Hidden Road, a global institutional credit network, has obtained a Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (MiCAR) license for its Dutch entity, Hidden Road Partners. The license, granted by the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), enables the firm to offer digital asset services to counterparties across the European Economic Area (EEA).
This development places Hidden Road among a small group of companies authorised under MiCAR, which sets a unified regulatory framework for digital assets across Europe. The license adds to the firm’s existing registration with the Dutch National Bank (DNB) as a Crypto Asset Services Provider, a requirement under the EU’s Anti-Money Laundering Directive (AMLD).
Dual licensing
Hidden Road stands out as the only firm under AFM supervision to hold both MiCAR and Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) licenses. The latter allows the company to provide investment services for traditional financial instruments, making it uniquely positioned to bridge the gap between traditional and digital asset markets.
The MiCAR license is part of Hidden Road’s broader strategy to establish a strong regulatory foundation. Beyond Europe, the firm is registered as a futures commission merchant and swap firm with the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and authorised as an investment firm by the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). It has also indicated plans to expand further into the U.S., Middle East, and Asia.
Michael Higgins, International CEO of Hidden Road, says, “Our licenses demonstrate our commitment to serving clients across traditional and digital assets in a transparent, regulated manner.”
