Bitget Names Former Bitpanda Legal Chief Oliver Stauber to Head EU Expansion and MiCA Roll‑out from Vienna
The crypto exchange taps the ex‑CLO to steer its Markets in Crypto‑Assets (MiCA) licence pursuit, enforce stricter compliance measures and establish a new European headquarters.
Appointment and Mandate
Vienna‑based Bitget announced the hiring of Oliver Stauber as Chief Executive Officer of its newly created Bitget EU subsidiary. Stauber, who previously served as Chief Legal Officer at Austria’s fintech‑focused platform Bitpanda and headed KuCoin’s European operations, will be responsible for guiding the firm’s MiCA licensing process and for setting up the exchange’s first EU legal entity.
The subsidiary lodged an application for a MiCA licence with the Austrian Financial Market Authority in 2025. Bitget expects the regulator’s decision in the second quarter of 2026 and, per Stauber’s comments to Cointelegraph, will not provide services to users in the European Economic Area (EEA) until the licence is formally granted.
Compliance Architecture
To prevent EEA residents from accessing the offshore Bitget platform before authorisation, the new entity will employ IP‑address filtering and reinforced Know‑Your‑Customer (KYC) procedures. The aim is to block “geographic work‑arounds, marketing or reverse‑solicitation” that could otherwise expose unlicensed users to the service.
Stauber also indicated that Bitget EU will adopt a “broker” model rather than operating as a traditional exchange. In this structure, the platform will act as the counter‑party to client orders while sourcing liquidity from a range of independent providers, adhering to best‑execution obligations. The interface will resemble the global Bitget site, but the legal and operational framework will be distinct, bringing the service under MiCA and European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) oversight.
Token Listing Standards
The Vienna‑based operation plans to enforce stringent token‑listing criteria aligned with MiCA’s requirements. Only assets that satisfy the regulation’s white‑paper, liquidity and disclosure thresholds will be offered to European users. Stauber confirmed that a comprehensive audit of the current token inventory is underway and that any asset failing to meet EU market‑integrity standards will be excluded from the EEA offering.
Market‑Integrity Safeguards
Bitget EU will deploy market‑surveillance tools designed to detect and deter market abuse, manipulation and other forms of disorderly trading. The company also intends to comply with national conduct rules in addition to MiCA’s overarching market‑integrity provisions.
Why Vienna?
The exchange selected Austria’s capital as its EU hub because of its central geographic position, multilingual talent pool and a stable, crypto‑friendly regulatory environment. Stauber described Vienna as an “ideal governance and compliance centre” for overseeing the EEA roll‑out.
Existing Bitget customers residing in the EEA will be invited to migrate to the new Bitget EU platform once the licence is approved, at which point they will receive services that are fully compliant with European regulations.
Analysis
Bitget’s strategic move mirrors a broader trend among crypto exchanges to localise operations ahead of MiCA’s full implementation. By securing a seasoned regulator‑savvy executive like Stauber, the exchange signals its intent to build a durable European presence rather than a temporary compliance patch.
The decision to operate as a broker could reduce regulatory friction, as broker‑dealer models are generally subject to lighter capital requirements than full‑blown exchanges. However, the approach also places greater responsibility on Bitget EU to ensure that its liquidity partners meet the same standards of transparency and market‑integrity required by MiCA.
Vienna’s selection reflects a pragmatic balancing of operational costs, talent availability and regulatory predictability. Austria has positioned itself as a welcoming jurisdiction for fintech and crypto firms, which may give Bitget a competitive edge in attracting talent and fostering relationships with local financial institutions.
If the Austrian regulator follows its recent pattern of timely MiCA approvals, Bitget could become one of the first major exchanges to launch a fully compliant EU service, potentially attracting a sizable portion of the EEA user base that has been waiting for a licensed alternative to offshore platforms.
Key Takeaways
| Point | Implication |
|---|---|
| Oliver Stauber hired as CEO of Bitget EU | Brings deep European regulatory experience, enhancing credibility. |
| MiCA licence application filed in 2025; decision expected Q2 2026 | Bitget will remain inactive in the EEA until the licence is granted. |
| Broker‑model operation | May simplify compliance and reduce capital burdens compared to a full exchange. |
| Strict token‑listing criteria | Aligns with MiCA’s white‑paper, liquidity and disclosure standards, limiting exposure to risky assets. |
| Enhanced KYC & IP‑filtering | Prevents unlicensed access by EEA residents, reinforcing regulator expectations. |
| Vienna as EU headquarters | Leverages Austria’s stable regulatory climate and multilingual talent pool. |
| Market‑surveillance tools planned | Demonstrates commitment to preventing market abuse and meeting ESMA expectations. |
Bitget’s European strategy, anchored by a seasoned legal executive and a compliance‑first operating model, underscores the growing importance of regulatory alignment in the crypto industry. The upcoming MiCA decision will be a pivotal moment for the exchange’s EU ambitions and for the broader competitive landscape of licensed crypto services in Europe.
Source: https://cointelegraph.com/news/bitget-hires-ex-bitpanda-legal-chief-oliver-stauber?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound
