Bitpanda Secures Full Licence Approval From VARA, Unlocking New Growth Opportunities in the UAE

Bitpanda, Europe’s leading virtual assets platform, has secured a Broker-Dealer licence from the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), obtaining approval in record time. The licence will allow Bitpanda to make its virtual assets platform available to investors in the UAE including access to over 500 virtual assets – the most extensive virtual assets offering available on the market.

The UAE has rapidly emerged as a global hub for digital assets, with VARA offering both regulatory clarity and investor protection. Bitpanda will match this ambition and set a new standard for secure, compliance and user-friendly virtual assets investing in the region. 

Lukas Enzersdorfer-Konrad, Deputy CEO at Bitpanda Group, added: “Bitpanda is built on the principle that virtual assets should be secure and accessible. With our VARA licence, we are bringing that vision to the UAE, ensuring investors and financial institutions have access to a fully compliant digital asset platform. This is just the beginning of our expansion beyond Europe. We are ready to grow in a region that embraces innovation and regulation equally.”

Bitpanda has already established a permanent office in Dubai at the DMCC Crypto Centre, and has a team of regional experts in place who will now work to develop products tailored to the UAE market. Onboarding for UAE investors will begin in the coming months.

Fabian Reinisch, General Counsel at Bitpanda Group, commented: “The UAE is one of the most forward-thinking markets for digital assets, and VARA sets a new standard for innovation and investor protection. This licence allows us to bring our trusted, regulated platform to a new audience. We obtained approval in record time and I believe that is a testament to the decade experience of our teams working in the digital asset space and our commitment to the highest regulatory standards.”

This latest licence follows a decade of proactive regulatory efforts. Bitpanda has consistently led the way in Europe, holding several licences including a MiCAR licence from the German regulator BaFin, registration with the UK’s FCA, a PSD2 E-money licence, a MiFID II licence, and VASP registrations across multiple markets. Bitpanda’s regulatory-first approach has made it one of the world’s most trusted platforms for secure and compliant virtual asset investing.

As Bitpanda continues its international expansion, the focus remains on delivering a fully regulated, secure, and seamless investment experience. The VARA licence sets the stage for further regional growth, ensuring that both individual and institutional investors in the UAE can access a world-class digital asset platform.