Coinbase Opens Luxembourg Office as EU MiCA Hub After Securing Crypto License

MakeCryippreferred on

• Coinbase officially opened its Luxembourg office, confirming the country as its European headquarters under the EU’s MiCA framework.
• The company secured its MiCA license from Luxembourg’s CSSF in June 2025, enabling regulated crypto services across all 27 EU member states.
• Chief Policy Officer Faryar Shirzad said Luxembourg has become the EU’s leading hub for institutional crypto and tokenization.

Coinbase has officially opened its new office in Luxembourg, marking another milestone in its European expansion under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework. The announcement follows the company’s decision to establish Luxembourg as its European headquarters after securing a MiCA license from the country’s financial regulator, the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF).

The office opening was announced by Coinbase Chief Policy Officer Faryar Shirzad, who attended the inauguration alongside Luxembourg’s Minister of Finance. In a separate statement, Coinbase confirmed that Luxembourg is now officially its MiCA home, from which it will serve customers across the European Union.

Shirzad said:

“Luxembourg has established itself as the EU’s leading hub for institutional crypto and tokenization.”

MiCA License Gives Coinbase Access Across the European Union

Coinbase received its MiCA authorization from Luxembourg’s CSSF on June 20, 2025, becoming the first U.S.-based crypto exchange to obtain the license from Luxembourg. The authorization allows the company to “passport” its crypto products and services throughout all 27 European Union member states under a single regulatory framework.

The unified license replaces the need for separate national approvals that crypto firms previously required across Europe. Before MiCA, companies had to comply with different regulatory regimes in individual countries. Under the new framework, a single authorization enables regulated operations throughout the bloc, providing access to approximately 450 million people.

Prior to obtaining the MiCA license, Coinbase had already secured national registrations and licenses in several European markets, including Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain. The new authorization consolidates those operations under one regulatory structure.

Luxembourg Replaces Ireland as Coinbase’s European Base

Coinbase had previously identified Ireland as its planned European MiCA headquarters in 2023. However, following its approval by Luxembourg’s financial regulator, the company shifted its regional base to Luxembourg, citing the country’s regulatory clarity, established financial ecosystem, and support for blockchain innovation.

The licensed entity, Coinbase Luxembourg S.A., will operate as the company’s regulated crypto-asset service provider for the European market. The firm has also announced plans to expand its local presence by hiring 22 additional employees in Luxembourg. Existing European customers are expected to transition to the Luxembourg entity during a phased migration, with full operations under the MiCA framework scheduled to be completed by mid-2026.

European Crypto Licensing Competition Continues

Coinbase joins a growing list of crypto companies that have secured MiCA authorization as the European regulatory framework becomes operational. Exchanges including Bybit, OKX, BitGo, and eToro have also obtained MiCA licenses, while other firms continue pursuing regulatory approval.

The MiCA framework represents the European Union’s first comprehensive regulatory regime for crypto assets, establishing common rules covering crypto-asset service providers, consumer protections, market conduct, and stablecoin issuance. The framework is intended to replace fragmented national regulations with a single harmonized system across the European Union.

For Coinbase, the Luxembourg office opening represents the operational rollout of the regulatory approval secured in 2025, providing the company with a centralized European base as it expands regulated crypto services across the region.

Recently, Coinbase launched 1:1 backed tokenized stocks alongside new AI-powered investment tools to expand its tokenized asset offerings. In May, CEO Brian Armstrong said blockchain can modernize global finance through tokenization and stablecoins. The exchange also introduced AI, China, and Defense perpetual futures, expanding its derivatives product lineup.