KuCoin Wins MiCA License In Austria

Right this moment in crypto: KuCoin has secured a Markets in Crypto-Property Regulation (MiCA) license in Austria because it expands its push into Europe, Bitcoin is going through its worst November since 2019, however it may set it up for a 2026 rebound, and the Balancer group proposed a plan to distribute funds recovered from the protocol’s current hack.

KuCoin’s EU arm secures MiCA license in Austria, Malta excluded

Main cryptocurrency change KuCoin is the latest company to secure a license beneath the European Union’s MiCA framework.

KuCoin’s European arm, KuCoin EU, secured a MiCA license from the Monetary Market Authority of Austria, the corporate mentioned in an announcement shared with Cointelegraph on Friday.

The authorization permits KuCoin EU to supply crypto asset companies throughout 29 international locations within the European Financial Space (EEA), excluding Malta, based on the change’s representatives.

“Securing the MiCA license with our native entity in Austria is a defining milestone in KuCoin’s long-term belief and compliance technique,” KuCoin CEO BC Wong mentioned, including that the regulatory framework is “one of many highest regulatory requirements worldwide.”

KuCoin’s MiCA approval follows its license utility filed in early 2025, arriving months after a number of crypto asset suppliers (CASPs), together with Austria-based Bitpanda, had already secured MiCA authorization in different EU member states.

“The choice to decide on Austria was primarily pushed by the well timed implementation of the MiCA accompanying legal guidelines, the steady and foreseeable regulatory setting in addition to the massive expertise pool,” the change said in an announcement in February.

Alongside KuCoin, Austria’s FMA has issued MiCA licenses to 5 extra CASPs: crypto-friendly Amina Financial institution, Bitpanda, Bybit, Cryptonow and FIOR Digital.

Bitcoin set for “promising new 12 months” because it faces worst November in seven years

Bitcoin is more likely to close November at its worst loss since at least 2019, however LVRG analysis director Nick Ruck instructed Cointelegraph that it “indicators a chance for sensible traders to start out shopping for again in.”

“Overleveraged members and unsustainable initiatives have been largely cleared out, which provides approach for brand spanking new long-term holders to scale in forward of a promising new 12 months,” he mentioned.

November is traditionally one of many strongest months for Bitcoin (BTC), however it’s down almost 16.9% to this point since Nov. 1, nearing losses from November 2019, when it misplaced nearly 17.3%, however above its worst-ever November, when it dumped 36.5% throughout a brutal bear market.

Arctic Digital head of analysis Justin d’Anethan instructed Cointelegraph that crypto is used to a four-year cycle that’s seen year-end rallies, however that was disrupted by spot Bitcoin funds launching within the US in early 2024.

“I see this as constructive, although: it hints on the ever so harmful ‘this time is totally different’ as establishments lastly got here in a significant approach, altering the tempo, breadth and timing of crypto worth motion,” he mentioned.

Balancer group proposes plan to distribute funds recovered from hack

Two members of the Balancer protocol group submitted a proposal on Thursday outlining a distribution plan for a portion of the funds recovered from the protocol’s $116 million November exploit.

About $28 million from the $116 million heist was recovered by white hat hackers, inner rescuers, and StakeWise — an Ether liquid staking platform. 

Nonetheless, the proposal covers solely the $8 million recovered by white hat hackers and inner rescue groups, whereas the almost $20 million retrieved by StakeWise will probably be distributed individually to its customers.

The authors proposed that every one reimbursements needs to be non-socialized, that means that funds are distributed solely to the particular liquidity swimming pools that misplaced the funds and paid out on a pro-rata foundation based on every holder’s share within the liquidity pool, represented by Balancer Pool Tokens (BPT).

Reimbursements must also be paid in-kind, with victims of the hack receiving cost denominated within the tokens they misplaced to keep away from worth mismatches between totally different digital belongings, based on the authors. 

The Balancer hack was one of many “most sophisticated” attacks in 2025, based on Deddy Lavid, the CEO of blockchain cybersecurity firm Cyvers, highlighting the necessity for crypto person security as safety threats proceed to evolve.