Acheron Trading Secures CASP License under MiCA, Becoming The First Dedicated MiCA-Approved Market Maker

On May 27th, Acheron Trading became the first CASP (Crypto-Asset Service Provider)-licensed dedicated crypto market maker under the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) Regulation. Acheron secured its CASP license from the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). With the license and European passport in hand, Acheron can now provide services across the European Union.

Europe is a strategic market for Acheron and market makers more broadly, in large part thanks to MiCA. The new framework has played an important role in propelling the region forward in crypto adoption and innovation. Valued at $6.9B and projected to reach $27.6B by 2033, the European crypto market is, by some measures, considered the second-largest crypto market in the world. As the first CASP-licensed dedicated market maker under MiCA, Acheron will unlock much-needed liquidity for the market to continue to flourish.

The MiCA approval underscores Acheron’s status as an industry pioneer and showcases the firm’s continued commitment to integrity and compliance. We hold these values to the highest standards, which is reflected not only by our decision to prioritize regulatory adaptation in key jurisdictions but also in our day-to-day activities. Acheron is guided by transparency and ethics in everything we do; they are the very essence of the firm’s existence.

Today’s milestone was made possible by Acheron’s leadership team, which has worked tirelessly with Dutch regulators to secure approval under MiCA. Their comments on the CASP license can be found below.

Laurent Benayoun, CEO of Acheron Trading, said: “Europe has seen steady crypto adoption among retail and institutional investors and continues to attract strong developer talent, making it a strategic market for us and market makers more broadly. As the first unified regulatory framework for crypto, MiCA positions Europe as a first mover in the industry, and now Acheron is following in those footsteps.”

Wesley Pryor, founder of Acheron Trading, stated: “Global assets necessitate global liquidity. For market makers to effectively meet the needs of global clients in bringing their assets to market, it’s critical that we scale responsibly across key markets. As we continue our efforts to obtain licenses in other jurisdictions, we look forward to offering comprehensive coverage for partners around the world.”

Daniel Lo, CLO of Acheron Trading, added: “I see our newly-acquired CASP license as an embodiment of who we are: market makers who care about the future of the crypto industry. Just as MiCA demands that crypto players act fairly and compliantly to combat malicious activity, we mandate transparency and collaboration in our everyday operations to combat manipulative practices and promote fairness.”

Today’s milestone is the first of many: Acheron is continuing to pursue licensing opportunities in other jurisdictions to provide global support for clients.