Keyrock lands its MiCA license as Europe's deadline nears

Keyrock Secures EU Passporting Rights Under MiCA

Brussels-based crypto market maker @keyrock has secured a full MiCA license, positioning itself to offer regulated digital asset services across the European Union from a single authorization. The license was obtained through its French subsidiary, Keyrock FR SAS, allowing the firm to scale its regulated services across all EU member states.

The approval enables Keyrock to expand its OTC trading, liquidity provision, and digital asset infrastructure offerings throughout the region. Under MiCA's passporting rules, operating under a national transitional arrangement does not confer EU passporting rights, and only a full MiCA authorization grants the right to provide services across all 27 member states.

According to General Counsel Reza Ghadiri-Zare, the license provides the regulatory certainty needed to scale services and activities across EU member states. CEO Kevin de Patoul added that the firm will continue to drive progress in digital assets without compromising on security or transparency.

Racing the Clock on MiCA's Grandfathering Deadline

The timing is significant. On July 1, 2026, the transitional grandfathering period under MiCA closes across every EU and EEA member state, meaning any entity that continues to provide crypto-asset services to EU-based clients without MiCA authorization will be operating in breach of EU law.

The scale of the compliance gap is stark. According to data cited by Hogan Lovells, only 194 licensed crypto firms, including banks, had secured authorization across the EU by May 2026, compared to more than 3,000 crypto companies that were registered under various national frameworks in 2024. Industry estimates suggest up to 75% of previously registered providers could lose their ability to serve EU customers.

Keyrock's move comes with substantial institutional backing. The firm reached a $1.1 billion valuation following a major Series C funding round led by @scventuresDNA, the venture arm of Standard Chartered, with continued backing from @Ripple. That combination of regulatory readiness and heavyweight investors puts Keyrock in a strong position as Europe's crypto industry faces a consolidation moment driven by the deadline.

Sources:
Keyrock wins MiCA license to expand regulated crypto services across EU, CryptoNews
MiCA Compliance Deadline: Crypto Businesses Serving EU Clients, Global Law Experts
Millions of EU crypto users face exchange cutoff as MiCA deadline hits in days, CryptoSlate