access to multilingual talent and what the company described as a stable and pragmatic regulatory environment. Stauber said Austria offers the right balance of regulatory clarity and operational flexibility to serve as a governance and compliance hub for EEA operations.
Once authorization is granted, existing EEA users on Bitget’s global platform will be invited to migrate to Bitget EU. The new entity will provide services tailored specifically to European regulatory standards, marking a clean transition into the MiCA regime.
As MiCA reshapes the crypto landscape across Europe, Bitget’s Vienna hub signals a long-term bet on regulatory alignment as a foundation for sustainable growth in the region.
