BaFin Rejects Bitcoin.de Operator’s MiCA License Bid

Germany’s financial regulator, BaFin, rejected Futurum Bank AG’s application for authorization under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation. Futurum Bank operates the Bitcoin.de crypto platform.

Bitcoin.de plans to retain its brand, app and customer interface while transferring trading to one regulated German institution and crypto custody to another. The partners have not been identified, and the platform has not set a date for the return of trading.

Trading and euro deposits have been suspended since June 12. Customers can still withdraw crypto assets. Futurum Bank will continue to hold the assets until they can be transferred to the new custodian. Existing customer logins and claims remain unchanged, according to the company.

Under the planned structure, Bitcoin.de will focus on its technology, distribution and customer relationships. The regulated partners will handle trading and custody. The company reports that the technical work required to restart the platform is complete. Final agreements and regulatory arrangements remain outstanding.

Bitcoin Group, which owns Futurum Bank, reported that the bank filed its MiCA application in June 2025. The application remained unresolved for more than 15 months before BaFin rejected it. The decision also ended the regulator’s previous tolerance of Futurum Bank’s crypto services.

Bitcoin.de has more than 1.1 million customers, according to the company. It is working to complete the partner agreements, resume trading and restore euro deposits. Transferring customer assets to the new custodian will be a separate stage of the process.

Bitcoin Group and Futurum Bank are reviewing the decision. They can object within one month of receiving formal notification. Futurum Bank may also submit a new authorization application while Bitcoin.de continues planning to outsource trading and custody.