Ripple Added to ESMA's MiCA Register, Unlocking EU Passporting Across 29 Countries

Ripple has secured EU-wide authorization under the Markets in Crypto-Assets framework after its European payments unit, Ripple Payments Europe SA, was added to the European Securities and Markets Authority's (ESMA) MiCA register. In ESMA's latest update, Ripple joined 14 newly listed firms, bringing the total number of authorized crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) to 294. The listing allows Ripple's European arm to provide regulated crypto and stablecoin services across 29 EU countries under MiCA's passporting regime. Ripple said the approval builds on earlier permissions obtained in Luxembourg, including a MiCA licence and an electronic money institution (EMI) licence. Combined, the firm said these authorizations enable its European subsidiary to support financial institutions and businesses across the European Economic Area through a single integration for fund collection, asset exchange and payments. The updated register also includes Portugal's Bison Bank, Croatia's state-owned Hrvatska poštanska banka and Liechtenstein's Kaiser Partner Privatbank, underscoring growing participation from regulated banks in MiCA-compliant digital-asset services. Separately, payments processor BitPay received MiCA authorization from the Dutch regulator, allowing it to offer crypto and stablecoin payment services across eligible EU markets. MiCA requires providers to obtain national authorization for covered crypto services; once licensed, firms can operate across participating EU markets without applying for separate approvals in each country. ESMA's register has continued to expand, though licensing momentum has cooled since MiCA's 18-month transitional period ended on July 1. Firms that did not meet authorization deadlines generally must halt regulated services in EU markets unless national arrangements provide otherwise. Regulators are also preparing for customer shifts linked to the end of the transition window. Bruna Szego, chair of the Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA), told lawmakers that firms exiting the market could trigger a spike in withdrawal requests. She warned that licensed providers taking on incoming customers may face onboarding strain while still needing to maintain strong identity checks and transaction monitoring, urging both departing and authorized firms to plan for higher volumes without weakening AML safeguards. Ripple has also previously disclosed approvals from the UK Financial Conduct Authority. The company said its European permissions cover payment services and infrastructure that may involve XRP, the XRP Ledger, or the RLUSD stablecoin depending on the product and client. Ripple's inclusion on ESMA's MiCA register marks a significant step toward expanding regulated euro-area payments activity, while placing the firm and its peers under heightened operational and compliance scrutiny as Europe's post-transition crypto regime takes hold.