Germany’s Bitcoin.de cryptocurrency platform is restructuring its business after the country’s financial regulator rejected the MiCA authorization application of its operator, Futurum Bank AG. The decision means the platform must rely on external regulated companies for key services before trading can fully resume.
According to CryptoSlate, Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority, known as BaFin, refused Futurum Bank’s application to operate as an authorized crypto-asset service provider under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets, or MiCA, framework. Futurum Bank had submitted the application in June 2025, and the process remained unresolved for more than 15 months.
The rejection also ended the previous regulatory tolerance for Futurum Bank’s crypto activities. Trading on Bitcoin.de has already been largely suspended since June 12. Customers can still withdraw their crypto assets, but trading and euro deposits remain unavailable. Futurum Bank will continue to hold customer assets until they can be moved to a replacement custodian. Existing customer logins and claims are not affected.
Bitcoin.de plans partner-led operating model
Bitcoin.de’s proposed response is to keep its consumer-facing platform while transferring regulated functions to two German institutions. One partner would act as the trading counterparty, while another would take responsibility for crypto custody. The companies have not yet been named, and no date has been set for the return of trading.
Under the planned structure, Bitcoin.de would continue to operate its technology, brand and customer interface. The regulated partners would handle execution and custody, the activities that Futurum Bank was not authorized to provide under the rejected application.
The platform says it has more than 1.1 million customers. Management said agreements with the prospective partners are being finalized and that restoring service is a priority. It also said the technical work required for a relaunch has been completed, leaving the regulatory arrangements as the main obstacle to reopening full services.
Timing becomes central to the relaunch
Bitcoin.de’s immediate challenge is completing the new arrangements before an extended trading suspension causes more customers to leave the platform. The next significant steps are the announcement of a restart date, the restoration of euro deposits and the transfer of customer assets to the new custodian.
Bitcoin Group and Futurum Bank are still reviewing BaFin’s decision. They may object within one month after receiving formal notification, while submitting a new authorization application remains possible. Those options leave the company with potential regulatory routes alongside its planned outsourcing model, but the source material does not provide a timetable for either process.
Moneyiar market picture
Moneyiar data at the stated times showed mixed performance among the listed digital assets on October 8, 2026:
- Four (FORM): $0.2642763949, up 0.64% over 24 hours and down 7.48% over seven days, as of 21:54 +03:30.
- Comedian (BAN): $0.0609169054, down 6.16% over 24 hours and 6.57% over seven days, as of 21:54 +03:30.
- RedStone (RED): $0.1439379346, down 3.79% over 24 hours and 18.22% over seven days, as of 21:54 +03:30.
- Propy (PRO): $0.3366552189, down 3.71% over 24 hours and 6.69% over seven days, as of 18:34 +03:30.
