Stripe-owned Bridge has obtained both a Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) crypto-asset service provider authorization and an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license from Luxembourg, granting it a full regulatory framework to operate across all 27 European Union member states. The dual approval enables Bridge to offer regulated euro-backed stablecoin issuance, named IBANs, and cross-border payment services for businesses, fintechs, and developers under a single EU-wide regime.
The licenses come as Europe completes the final phase of its MiCA transition on July 1, 2026, requiring regulated crypto platforms to support only compliant stablecoins. Bridge’s approval means firms can now issue custom euro stablecoins, create virtual IBANs in customers’ names, and offer pan-European euro accounts—all without establishing separate banking relationships in each country. Mai Leduc Blount, Bridge’s Head of Product, stated: “A business in the EU can now issue its own euro stablecoin and pair it with named IBANs and named EUR payouts across all 27 member states, on a single integration.”
Beyond stablecoin issuance, Bridge said enterprises can use custom stablecoins to move funds between subsidiaries, reducing reliance on correspondent banking networks, while banks can settle transactions via stablecoin rails instead of traditional interbank messaging. The news follows an earlier move by Visa to bring stablecoin-backed cards to over 100 countries through Bridge by the end of 2026.
Luxembourg has rapidly become a European gateway for digital asset licensing. In recent weeks, Standard Chartered, Ripple, and Coinbase have all secured MiCA approvals or related licenses from the Luxembourg financial regulator CSSF. French fintech Fipto became the first dual-licensed stablecoin payments provider in Europe earlier in the year. This competitive landscape highlights the growing importance of combined MiCA and electronic money licenses for offering regulated stablecoin services.
Meanwhile, non-compliant stablecoins are exiting regulated EU platforms. Coinbase, Kraken, and Crypto.com have removed USDT trading for European users after Tether opted not to seek MiCA authorization. Binance has also implemented MiCA-related service changes. Bridge’s licensing reinforces the trend toward compliant, institutional-grade stablecoin infrastructure, as payment companies increasingly adopt stablecoins for treasury management, liquidity optimization, and cross-border settlement.
