MiCA Regulation Changes Buying XRP in Germany

The European MiCA regulation has been in effect since December 30, 2024, requiring crypto-asset service providers to obtain authorization before serving customers in the EU. In Germany, incumbent providers were grandfathered until January 1, 2026, after which only authorized companies may operate. To buy XRP in Germany, individuals have three options: a crypto exchange with MiCA authorization, a broker or neobroker app, or an exchange-traded product (ETP) held in their securities account.

Crypto exchanges like Bitpanda, Bitvavo, Kraken, and Coinbase offer direct trading of XRP against the euro, allowing users to withdraw their tokens to a personal address on the network. Brokers and neobrokers, such as Börse Stuttgart Digital's BISON app, provide a convenient interface for buying cryptocurrencies but may not support withdrawals to individual wallets.

XRP ETPs are listed on European venues like Xetra and are bought through an ordinary brokerage account, with some brokers offering savings plans. However, these products track the XRP price within the brokerage account rather than providing ownership of real tokens.