BitGo, the US-based digital asset infrastructure company, has secured regulatory approval to expand its European operations, becoming one of the few custodians in the region able to offer a full suite of services spanning custody, staking and trading.
The company said its German subsidiary, BitGo Europe GmbH, has received an extension of its licence from BaFin, Germany’s financial regulator, allowing it to provide regulated crypto trading services out of Frankfurt. The decision comes only months after BitGo first received a Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) licence from BaFin in May, underlining Germany’s role as one of Europe’s early adopters of the bloc’s new regulatory regime.
OTC cryptocurrency trading
The approval opens the door for European institutional investors to access BitGo’s over-the-counter trading desk and electronic platform for spot trading across thousands of digital assets and stablecoins. By aggregating liquidity from dozens of market makers and exchanges, the company aims to offer competitive pricing and improved execution quality for professional investors seeking to trade at scale.
Brett Reeves, BitGo’s head of European sales and Go Network, said the move marked a significant milestone for the region’s digital asset ecosystem.
“By combining our institutional-grade custody solution with seamless, high-performance execution, clients will now be able to access deep liquidity with the peace of mind that their assets will remain in cold storage under MiCA-compliant, regulated custody,” he said. “This is a game-changer for any institution looking to operate safely and efficiently in the digital assets markets.”
The expansion comes as the EU seeks to create a unified framework for digital assets under MiCA, which came into force earlier this year. Advocates argue the regime will provide clarity for institutional investors who have until now been deterred by fragmented rules across member states. Critics, however, warn that compliance costs may stifle innovation and reinforce the dominance of larger players able to absorb the expense.
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For BitGo, the licence extension positions it to capitalise on growing institutional demand for digital assets while reinforcing its regulatory credentials. The company said it now offers European clients a “full-stack” platform, with custody, trading, staking and settlement services all under one roof. Such integration, it argues, will allow institutions to deploy capital more efficiently without compromising on security.
Frankfurt to become cornerstone of BitGo growth
Founded in 2013, BitGo has carved out a role as one of the sector’s longest-standing providers of digital asset infrastructure. It offers wallets, custody, financing and settlement services, with a focus on cold storage solutions designed to minimise counterparty risk. The company serves thousands of institutions worldwide, including exchanges, platforms and asset managers, and says its systems safeguard millions of investors globally.
The Frankfurt trading hub is expected to become the cornerstone of BitGo’s European growth strategy. By marrying regulated custody with trading capability, the group hopes to differentiate itself in a crowded market where questions over asset security and regulatory compliance continue to dominate.
Reeves added that the combination of regulatory oversight, security and liquidity would be critical for traditional financial institutions considering entry into the sector. “Europe’s digital asset ecosystem is maturing rapidly,” he said. “Our role is to provide the infrastructure that gives institutions the confidence to participate.”
