ClearBank Europe becomes first Dutch credit institution to secure MiCAR CASP status
ClearBank Europe has become the first Dutch credit institution to complete notification under the EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR), receiving confirmation from the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) to operate as a Crypto Asset Service Provider (CASP). The regulatory confirmation enables the bank to offer digital asset services and marks its entry into digital currency infrastructure as part of a broader digital assets strategy.
As a CASP, ClearBank Europe will implement Circle's Mint platform and provide clients access to stablecoins including Euro Coin (EURC) and USD Coin (USDC), stable digital currencies pegged to the Euro and US Dollar respectively. This enables European clients to convert between traditional fiat currencies and digital assets within a secure, regulated banking environment, supporting faster and more efficient cross-border transactions and settlement across Europe.
The development reflects ClearBank's continued innovation in digital assets by integrating digital asset-related activities within regulated banking environments and enabling digital asset firms to access traditional financial services.
In the UK market, ClearBank previously announced a deepened partnership with Coinbase to support a savings account offering through a digital assets exchange, with eligible customer cash benefiting from FSCS protection.
Tristan Kirchner, CEO of ClearBank Europe, said: "Becoming a crypto-asset service provider under MiCAR, enables us to bring digital asset capabilities into a regulated clearing environment for the first time, putting us at the forefront of this new era of digital clearing. This is a significant step forward for both ClearBank Europe and our clients, as digital assets become an increasingly important layer of payments infrastructure. By providing access to stablecoins such as EURC and USDC, we are enabling new ways to move money across borders with greater speed, reduced cost and increased efficiency. As digital assets become more embedded in financial infrastructure, we are excited to play a leading role in that transition as we continue to innovate to meet evolving client needs."
About ClearBank
ClearBank Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (FRN: 754568). ClearBank Europe N.V. is authorised by the European Central Bank and regulated by De Nederlandsche Bank.