Crypto exchange Bitget has appointed Oliver Stauber, former chief legal officer at Bitpanda, as CEO of Bitget EU, marking a key step in the company’s push to establish a fully regulated presence in Europe under the Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation framework. Stauber will oversee Bitget’s MiCA strategy and lead the setup of its European headquarters in Vienna, Austria.
The move comes as crypto firms race to secure licenses ahead of MiCA enforcement deadlines across the European Union. Bitget applied for authorization in Austria in 2025 and expects approval by the second quarter of 2026. Until that license is granted, the company says it will not offer services to users across the European Economic Area.
Veteran compliance leader takes charge
Stauber brings deep regulatory experience to the role. Before joining Bitget, he served as chief legal officer at Bitpanda and previously led EU regulatory efforts at KuCoin. His appointment signals Bitget’s intent to build a long-term, compliance-first operation in Europe rather than rely on cross-border or offshore workarounds.
According to Bitget, Stauber’s background in European financial regulation and exchange governance was a decisive factor. The company’s global CEO, Gracy Chen, said his arrival strengthens confidence in Bitget’s ability to operate sustainably within the EU’s evolving regulatory framework and to build a credible regional hub in Austria.
Waiting for MiCA approval, no shortcuts
Bitget EU will remain inactive until it receives formal authorization under MiCA. Stauber said the company is taking a strict approach to compliance and will actively prevent EEA users from accessing the offshore Bitget platform in the meantime.
This will include IP address controls and enhanced Know Your Customer checks designed to stop residents from being onboarded through geographic loopholes, indirect marketing or reverse solicitation. The goal, he said, is to ensure a clear separation between the global Bitget platform and the future EU-regulated entity.
Once approved, existing EEA users on Bitget’s global platform will be invited to transition to Bitget EU, where services will be structured to meet European regulatory and consumer protection standards.
Broker-led model and tighter market controls
Under Stauber’s leadership, Bitget EU plans to operate using a broker model rather than a traditional exchange structure. In this setup, the company will act as the counterparty to client trades while sourcing liquidity from multiple independent providers.
Stauber said this approach is designed to align with MiCA’s expectations around best execution, transparency and market integrity. While the user interface will closely resemble the existing Bitget platform, the legal and operational framework will be distinct, with reduced market risk exposure for EU clients and closer oversight by regulators.
The firm also intends to deploy market surveillance systems to monitor trading activity and detect potential market abuse, manipulation or disorderly behavior, in line with European Securities and Markets Authority guidance and national conduct rules.
Stricter token listings for EU users
Token availability on Bitget EU will be narrower than on its global platform. The company says it is conducting a detailed review of its current asset inventory to ensure compliance with MiCA requirements.
Only tokens that meet the regulation’s standards on whitepapers, liquidity, transparency and consumer disclosures will be offered to EEA users. Assets that fail to satisfy EU rules on market integrity or disclosure will be excluded.
Stauber described this process as a necessary reset for operating in Europe, adding that investor protection and regulatory clarity would take precedence over the breadth of listings.
Vienna chosen as long-term EU hub
Bitget selected Vienna as its European base due to its central location, access to multilingual talent and what the company sees as a stable and pragmatic regulatory environment. Stauber said the city is well positioned to function as a governance and compliance center for EEA operations.
From Vienna, Bitget EU plans to manage regulatory relations, risk oversight and operational controls for the region, anchoring the company’s broader European strategy under MiCA.
With its leadership team in place and a license application already submitted, Bitget is now focused on clearing regulatory hurdles and preparing for a compliant launch in 2026, as Europe’s crypto market enters a more tightly regulated phase.
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