The Austrian Bitcoin platform 21bitcoin, operated by FIOR Digital GmbH, has become the first Bitcoin‑only company in Austria to obtain a European MiCAR licence. EY Law Austria advised the company throughout the licensing process as a Crypto‑Asset Service Provider (CASP).
21bitcoin continues its growth trajectory
In 2023, 21bitcoin became the first Bitcoin company to welcome a German bank as a strategic investor. Today, with a trading volume of EUR 500 million and more than 100,000 customers, 21bitcoin ranks among the leading Bitcoin platforms in Europe. The company’s mission is to make access to and use of Bitcoin as simple and secure as possible, while fully complying with the highest regulatory and compliance standards. This strategy is now being pursued at European level, explains Daniel Winklhammer, Founder and CEO of 21bitcoin: “With the MiCAR CASP licence, we are opening not only the European market, but also the traditional financial world to Bitcoin. Our aim is to position 21bitcoin as the first provider of a fully integrated Bitcoin financial ecosystem in Europe.”
In 2026, 21bitcoin plans to selectively expand its product offering and develop next‑generation Bitcoin financial services. Planned initiatives include enabling Bitcoin purchases for corporate clients as well as Bitcoin‑backed lending solutions, to be implemented together with well‑established partners such as Volksbank Raiffeisenbank Bayern Mitte and Sopra Financial Technology. In addition, 21bitcoin is developing new savings solutions tailored specifically to families and a white‑label platform that will allow banks and financial institutions to offer Bitcoin services with minimal implementation effort. Through these initiatives, 21bitcoin is increasingly evolving into a comprehensive Bitcoin‑focused financial services provider, creating an integrated ecosystem for private clients, corporates and financial institutions. EY Law Austria will continue to support 21bitcoin with ongoing legal advice.
Vienna emerging as a European crypto hub
Vienna is increasingly establishing itself as a leading European hub for crypto service providers. This development is driven by a clear and reliable regulatory framework, created through the early and consistent implementation of the EU’s MiCAR Regulation. The Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) provides transparent conditions that ensure consumer protection while also enabling sustainable growth for providers. “Vienna’s emergence as a crypto hub shows how a clearly defined and consistently applied regulatory framework can serve as a powerful driver of innovation. We are particularly pleased to have supported an Austrian company such as 21bitcoin in successfully obtaining MiCAR authorisation,” says Dr Martin Hanzl, Partner at EY Law and Head of the NewTech Team. Dr Elisabeth Reiner and Paul Neubauer also supported 21bitcoin throughout the licensing process.
A strong partner for digital transformation
Led by Martin Hanzl, EY Law’s NewTech Team advises numerous well‑known FinTech companies as well as international crypto exchanges. With a strong focus on blockchain, crypto‑assets and artificial intelligence, as well as on the implementation of MiCAR, DORA, the AI Act and the Data Act, the team supports innovation‑driven companies in developing their business models in a legally compliant manner. The team’s expertise has been recognised by multiple awards, including its ranking as the only Austrian practice in Band 1 of the Chambers FinTech Guide.
