Bitget has named former KuCoin EU and Bitpanda executive Oliver Stauber as CEO of Bitget EU and will base its new MiCA-ready European headquarters in Vienna, Austria.
Summary
- Bitget says its Vienna office will serve as its EU headquarters, coordinating compliance, governance and supervisory engagement across the European Economic Area.
- Stauber previously led KuCoin EU Holding and served as Bitpanda’s Chief Legal Officer, giving him deep experience in European regulatory and licensing regimes.
- The exchange is positioning the move as part of a broader European strategy focused on MiCA readiness, internal controls and transparent operations ahead of 2026 deadlines.
Cryptocurrency exchange Bitget has appointed Oliver Stauber as CEO of Bitget EU as the company establishes its European headquarters in Vienna, Austria, according to a company announcement.
The appointment comes as Bitget prepares for operations under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), which introduces a harmonized regulatory framework for digital asset services across the bloc.
Vienna will serve as the firm’s planned EU headquarters, supporting regulatory engagement and internal controls as the company prepares for MiCA implementation, Bitget stated. The Austrian hub is expected to function as an operational center for compliance, governance, and supervisory coordination across the European Economic Area (EEA).
Stauber brings experience in European executive, regulatory and legal matters across digital assets and financial services. He previously served as Managing Director and CEO of KuCoin EU Holding GmbH in Vienna and held senior leadership positions at Bitpanda, including Chief Legal Officer, where he oversaw legal, regulatory, and compliance functions, according to the announcement.
“Oliver’s appointment builds our confidence in Bitget’s long-term presence in Europe,” said Gracy Chen, CEO of Bitget. “He brings the regulatory fluency and operational discipline needed to set up our EU headquarters in Austria and strengthen a governance-first approach under MiCAR.”
Stauber stated that MiCA is reshaping expectations for digital asset providers in Europe, placing greater emphasis on risk controls, disclosures, and operational discipline. “MiCAR is resetting expectations for how digital-asset services are governed in Europe,” Stauber said. “Our HQ in Vienna will build a regulated, scalable setup ready to drive the future of finance in Europe and to serve EEA users reliably.”
The company said its European strategy will prioritize regulatory readiness, compliance foundations and operational transparency.
Last week, Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, confirmed it submitted an application for a MiCA license in Greece as digital asset firms across Europe accelerate efforts to secure regulatory approval before the transitional period expires. Companies have until June 2026 to obtain the license.