Bison Bank secures Portugal’s first full MiCA crypto license

Bison Bank has become the first Portuguese bank to receive authorization as a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) under the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation. This milestone allows the bank to integrate its crypto operations directly into its core banking services, moving away from its previous subsidiary-based model. The bank has also launched its own MiCA-compliant stablecoins, EUB and USB, which are pegged to the euro and US dollar respectively. With a strong capital position and a 38.5% Common Equity Tier 1 ratio, Bison Bank is positioning itself to capture institutional demand for regulated digital asset services. The bank has explicitly signaled plans to expand into the tokenization of real-world assets, leveraging its new regulatory status to attract European family offices and asset managers. By obtaining this license, Bison Bank gains passporting rights across all 27 EU member states, significantly expanding its potential market reach. This development is significant for the RWA market as it demonstrates how traditional financial institutions are utilizing comprehensive regulatory frameworks to bridge the gap between conventional banking and tokenized finance.