Webull EU has secured authorization from the Netherlands’ financial regulator, the Autoriteit Financiële Markten (AFM), to offer crypto-asset services under MiCAR. The approval allows the company to add digital asset custody to its existing investment platform, giving clients access to cryptocurrencies alongside traditional financial products. Crypto trade execution on the platform will be handled by Coinbase Luxembourg S.A., leaving Webull free from building its own trading stack for digital assets.
Launch in the Netherlands comes first
The new license opens the door for Webull to move ahead with crypto services in the Dutch market. The company said it aims to start those services in late 2026. For now, the scope is limited to the Netherlands, since the MiCAR authorization does not automatically grant access across the full European Union.
Andries van Luijk, CEO of Webull Securities (Europe), described the approval as an important step in the firm’s European growth. He said the decision reflects Webull’s aim to offer secure and compliant digital asset access under the EU’s regulatory standards. In the quoted statement, he tied the approval to the company’s effort to tailor crypto access to Europe’s changing compliance environment.
Webull keeps custody, Coinbase handles execution
The operating model is split between the two firms. Webull will oversee customer asset custody, while Coinbase Luxembourg will execute crypto trades placed on the platform. That structure lets Webull rely on Coinbase’s existing execution capabilities instead of building proprietary infrastructure, while keeping custody integrated within its own platform.
The report also said Webull is among the earlier investment platforms in the Netherlands to secure regulatory coverage for both conventional assets and crypto custody. That positioning matters for investors looking for digital asset exposure through established and regulated financial providers.
EU passporting is the next step
Webull is now pursuing passporting approval, the mechanism that would let a licensed provider in one EU member state expand across the bloc without applying for separate national permissions each time. The company sees that process as central to its wider European rollout strategy.
The article noted that the end of MiCAR’s transition phase has pushed more firms to accelerate licensing efforts in Europe. Ripple and Bridge were cited as examples of companies seeking similar approvals. At the same time, more traditional finance platforms are adding digital assets to their product mix, tightening competition in the region’s regulated crypto market.