Cyprus-based cryptocurrency custody firm Taurus has successfully obtained a MiFID II investment license under the regulatory framework of the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC). This development allows Taurus to extend its services, offering MiFID-regulated investment options for tokenized financial instruments to banks and asset managers within the European Union. According to a Wednesday press release, the firm can now facilitate secondary trading in tokenized bonds, fund shares, equities, and structured products.
“Banks prefer dealing with fully regulated entities that resemble their traditional counterparts,” stated Sébastien Dessimoz, co-founder and Managing Partner at Taurus, during an interview. “All brokers in Europe are MiFID licensed, and Taurus now joins this group as a licensed broker. This assures banks and institutions of our compliance with necessary regulations. Additionally, being based onshore in Europe is highly valued,” he added.
MiFID II, the EU’s principal regulatory framework for investment services and financial assets like equities and derivatives, enables firms to function as regulated service providers across EU nations. The license allows Taurus to integrate its crypto-native infrastructure with traditional banking regulations, providing tokenized securities in formats preferred by institutional clients.
Taurus collaborates on crypto custody and tokenization projects with major financial institutions such as Deutsche Bank, ClearBank, KBC, Santander, State Street, CACEIS, Pictet, and Swissquote. The firm also holds a license from the Swiss regulator FINMA and is preparing to submit an application for the EU Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA). Dessimoz highlighted that Taurus, as a fully regulated European entity, can deliver classical investment services for transferable securities while allowing clients to trade distributed ledger technology (DLT) financial instruments like tokenized equity and debt.
Other firms holding MiFID II licenses include OKX, Gemini, Crypto.com, Kraken, Bitstamp, and Perpetuals.com.