Lunar Becomes First Scandinavian Bank to Secure EU MiCA License for Crypto Services
Lunar has become the first financial institution in Scandinavia to receive authorisation as a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) under the EU’s new Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework. The milestone enables Lunar’s in-app crypto platform, Lunar Block, to operate under unified European rules for digital asset trading, bringing stronger consumer protections and transparent governance to crypto users.
The MiCA license marks a new era for regulated crypto activity in Europe, offering clear parameters around risk disclosure, pricing, and user rights. For Lunar, it solidifies the company’s transition from a regional challenger bank to a fully compliant pan-European fintech with banking ecosystem.
“As a challenger bank, we believe innovation and regulation must work together,” said Ken Villum Klausen, Founder and CEO of Lunar. “Crypto assets can play a pivotal role in the digital economy, but sustainable innovation requires guidance from clear, consistent rules.”
Takeaway
The is the first comprehensive framework designed to provide uniform oversight across all 27 member states. By aligning crypto with the identical standards applied to traditional financial services, MiCA introduces consistent investor protection and operational clarity that had been missing from the sector. It requires licensed entities to disclose risks, , and maintain transparency in pricing and governance.
Lunar Block, launched in 2022, operates as a closed, in-app trading platform where customers can purchase and trade cryptocurrencies directly through the Lunar app. Integrated within the broader banking experience, it combines fintech agility with the compliance and securety expected from .
Under MiCA, Lunar Block’s operations will expand from Danish regulatory oversight to full EU-wide compliance. This gives Lunar the flexibility to offer crypto products across borders while maintaining a high standard of consumer protection and transparency throughout its ecosystem.
Takeaway
According to Klausen, regulation acts as a growth enabler rather than a constraint. “From day one, we’ve focused on ensuring that our users’ investments are handled securely when trading in Lunar Block,” he said. “With MiCA, regulation becomes an enabler—it provides the financial sector with a framework to grow responsibly while protecting consumers.”
By obtaining the MiCA license, Lunar gains the ability to harmonize its crypto operations across the EU, ensuring uniform standards for risk management, reporting, and consumer rights. This removes the fragmentation that previously required separate national registrations and provides a foundation for future product expansion.
The company’s approach reflects a broader trend among European fintechs viewking to integrate digital asset capabilities under the security of regulated frameworks. With MiCA now active, banks and fintechs alike are expected to follow Lunar’s lead in bringing crypto services under the identical compliance umbrella as traditional finance.
