published<\/a> by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) on Wednesday, Bridge Building, the Luxembourg-based entity behind Stripe-owned stablecoin infrastructure company Bridge, has been added to the European Union\u2019s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) register as an authorized electronic money token (EMT) issuer.<\/p>\nThe addition raises the number of MiCA-authorized EMT issuers in the European Union to 42. ESMA\u2019s latest register update also added three new crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) from Germany, bringing the total number of authorized CASPs across the bloc to 324.<\/p>\n
Bridge\u2019s inclusion follows regulatory approvals it announced on July 2 after obtaining both a MiCA crypto-asset service provider authorization and an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license from Luxembourg\u2019s Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF). At the time, Bridge Head of Product Mai Leduc Blount said the approvals would allow businesses across the European Union to develop stablecoin and payment products under a regulated framework.<\/p>\n
Bridge\u2019s MiCA approval expands regulated stablecoin services<\/h2>\n
Receiving both the CASP authorization and EMI license allows Bridge to provide regulated services throughout all 27 European Union member states under a single regulatory framework instead of requiring separate approvals in each country.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
When announcing the approvals in July, the company said businesses using its infrastructure would be able to issue custom euro-backed stablecoins, create named virtual IBANs, and provide euro accounts that work across the European Union. Bridge also said fintech companies could integrate cross-border euro accounts through a single connection, while enterprises could move funds between subsidiaries using stablecoins instead of correspondent banking networks.<\/p>\n
Blount said at the time that businesses operating in the European Union could combine euro stablecoin issuance with named IBANs and euro payouts across all member states through one integration.<\/p>\n
The approvals came shortly after the European Union completed the final phase of its MiCA transition on July 1, requiring regulated crypto platforms to support only compliant stablecoins. Following the implementation, exchanges including Coinbase, Kraken and Crypto.com removed USDT trading for European users after Tether decided not to seek MiCA authorization, while Binance introduced service changes for customers affected by the new framework.<\/p>\n
ESMA register adds new German CASPs<\/h2>\n
Alongside Bridge\u2019s registration, ESMA added three German institutions to its MiCA register as authorized crypto-asset service providers.<\/p>\n
The newly listed firms are Volksbank Die Gestalterbank, VBU Volksbank im Unterland and VR-Bank Erding. Their inclusion increases the number of authorized CASPs in the European Union from 321 to 324.<\/p>\n
ESMA\u2019s latest update did not introduce any new asset-referenced token (ART) authorizations, leaving that section of the register without approved issuers. The regulator also made no changes to its list of non-compliant crypto-asset companies.<\/p>\n
Recent weeks have seen ESMA publish register updates more frequently as firms continue securing MiCA authorizations following the regulation\u2019s full implementation across the European Union.<\/p>\n
Stripe continues building regulated stablecoin infrastructure<\/h2>\n
Bridge\u2019s registration comes as Stripe continues expanding the stablecoin infrastructure it acquired through its approximately $1.1 billion purchase of Bridge.<\/p>\n
Since completing the acquisition, Stripe has integrated Bridge\u2019s technology into its payments business while extending regulated payment services into additional jurisdictions. The company has positioned the infrastructure around stablecoin payments, cross-border settlement and financial services for businesses and developers.<\/p>\n
In March, Visa announced an expansion of its partnership with the Stripe-owned company to introduce stablecoin-backed Visa card programs in more than 100 countries by the end of 2026.<\/p>\n
The company has also continued building banking relationships and payment infrastructure around Bridge. Connor Fitzgerald, who recently stepped down as Stripe\u2019s head of stablecoin partnerships after helping establish the company\u2019s stablecoin card program, said the team built sponsor bank relationships, payment network connections and regulatory infrastructure before expanding the program internationally.<\/p>\n
According to Fitzgerald, the stablecoin card initiative grew from launch to operations in more than 100 markets, introduced what he described as the first stablecoin settlement flow in the United States and increased annualized payment volume from zero to tens of millions of dollars.<\/p>\n
Stablecoins remain central to Stripe\u2019s payments strategy<\/h2>\n
Bridge\u2019s latest regulatory milestone adds to Stripe\u2019s recent activity in blockchain-based payments as the company continues combining regulated infrastructure with its global payments network.<\/p>\n
Alongside expanding stablecoin products, Stripe has supported cross-border settlement, card issuance and payment services built on Bridge\u2019s technology. The company has also remained active in traditional payments. Reuters previously reported that Stripe and private equity firm Advent International submitted a proposal worth about $53 billion to acquire PayPal.<\/p>\n
According to Reuters, the offer valued PayPal at $60.50 per share and would give Stripe and Advent equal ownership if completed. Reuters also reported that PayPal\u2019s board viewed the proposal as undervaluing the company while weighing financing certainty, regulatory considerations and execution risks, with discussions remaining active.<\/p>\n
If completed, the transaction would combine PayPal\u2019s crypto payment products, including the Paxos-issued PYUSD stablecoin, with Stripe\u2019s expanding stablecoin infrastructure developed through Bridge. Reuters also reported that the bidders explored potential structural remedies in the event antitrust regulators require changes to the proposed transaction.<\/p>\n
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