Germany is confidently cementing its status as the main crypto hub of the European Union. In July, the local regulator added six new licensees to the MiCA register at once, five of which are cooperative banks. These financial institutions have been granted the right to execute client orders involving digital assets, but their powers are deliberately limited: the custody and exchange of cryptocurrencies remain outside their scope.
Thus, the total number of registered crypto service providers in the country has exceeded 70 — an absolute record among all EU member states. This dynamic is no coincidence. It is explained by two key factors: the high concentration of the banking sector ready to integrate digital assets, and the effective work of the previous national licensing system, which created a solid foundation for the transition to pan-European regulation.
The strategic approach of the German authorities also draws attention. They are not just issuing permits but building an ecosystem in which traditional finance and the crypto industry coexist without conflicts. Restricting cooperative banks to order execution only is a deliberate step toward minimizing risks, especially in the asset custody segment, where regulatory responsibility is highest.
Analytical perspective
Germany demonstrates that success in crypto regulation is achieved not through leniency but through well-thought-out infrastructure and continuity of norms. The fact that the country leads in the number of MiCA licenses even before the full completion of the transitional period indicates its readiness to become a benchmark for other EU jurisdictions. In the long term, this will strengthen the influx of institutional investors seeking jurisdictions with clear and predictable rules of the game.