Short Description:
Bitget taps former Bitpanda legal chief Oliver Stauber to lead its MiCA-compliant EU expansion, with a new Vienna HQ and strict geographic controls for European users.
Read Time: 3 minutes 15 seconds
Main Article
In a strategic move to secure its position in the regulated European market, cryptocurrency exchange Bitget has appointed Oliver Stauber as the CEO of its newly formed EU entity, Bitget EU. Stauber, the former chief legal officer at Bitpanda and previous head of KuCoin EU, brings deep regulatory compliance expertise to lead the exchange’s expansion under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (MiCA). The company has applied for a MiCA license in Austria, with approval anticipated in the second quarter of 2026. Until authorization is granted, Bitget EU will not offer services within the European Economic Area (EEA), underscoring its commitment to a fully compliant entry.
The new entity will establish its European headquarters in Vienna, chosen for its central location and stable regulatory environment. A core component of the strategy involves strict geographic segmentation. Bitget EU plans to ring-fence EEA users from the global Bitget platform using IP address detection and enhanced Know Your Customer (KYC) controls. This is designed to prevent regulatory workarounds and ensure only authorized users can access the EU-compliant service. Furthermore, the platform will operate on a broker model, acting as a counterparty to trades while sourcing liquidity from multiple providers under best-execution principles. It will also implement market surveillance tools to detect and prevent manipulative trading, aligning with MiCA’s market integrity standards.
Product offerings will also see significant changes to meet EU requirements. Bitget EU is conducting a rigorous audit of its token inventory and will only list assets that satisfy MiCA’s stringent standards for whitepapers, liquidity, and consumer disclosures. Existing EEA users on the global Bitget platform will be invited to migrate to the new, compliant entity once it is fully authorized. This structured approach, led by a seasoned executive with direct experience in European crypto regulation, positions Bitget to build a sustainable, long-term presence in one of the world’s most significant regulated digital asset markets.
Short Summary
Bitget is making a major push into the regulated European crypto market by appointing MiCA-experienced executive Oliver Stauber to lead Bitget EU. With a new Vienna headquarters and a pending license application in Austria, the exchange is implementing strict geographic controls, enhanced KYC, and MiCA-compliant token listings to serve EEA users. This strategic expansion highlights the growing importance of regulatory compliance for crypto exchanges operating in key global jurisdictions.
