Bitpanda Available Countries

Summary: Bitpanda, a regulated cryptocurrency exchange, operates in over 80 countries primarily within the European Economic Area (EEA) and selected countries worldwide. It requires strict identity verification, using passports universally and ID cards in specific countries.

Restrictions are generally applied to countries outside the EEA due to regulatory constraints. Bitpanda holds several European licenses, allowing it to offer various financial services.

What Countries is Bitpanda Available?

Bitpanda services investors in over 80 countries across the European Economic Area (EEA) and abroad. These include but are not limited to Australia, Austria, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and other countries.

The platform requires a passport for identity verification in all countries. However, an ID card can also be used in certain countries such as Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, and many others.

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What Countries Does Bitpanda Restrict?

Bitpanda does not explicitly list restricted countries on their website. However, it primarily served countries within the European Economic Area (EEA) and a few others. Restrictions are generally placed on countries outside this area.

Typically, cryptocurrency exchanges may restrict countries due to regulatory constraints, especially those related to Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF) regulations. Such countries might include North Korea, Iran, and others under international sanctions.

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Bitpanda Regulation and Licensing

Bitpanda holds several licenses enabling it to offer various financial services, including the issuance and sale of stocks and ETFs based on derivative contracts. These licenses include the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II), a regulatory framework designed to protect investors and prevent market abuse. This license is recognized across Europe, negating the need for individual country licenses.

In addition, Bitpanda is compliant with the Revised Payment Services Directive (PSD2), allowing it to process payments from users. The platform is also registered as an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) in Austria, permitting the issuance of electronic money. Like the MiFID II license, both PSD2 and EMI licenses are valid across all European countries.

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Where Does Bitpanda Offer Staking?

Bitpanda provides staking services exclusively for investors based within the European Economic Area (EEA). While they aim to broaden access, regulatory constraints mean staking availability is currently restricted to these countries. 

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Bottom Line

In conclusion, Bitpanda, a licensed and regulated cryptocurrency exchange, serves investors across the European Economic Area (EEA) and in selected countries globally, offering diverse financial services. Notably, Bitpanda uses stringent identity verification to ensure the security of its users.

While restrictions apply mainly to countries outside the EEA due to regulatory concerns, Bitpanda maintains a user-centric approach, aiming to continually expand its services. This includes its staking services, which are currently exclusively available to EEA-based investors but may broaden in the future as regulatory landscapes evolve.