Cryptocurrency exchange OKX has launched fully licensed and compliant centralized trading platforms in Germany and Poland, marking a significant step in its European expansion. The new exchanges, scheduled to launch on July 17, 2025, will offer users access to more than 270 cryptocurrencies and over 60 crypto-to-euro trading pairs, alongside services such as spot trading, staking, and euro-denominated deposits via SEPA transfers with no additional fees.
These launches position OKX as one of the first major exchanges to operate under the European Union's emerging regulatory framework, the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation. Having secured its MiCA registration earlier this year, OKX is authorized to operate across all 28 European Economic Area (EEA) member states, providing centralized crypto trading for retail and institutional clients under unified EU standards.
To further solidify its regulatory standing, OKX obtained the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II) license in March 2025 through the acquisition of a licensed Malta-based entity. The company has localized its platforms with native languages and regional customer support teams tailored for Germany and Poland.
This expansion occurs amid tightening regulatory scrutiny in other regions, including legal challenges in Thailand and the United States. Despite these hurdles, OKX's early embrace of Europe's regulatory standards positions it to capture growing institutional interest as the MiCA framework becomes fully effective later this year.
OKX’s entry into Germany and Poland places it in direct competition with major exchanges such as Binance, Coinbase, and Kraken, which are also vying for a compliant foothold in Europe. The EU's harmonization efforts are seen as crucial for broader cryptocurrency adoption by traditional financial institutions seeking regulatory certainty.