European institutions are gaining new regulated routes into digital assets as a major partnership focuses on enhancing mica crypto trading within the region’s evolving regulatory framework.
Deutsche Börse’s 360T links up with Bitpanda
Deutsche Börse Group‘s FX and digital assets arm 360T has entered a strategic partnership with Austrian Bitpanda to expand institutional access to crypto trading across Europe. The agreement, announced in a press release shared with CryptoNews, targets banks and financial institutions seeking regulated exposure to digital assets.
According to the statement, the deal combines Bitpanda’s digital asset infrastructure with 3DX, 360T’s MiCA-regulated crypto-asset trading platform. This comes as financial institutions increasingly look for compliant, transparent ways to enter the digital asset market under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA).
Moreover, the companies stressed that the partnership is designed to support institutional clients that want to offer crypto services while still meeting stringent European regulatory requirements. In practice, this could accelerate the rollout of new digital asset products by traditional financial players.
3DX and Bitpanda combine institutional and retail capabilities
Under the agreement, 360T’s 3DX will operate as a MiCA-regulated trading venue built on institutional-grade technology. That said, Bitpanda will supply the underlying infrastructure needed for retail-facing crypto services, effectively linking wholesale liquidity with consumer distribution channels.
The firms said this integration will allow banks and other financial institutions to offer digital asset services to end-users without building complex systems in-house. This model aims to lower barriers to entry for traditional players that lack native crypto technology stacks but want to participate in regulated digital asset markets.
Each party will remain fully responsible for its own regulated activities, ensuring a clear separation of responsibilities as the sector matures. However, the cooperative framework is designed to provide flexibility as MiCA rules continue to be implemented across the European Union.
Europe positions itself as a digital asset hub
Lukas Enzersdorfer-Konrad, CEO of Bitpanda, described the partnership as a key milestone in building the next generation of institutional crypto infrastructure in Europe. He argued that Europe is increasingly setting the pace for digital asset regulation and market structure.
“Together with Deutsche Börse Group, we are building the infrastructure that will enable the next generation of institutional digital asset adoption,” Enzersdorfer-Konrad said in the press release. “Partnering with 3DX is an important step as we continue to scale our partner solutions.”
Moreover, Enzersdorfer-Konrad said the collaboration underscores Europe’s expanding role in shaping global digital asset markets via regulated frameworks and established financial institutions. As MiCA takes effect, he expects Europe to attract more institutional capital into compliant digital asset products.
Deutsche Börse broadens client options
Carlo Kölzer, CEO of 360T and Global Head of FX & Digital Assets at Deutsche Börse Group, said 3DX was specifically designed to give institutions compliant access and flexibility in digital asset trading. He emphasized that the platform aims to align with both regulatory expectations and operational needs.
“By integrating Bitpanda’s services, we are expanding the options available to our clients, particularly those looking to support downstream use cases such as client-facing digital asset offerings, without having to build sophisticated infrastructure themselves,” Kölzer said.
However, he also highlighted that both sides will maintain strict regulatory oversight of their respective services. This approach is intended to reassure supervisors and clients that robust governance remains in place as demand for digital assets grows.
Further cooperation beyond trading
Both companies noted they are already exploring additional areas of cooperation beyond trading functionality. Potential extensions include connectivity improvements, workflow integration and broader infrastructure development tailored to institutional and retail use cases.
The partnership reflects rising demand among European financial institutions for regulated crypto trading venues and service providers. In particular, firms are looking for solutions that can support both institutional liquidity management and retail distribution through a single integrated framework for digital assets.
As MiCA implementation progresses, collaborations such as that between 360T and Bitpanda are expected to play a central role in shaping Europe’s institutional digital asset landscape. In this context, mica crypto trading is likely to become a core pillar of the region’s financial market infrastructure over the next few years.
Bitpanda eyes Frankfurt listing in 2026
In a further sign of maturation, Bitpanda is preparing for a potential stock market debut in Frankfurt in the first half of 2026. The plan would move one of Europe’s largest retail crypto platforms from bull market beneficiary to a publicly listed company subject to ongoing market scrutiny.
Moreover, a successful initial public offering would cement Bitpanda’s position within Europe’s regulated financial ecosystem. It would also underscore investor interest in companies building infrastructure for compliant digital asset access, both for institutions and retail clients.
Overall, the 360T-Bitpanda deal underlines how Europe’s regulatory clarity under MiCA is encouraging established market operators and crypto-native platforms to collaborate. If successful, this model could become a blueprint for integrating digital assets into mainstream financial markets.
