BaFin rejects Futurum Bank MiCA license bid, freezing Bitcoin.de trading
CIE News ·
Germany's BaFin rejected Futurum Bank's MiCA crypto license application after a 15-month review. The decision ends previous regulatory tolerance and keeps trading halted for Bitcoin.de's 1.1 million registered users.
Germany's financial supervisory authority BaFin refused the MiCA crypto-asset service provider license application of Futurum Bank AG, Bitcoin Group SE announced. The rejection concluded a 15-month review of an application submitted on June 27, 2025, and revoked the regulatory tolerance under which Bitcoin.de had operated. Trading on the platform, which has been largely suspended since June 12, 2026, remains frozen for more than 1.1 million registered users.
BaFin determined that the bank's operational readiness and the implementation of supervisory requirements were inadequate, according to Bitcoin Group SE CEO Moritz Eckert. Eckert stated that the firm prepared for a potential refusal and disputes the regulator's stance. Futurum Bank can lodge an objection within one month of receiving formal notification, or submit a new application at a later stage.
Futurum Bank continues to hold customer assets until an authorized custodian takes over, Bitcoin.com News reported. Bitcoin Group SE is working to partner with regulated German institutions to restore customer trading through an updated Bitcoin.de app within the coming weeks.