EU MiCA rules prompt Spanish banks to explore crypto services
The European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation has come into force, establishing a comprehensive legal framework for supervising crypto‑asset activities across the bloc. The rules impose compliance obligations on all market participants, from exchanges to issuers, with the aim of tightening oversight of the previously lightly regulated digital asset sector.
In Spain, Bankinter's chief executive Gloria Ortiz said the bank is assessing the possibility of allowing customers to buy and sell Bitcoin, subject to the security limits required by MiCA. The move would follow other Spanish banks—CaixaBank, BBVA, Kutxabank, OpenBank, Renta 4 Bank and CecaBank—that have already secured MiCA authorisations and offer crypto‑trading and custodial services through their platforms. Bankinter has also invested €30 million in crypto‑exchange Bit2Me, signalling growing interest in the sector. The bank would need to obtain a MiCA licence before launching any crypto‑related products.