Group 1 - Former Bitpanda Chief Legal Officer Oliver Stauber has been appointed as the new CEO of Bitget EU, as the company prepares to receive its Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulatory approval from Austria in the second quarter of 2026 [1][3] - Bitget applied for a MiCA license in Austria in 2025 and plans to establish its new European headquarters in Vienna, but it cannot offer services in the European Economic Area (EEA) until approval is secured [3] - Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget, expressed confidence in Stauber's ability to lead the EU operations, citing his experience and regulatory fluency, and emphasized that only tokens aligning with MiCA standards will be listed [4] Group 2 - KuCoin has also made a similar strategic appointment by bringing in Sabina Liu, a former London Stock Exchange Group executive, to lead its EU operations in Vienna [5] - KuCoin received a MiCAR license from Austrian authorities in November, indicating a trend among crypto firms to support the regulatory framework established by MiCA [6]

Group 1 - Coinbase has obtained a Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) license from Luxembourg, establishing it as a central hub for crypto services in the European Union [1][3] - The MiCA regulation aims to create a unified legal framework for crypto across all 27 EU member states and to mitigate risks for consumers following various scandals in the sector [2] - Coinbase is the first U.S. crypto exchange to receive a MiCA license, while rival Gemini is expected to obtain its EU license from Malta soon [3] Group 2 - The CEO of Coinbase, Brian Armstrong, emphasized the company's commitment to Europe and its advocacy for the future of crypto on the continent, highlighting Luxembourg's favorable business environment and regulatory approach [3]