Bitcoin bull got MiCA license in FranceThis ensures that users in EU member states can continue to access Bitcoin exchange and payment services without interruption or any reduction in functionality. Founder Francis Beaulieu Announce Development on June 23, 2026, via X, marking the end of a nearly three-year self-funded effort to enter the European market.
“We are particularly excited to obtain our MICA license without having to compromise our cypherpunk approach to self-protection and privacy,” Beaulieu said. “All features of our site and portfolio will remain exactly as they were in the first half of 2026, without imposing any additional burdens or restrictions on our users. We have proven that it is possible to meet the highest regulatory compliance requirements without getting overly enthusiastic.”
The company also reported passing the required PASSI and DORA cybersecurity audits without outsourcing its underlying Bitcoin infrastructure to third-party hosted providers. “That was a huge win,” Beaulieu wrote, noting that relying on outside services would have been easier and cheaper but would have put sovereignty at risk. The entire operation was financed internally, without attracting any external investors or lenders.
Bull Bitcoin, founded in 2013 in Montreal by Beaulieu, acts as a platform Bitcoin exchange only and not custodial. Users provide their own wallet address before any purchase, with Bitcoin sent directly into the customer’s control rather than being held by the company. This model has defined the company’s cypherpunk direction from the beginning, along with services like Bitcoin bill payments for rent, utilities, and real estate, as well as support for privacy tools Lightning Network, Liquid, and Payjoin.
The license provides a long-term regulatory foothold in Europe following the company’s expansion of its France-based team and Eurozone services. Beaulieu previously pointed to the company’s experience dealing with Canadian oversight and its willingness to meet commitments while rolling back transgressions. The new mandate aligns with this position: core processes and user experience remain intact.
In October 2025, Bull Bitcoin launched its own bitcoin bull walleta universal, open source, privacy-first mobile app for iOS and Android with deep subscription-to-exchange integration. Features include Payjoin support, Lightning and Liquid compatibility, and no data collection or push notifications. Wallet and exchange integration remains unchanged under the new license.
Beaulieu expressed pride in the team’s implementation and outlined the next steps: “Having gained a long-term foothold in Europe, our ambition is global dominance and setting a new standard for how to build the infrastructure that Bitcoin deserves.”
The development comes amid a tightening of EU cryptocurrency rules under MiCA, with many providers facing pressure to exit or change operations. Bull Bitcoin’s findings suggest that strict compliance can be achieved while maintaining direct user custody, internal control of infrastructure, and privacy tools, although how the tension between user privacy expectations and MiCA compliance is resolved is not explained in the announcement.
