Summary
Stripe-owned Bridge's entry into the EU MiCA register after Luxembourg approval brings the number of MiCA-authorized electronic money token (EMT) issuers to 42. Bridge secured both a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) authorization and an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) licence from Luxembourg's CSSF, allowing EU businesses to build stablecoin and payment products under a regulated framework. The growing MiCA register signals that the EU is becoming a regulated hub for stablecoin activity.
Key Points
- The milestone: Bridge Building (Luxembourg entity) joined the EU MiCA register after Luxembourg approval. The number of MiCA-authorized EMT issuers in the EU register is now 42. Total authorized CASPs: 324.
- The dual authorization: Bridge announced on July 2 that it had secured a CASP authorization under MiCA and an EMI licence from Luxembourg's CSSF. The dual authorization allows Bridge to operate as both a crypto-asset service provider and an electronic money institution across all 27 EU member states.
- The significance: Bridge's Head of Product Mai Leduc Blount said the approvals allow businesses in the EU to build stablecoin and payment products under a regulated framework. This is a strategic validation that major stablecoin infrastructure providers are treating MiCA compliance as a priority.
- The register's growth: ESMA has published more frequent updates to its MiCA register in recent weeks. The same update added three new CASP entries from Germany (Volksbank Die Gestalterbank, VBU Volksbank im Unterland, VR-Bank Erding). No changes to ART authorizations — no asset-referenced token issuers listed.
- The MiCA context: MiCA's transitional period ended July 1, 2026, requiring CASPs without authorization to cease EU operations. The growing register reflects the post-deadline consolidation of the EU crypto market into regulated providers.
- The strategic implication: Bridge's regulated presence in the EU opens the door for Stripe and its partners to build compliant stablecoin and payment products across the bloc. This positions the EU as a regulated hub for stablecoin activity, with implications for the global stablecoin market as other jurisdictions develop their own frameworks.
- The competitive landscape: The EU MiCA register is becoming a competitive moat — regulated providers gain access to the EU market while non-compliant companies face exclusion. This is reshaping the global stablecoin competitive landscape, with regulated, compliant players gaining structural advantage.