Blockrise has taken a major step forward in Europe’s digital asset landscape by securing a MiCAR license from the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets. The authorization allows the Rotterdam-based Bitcoin company to continue operating in the Netherlands and expand across the European Union under the new Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation. This milestone reinforces the growing institutionalization of Bitcoin and positions Blockrise as one of the region’s earliest regulated Bitcoin-focused financial providers.
Blockrise Secures MiCAR Authorization
The MiCAR license enables Blockrise to operate across the EU with a single regulatory approval, marking a significant shift for the company’s long-term ambitions. CEO Jos Lazet stated that this recognition reflects the maturity of Blockrise’s Bitcoin services, which prioritize transparency, strict risk controls, and client security. He added that institutional and corporate investors increasingly seek exposure to Bitcoin through fully regulated entities, and the new license gives Blockrise a strong foundation to meet that demand.
Commitment to a Bitcoin-Only Strategy
Blockrise has chosen to operate exclusively as a Bitcoin-only platform, offering no other digital assets on its trading or custody services. Lazet explained that Bitcoin’s dominance and relatively lower volatility made the decision straightforward, especially as clients sought clarity and simplicity. The company believes this focused approach strengthens its value proposition in a market where many investors now prefer specialization over broad crypto exposure.
Expansion into Bitcoin-Backed Credit Services
Alongside its regulatory achievement, Blockrise is expanding into Bitcoin-backed lending in response to rising client demand for liquidity solutions. Over the past year, requests have increased from corporate clients who want to borrow capital while retaining their Bitcoin positions rather than selling them. The company developed the solution entirely in-house, and it will now offer business loans starting at €20,000 with pledged Bitcoin remaining under client ownership to prevent rehypothecation.
A Fully Regulated Collateral Structure
Blockrise emphasizes that its credit services are fully compliant with MiCAR requirements, ensuring strict consumer protections and institutional-grade oversight. Clients’ Bitcoin collateral remains securely held with no possibility of being lent out or reassigned, which addresses a major concern among businesses exploring digital-asset-backed borrowing. This approach is expected to differentiate Blockrise from traditional financial institutions, many of which are still assessing how to integrate Bitcoin into their lending frameworks.
Preparing a €15 Million Series A Raise
Building on its regulatory milestone, Blockrise is launching a €15 million Series A round to accelerate its expansion across Europe. Earlier this year, the company raised €2 million in seed funding from venture capital firms and angel investors, marking its first external financing round. Lazet said the new raise aims to support infrastructure growth, product development, and broader market penetration as the firm positions itself as the EU’s leading Bitcoin-only financial platform.
Serving a Growing Institutional Market
Founded in 2017, Blockrise offers custody, trading, asset management, inheritance planning, and now Bitcoin-backed credit services to corporate investors and high-net-worth individuals. The company has observed rising interest from institutional players seeking regulated Bitcoin exposure as market clarity improves across Europe. With the MiCAR license now active, Blockrise expects substantial growth in cross-border demand from both new and existing clients.
Blockrise’s MiCAR authorization marks a turning point for the company as it transitions from a national Bitcoin service provider to a regulated European financial institution. By combining its Bitcoin-only strategy with newly launched credit services and a major Series A funding effort, the firm is preparing to scale aggressively in a maturing digital asset market. As regulatory structures solidify across the EU, Blockrise intends to play a central role in shaping the future of institutional Bitcoin adoption.