Three crypto firms secure Spanish payment licences to operate stablecoin services
Executive summary: Three cryptocurrency companies received payment service licences from the Banco de España, enabling them to offer stablecoin‑based payment services in Spain. The licences are the first granted under Spain’s post‑MiCA regulatory regime, indicating that regulated stablecoin operations can now legally commence in the country.
Who is involved: The Banco de España as regulator; the three unnamed crypto platforms (referred to only as ‘tres empresas cripto’ in the source); and stablecoin users and service providers in Spain.
Likely next: Additional crypto firms may submit licence applications, and the Banco de España is expected to publish a public register of authorised payment token providers.
According to Expansión, three cryptocurrency platforms have obtained payment service licences from the Banco de España, allowing them to issue and transact with stablecoins in Spain. The licences are required under Spain’s implementation of the EU’s Markets in Crypto‑Assets (MiCA) framework, which took effect in mid‑2026. This marks the first batch of authorised crypto payment providers in the country, signalling a shift toward regulated stablecoin activity. The development may encourage further applications from other firms seeking to operate under the new regime.
Timeline
- — Tres empresas 'cripto' ya cuentan con la licencia de pagos en España (Expansión)
Analysis — what this means
Sectors affected
- crypto payment services
- stablecoin issuers
- Spanish fintech sector
Key entities
Sources
Related cases
- Spain could add over one million homes by increasing urban density, Banco de España says
- Spanish multinationals are using Morocco as a low‑cost production base for autos, clothing and food, creating both cost advantages and geopolitical exposure
- Benetton-backed 21 Next fund prepares to launch in Spain with an imminent acquisition of a mechanical engineering firm
- Iberdrola announces a record €1.2 billion investment plan to upgrade Spain’s grid and enable data‑center growth
- Dacia Sandero poised to retain Spain’s top‑selling car spot for a fourth year as Toyota locks three models in the top ten and Seat maintains its position amid brand shifts
- Spanish household lending expands despite interest‑rate uncertainty, reflecting resilient consumer demand