Bitcoin Suisse Expands MiCA Crypto Services to Portugal

Bitcoin Suisse has added Portugal to its European rollout under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), offering eligible clients trading, custody and staking through its Liechtenstein-based unit after a launch in Germany.

The company announced the Portugal expansion Oct. 20. Bitcoin Suisse (Europe) AG provides the services from Liechtenstein. Bitcoin Suisse announced its German launch July 14, offering the same three services to eligible clients there.

The Financial Market Authority Liechtenstein, the country’s financial regulator, authorized the European unit as a crypto-asset service provider effective June 22. Its listed permissions cover custody, the exchange of crypto assets for money or other crypto assets, services involving client orders and transfers. Bitcoin Suisse also offers staking in Portugal; staking is not separately listed among those permissions.

MiCA requires providers expanding across borders to notify their home regulator of the markets they intend to enter, the services they plan to offer and their intended start date. Bitcoin Suisse is using its Liechtenstein authorization to serve eligible clients in Portugal as part of its wider European rollout.

Bitcoin Suisse appointed Rafaella Orelli and Alexander Spann as general managers for Portugal. Orelli and Spann will work with wealthy individuals, companies, family offices and institutional investors in Portugal. Eligible clients will receive services through the Liechtenstein unit.

Bitcoin Suisse Group CEO and co-founder Andrej Majcen said the regulation “provides a harmonised framework for offering authorised crypto-asset services.”

MiCA also limits how providers may use clients’ assets for staking. A provider cannot stake those assets for its own account, even with client consent. Providers and clients may agree to share proceeds from staking.