ABN AMRO Bank has obtained a MiCAR license and completed its first blockchain derivatives transaction

ABN AMRO, the Dutch bank, has made new progress in the field of digital assets. Its German subsidiary, Hauck Aufhäuser Digital Custody, has obtained authorization under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) to provide custody and trading-related services for institutional clients under a unified regulatory framework, with plans to gradually expand to other EU member states.

MiCAR officially came into effect on December 30, 2024. This approval means that ABN AMRO is one of the early institutions to obtain this license. At the same time, ABN AMRO has completed its first cross-border over-the-counter "Smart Derivatives Contract" (SDC) transaction with DZ BANK. This transaction operated on blockchain technology for 10 days, with settlement, valuation, and collateral management automatically completed on-chain, and related payments executed instantly via SEPA and returned to the smart contract, aimed at reducing operational complexity and counterparty risk in OTC derivatives trading. ABN AMRO stated that regulatory compliance and on-chain financial infrastructure will become important components of its efforts to promote digital assets and financial innovation in Europe.