Crypto Exchange Bitget Follows “Vienna Playbook” for European Expansion
Austrian capital Vienna is increasingly developing into a leading hub for crypto companies in the EU: After KuCoin and Bybit have already opened their EU headquarters in the Austrian capital and obtained MiCA licenses for the EU from the financial market authority (FMA) based there, another major player is now following suit: Bitget, currently the sixth-largest crypto exchange by trading volume, is also following the “Vienna Playbook.”
Bitget has appointed Oliver Stauber as CEO of Bitget EU, confirming its plans to establish the European headquarters in Vienna, Austria. The crypto exchange, which positions itself as a Universal Exchange (UEX), is thereby preparing for operations under the European Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR). The appointment comes at a time when EU-wide regulation is introducing uniform standards for governance, user protection, and operational resilience in the crypto market.
Stauber brings extensive experience in European regulation, law, and leadership in the field of digital assets and financial services. Before joining Bitget EU, he served as Managing Director and CEO of KuCoin EU Holding GmbH in Vienna. Previously, he held senior positions at Bitpanda, where he served as Chief Legal Officer responsible for legal, regulatory, and compliance matters for the group and led licensing processes and cooperation with regulatory authorities in multiple jurisdictions.
Strategic Significance for Europe
Gracy Chen, CEO at Bitget, explains the strategic direction: “Oliver’s appointment strengthens our confidence in Bitget’s long-term presence in Europe. He brings the regulatory expertise and operational discipline required to establish our EU headquarters in Austria and strengthen a governance-first approach under MiCAR. His task is to lead a scalable, compliant regional platform that protects users, builds trust with regulators through transparency, and supports sustainable growth across the EU.” Europe remains a central strategic region under Bitget’s UEX vision, with MiCAR providing a harmonized regulatory framework designed to strengthen standards across the market.
The establishment of the Austrian EU headquarters is intended to support transparent cooperation with regulatory authorities, strong internal controls, and clear alignment with local requirements in markets where services could be offered. The Vienna location is planned as an operational center for compliance, governance, and regulatory coordination across the EEA region.
Regulatory Alignment and Future Plans
Oliver Stauber describes the challenges and objectives: “MiCAR sets new expectations for how digital asset services are regulated in Europe—from risk controls to disclosures to operational discipline. Our headquarters in Vienna will build a regulated, scalable structure ready to advance the future of finance in Europe and reliably serve EEA users by offering secure, efficient, and intelligent digital transactions, supported by robust risk controls, transparent processes, and a strong commitment to user protection and regulatory standards.”
Bitget’s European roadmap prioritizes regulatory readiness, robust compliance foundations, and operational transparency with the goal of building a marketplace that supports long-term participation while meeting the standards of the region’s evolving regulatory environment.
Bitget EU currently does not offer services in the EU or EEA and will commence operations only after obtaining the appropriate regulatory approval. The platform operates over 125 million users worldwide and provides access to over 2 million crypto tokens as well as tokenized stocks, ETFs, commodities, and precious metals.
Lionel Messi Promoted Bitget
Bitget, led by CEO Gracy Chen, was originally founded in Singapore. Like many crypto companies, Bitget today operates globally and in a decentralized manner. Legally, the company is registered in the Seychelles. With 125 million users, the company ranks among the heavyweights of the crypto industry. For its marketing, the company spent considerable money. For example, football legend Lionel Messi was engaged as a testimonial.
