MEXC selects Bybit EU as alternative for Dutch users ahead of exit

MEXC is pulling out of the Netherlands, and it’s not being quiet about where it thinks Dutch users should go next. The Asian crypto exchange has recommended Bybit EU as an alternative platform for its Dutch client base ahead of a full exit scheduled for October 23, 2026.

The move is a direct consequence of the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation, better known as MiCA, which has been reshaping the European crypto landscape one forced exit at a time.

Why MEXC is leaving

The writing was on the wall since September 2025, when the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) flagged MEXC for providing services without the necessary MiCA authorization.

MiCA’s national transition period concluded on July 1, 2026, meaning any exchange without proper Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) authorization from the ESMA register is effectively locked out of EU markets. MEXC lacks that authorization and has opted to wind down Dutch operations rather than pursue it.

Dutch users have been advised to withdraw their funds and migrate to compliant exchanges before the October 23 deadline.

Why Bybit EU gets the nod

Bybit EU secured its MiCA authorization from Austria’s Financial Market Authority (FMA) around May 2025, making it one of the earlier major exchanges to clear the regulatory bar. Being MiCA-compliant means Bybit EU can legally serve clients across the entire European Economic Area, including the Netherlands.

The move mirrors what Kraken did in August 2026, when it announced a formal referral partnership with MEXC specifically designed to help Dutch clients migrate to its own licensed platform.

For Dutch users weighing their options, the field extends beyond just Bybit EU and Kraken. Bitvavo, a homegrown Dutch exchange, remains a compliant option. OKX, operating under a license from Malta’s MFSA, is another alternative.

The bigger picture for European crypto

MiCA was designed to create a unified regulatory framework across all EU member states, replacing the patchwork of national rules that previously governed crypto services. For exchanges that lacked the resources or willingness to pursue CASP authorization, the regulation has effectively become a filter. The ones that remain, like Bybit EU with its Austrian license, Kraken with its Irish CBI authorization, and OKX with its Maltese credentials, are the ones that invested early in compliance infrastructure.

For Dutch crypto traders, the practical impact is a temporary headache: moving funds, re-verifying identity on a new platform, and potentially adjusting to different fee structures and interface designs.

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