German regulator BaFin has rejected the application for MiCAR authorization submitted by futurum bank AG, a subsidiary of Bitcoin Group SE. The company had been waiting for a decision since June 27, 2025, a period exceeding 15 months. This refusal ends the regulator's previous tolerance of the subsidiary's crypto services.
Trading on the bitcoin.de platform has been largely suspended since June 12, 2026. Following the announcement on October 6, 2026, shares of Bitcoin Group SE declined by approximately 3–5%. CEO Moritz Eckert stated that the company is now pursuing alternative operational strategies.
For the first half of 2026, Bitcoin Group SE reported revenue of €1.59 million and a negative EBITDA of €3.25 million. The company expects these negative trends to continue for the full year. Management aims to launch a new trading model within weeks by partnering with regulated German firms for trading and custody services.
The proposed model involves a revamped bitcoin.de application. While the platform previously planned to support over 100 crypto assets, the company is currently focused on transitioning to a structure where external partners manage core operations. Bitcoin Group SE confirmed that customer assets remain secure.
