CoinShares Gains First MiCA Authorization among European Asset Managers on the Continent
In a significant move for the European digital asset industry, CoinShares, a leading asset management firm, has become the first continental European regulated asset manager to receive authorization under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) Regulation. This development was announced by France's Autorité des marchés financiers (AMF) in June 2023.
With this authorization, CoinShares, founded in 2013 and publicly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, has completed its regulatory foundation across its key markets. The firm currently operates with passported services in eight EU countries, including France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands. This authorization now allows CoinShares to extend its services across all member states of the EU.
The MiCA authorization is a significant milestone for CoinShares, as it positions the company to provide institutional market access in the European crypto market. The triple license combination held by CoinShares' French subsidiary—an Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM) license, a Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) license, and the newly acquired MiCA license—allows the firm to provide investment services across all asset classes throughout the EU's €33 trillion asset management market.
European regulators are implementing MiCA as a harmonized framework for crypto-asset regulation, addressing a critical problem in European crypto management by ensuring that platforms have proper licensing and organizational structure for institutional-grade services. The MiCA authorization sends a strong signal that crypto is here to stay and belongs within a professional, transparent, and investor-centric regulatory environment.
This development provides institutional investors with compliant pathways to digital asset exposure through regulated channels. CoinShares, as a result of receiving MiCA authorization from the AMF, can now serve as a regulated counterparty for institutional investors, offering compliance with fiduciary standards and maintaining proper separation between custody and management functions.
As the only asset manager in the region with comprehensive regulatory coverage across traditional and digital assets, CoinShares operates under multiple jurisdictions, including Jersey, France, and the United States. This authorization is a testament to CoinShares' commitment to regulatory compliance and its role in shaping the future of the digital asset industry in Europe.
