Every crypto platform in the European Union (EU) now needs a MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation) authorisation, or it shuts down. We wrote about what that means for you recently. So where does Bitwala stand?

How Bitwala is regulated

Bitwala operates under the MiCA authorisation of its partner, Lightspark Payments Europe AS, a regulated crypto infrastructure provider and the first company in Estonia to hold a standalone MiCA CASP licence, granted by the Finantsinspektsioon (Estonian Financial Supervisory Authority) and in effect since 1 July 2026. Lightspark also holds a separate electronic money institution (EMI) licence, which covers Bitwala's fiat and card services.

That gives Bitwala a fully regulated setup across 30 EEA countries, covering Wallet, Trade, and Card, at a time when many providers are still working towards authorisation or shutting down entirely.

If you're wondering why the licence is in Lightspark's name and not Bitwala's, this is how MiCA works in practice for most platforms. The licensed entity and the product brand are often separate. You'll see the same setup across the industry as more firms come into compliance.

What we have implemented

Travel Rule. Under the EU Transfer of Funds Regulation, crypto transfers now carry sender and recipient information, the same way bank wires do. You may need to provide recipient details, such as the recipient's name and platform, when sending crypto.

DAC8 (tax transparency). The EU's tax reporting directive requires crypto platforms to collect your Tax Identification Number. You provide it once during signup. It doesn't change how you use the app.

Strong customer authentication (SCA). Customer access to EUR and USDC, and the initiation of transfers and exchanges, require the setup of secure passkeys, as well as Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for other crypto-asset transactions.

What regulation actually unlocks

Most of this industry spent the last decade treating compliance as something to avoid or delay. The platforms that did that are the ones shutting down this month.

We see it differently. MiCA compliance is what lets us offer a fully fledged Bitcoin and stablecoin app, including a Visa card that lets you spend your Bitcoin at any terminal in Europe. It's what makes custody and self-custody possible within a regulated framework, rather than forcing you to choose between owning your keys and using a licensed service.

Bitwala exists so people can own and spend their crypto without depending on an exchange that might not be around next year. Compliance is how that works in Europe.

Want crypto with the industry standards of compliance and security implemented? Get the Bitwala App

Read Lightspark's announcement: Lightspark receives MiCA licence in Estonia