Bitpanda becomes Austria’s first Electronic Money Institution

We're thrilled to announce that Bitpanda Payments has been authorised to conduct payment activities as an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) in Austria. This special licence awarded to us by the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) not only strengthens our regulatory setup, it also makes it easier for everyone to access financial markets.

Out with the old

Bitpanda Payments is a Payment Service Provider (PSP) that connects the old world of finance with the new. Since receiving a licence as a PSP in June 2019, our users have been able to pay their rent, send euros to friends and shop anywhere they want using their Bitpanda account. 

“Bitpanda Payments as Austria’s first Electronic Money Institution brings us one step closer to our goal of opening up the investment world and providing people with a complete range of easy, safe and accessible investing options”, says Philipp Bohrn, Managing Director of Bitpanda Payments GmbH. Chief Product Officer of Bitpanda Payments Lukas Enzersdorfer-Konrad agrees: 

“Each new licence marks an important milestone for Bitpanda because it signifies the regulator's recognition of our mission to give everyone access to the financial markets.” 

As a licenced EMI, Bitpanda Payments can now issue e-money, expanding on what other traditional PSPs offer. We’re also very excited to announce other new innovative payments services in the near future!

Breaking down barriers

Following another first of ours last year, this latest news makes Bitpanda the first Austrian fintech company to receive an EMI licence. With our licensed subsidiaries working together in major financial hubs such as London, Milan, Barcelona, and Berlin, we can provide cutting-edge fintech services to all users in Europe. 

Along with more than 3 million users and 700+ team members onboard our Bitpanda rocketship, we're continuing to break down financial barriers and turning the world of investing upside down!