In a groundbreaking move for European cryptocurrency markets, Dutch Bitcoin-focused startup Blockrise has obtained the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license from the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). This regulatory approval, issued on Tuesday, positions Blockrise as a pioneer in compliant digital asset services across all 27 European Union member states under a unified framework.
The MiCA license enables Blockrise to offer secure Bitcoin custody solutions, compliant trading platforms, and professional asset management services. Additionally, the company is introducing a new Bitcoin-backed loan service exclusively for business clients, with loans starting at 20,000 euros ($23,150) and an initial interest rate of 8%, which is revisited monthly.
Blockrise CEO Jos Lazet emphasized, "MiCA is the basis for Blockrise to provide Bitcoin-backed loans, only provisioning to business clients in order to stay within the regulatory constraints." He expressed optimism about MiCA's potential to expand its scope in the coming years to include areas like lending, mining, and payments, despite the current framework not fully regulating these services.
Founded in 2017, Blockrise operates with a semi-custodial wallet structure, where users hold a digital Blockrise key that, combined with the company's hardware security modules, is required to sign transactions. The company currently oversees approximately 100 million euros ($116 million) in client assets, highlighting its growing influence in the regulated crypto space.
The full implementation of MiCA in late 2024 establishes Europe's comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets, focusing on capital adequacy, consumer protection, and anti-money laundering protocols. Blockrise's achievement signals a shift toward mainstream cryptocurrency adoption in Europe, setting a precedent for other startups to follow.
