Bitcoin.de trading remains halted after BaFin rejects MiCA application

Bitcoin Group SE is exploring alternative operating models for its trading platform, bitcoin.de, after the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) rejected its subsidiary futurum bank AG’s application for authorization under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA).

The company announced on October 6 that it had anticipated the possibility of refusal and is now reviewing the decision. It may lodge an objection or submit a new application in the future. Meanwhile, Bitcoin Group SE is working to resume trading through regulated partners as soon as possible.

Moritz Eckert, CEO of Bitcoin Group SE, stated that the priority is to implement an alternative operating model and keep customers informed about the next steps. Bitcoin.de, which has over 1.1 million registered users, originally launched as a peer-to-peer marketplace but was revamped this year to operate as a brokerage.

The platform had planned to offer more than 100 cryptocurrencies, crypto swaps, and staking, with an expected launch in late June. However, the launch was postponed while awaiting MiCA authorization. Trading activities have been suspended since June 12, with customers’ crypto holdings already moved to new custody infrastructure.