Kraken Secures MiFID II License: A new European standard for crypto derivatives

In a European ecosystem still clouded by regulatory uncertainty, very few exchanges hold a full investment license. Kraken has taken a major strategic step: obtaining the MiFID II license now grants European investors unprecedented access to crypto derivative products within a regulated framework. A significant milestone, once reserved for institutional players.

Why does the MiFID II license change the game?

The European MiFID II directive imposes a high level of transparency, protects clients through strict governance requirements, and mandates segregation of funds. It usually governs traditional financial services. Kraken becomes one of the very first crypto players to meet these standards through its Cypriot subsidiary Payward Europe Digital Solutions (CY) Ltd.

With the arrival of MiCA in 2025, Europe is preparing to globally regulate all crypto services. The combination of these two regulations now places the region among the most demanding but also the clearest in terms of regulation. Kraken positions itself as a pioneer in this field.

Concretely, what this means for Kraken traders

Kraken users can now access a complete offering of regulated derivatives products: fixed-term futures and perpetual contracts on Bitcoin, Ether, and over 100 pairs. All transactions are processed within a regulated framework, in compliance with European requirements.

Regarding liquidity, Kraken’s order books regularly exceed 1 billion dollars in daily volume. Depending on the country of residence, retail clients can benefit from leverage up to ×10, with regulated margin requirements.

Additional guarantees include: segregated accounts, MiFID suitability tests, and post-trade reports. Kraken’s environment meets institutional standards while remaining accessible to informed traders.

Exclusive advantages to go further

Kraken is not limited to compliance. The platform incorporates several differentiating services:

• Regular cryptographic audits and certified infrastructure to ensure fund security;
• Human customer support available 24/7, in French and 15 other languages;
• All-in-one mobile app enabling recurring purchases, instant payments, and portfolio management via an intuitive dashboard.

Finally, Kraken offers a smooth user journey, from the first deposit to taking a position on a futures contract.

Obtaining the MiFID II license establishes Kraken as the reference platform for European traders looking for security, liquidity, and compliance. To test this new offering, it’s simple: open an account on Kraken or Kraken Pro, and explore the derivatives products demo mode for free.

This is not investment or crypto-asset advice. Buying, selling, or exchanging crypto-assets involves the risk of partial or total loss of capital.