Update Dec. 17, 7:30 pm UTC: This article has been updated to add OKX’s response about USDT pairs available on its platform following Coinbase’s USDT delisting.
Cryptocurrency exchanges in Europe are continuing to support Tether’s USDt stablecoin, even after Coinbase announced its delisting for European customers to comply with upcoming regulatory requirements.
Top exchanges, including Binance, Crypto.com and Kraken, have retained trading support for Tether’s USDt (USDT) following Coinbase’s delisting of the stablecoin on Dec. 13.
Other platforms such as KuCoin, MEXC and Bitget also offer the stablecoin to European users despite the looming full implementation of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) on Dec. 30.
The United States-based Coinbase exchange said it suspended USDT to comply with MiCA.
Has any other exchange delisted USDT in the EU?
While Coinbase has viewed USDT as a MiCA-restricted stablecoin since at least October, European authorities have not provided a clear statement on whether it should be considered noncompliant with local laws.
Other exchanges operating in Europe have not been vocal on the USDT delisting question, with only a few of them appearing to have delisted the stablecoin.
Approached by Cointelegraph about its past or potential USDT delisting, OKX said that the exchange had delisted USDT in March 2024, citing a shifting focus to euro-based trading pairs.
OKX features Tether USDt (USDT) on its home page for EU customers. Source: Cointelegraph
However, as of Dec. 17, OKX and Bitpanda both still feature USDT on their platforms, Cointelegraph has learned.
“We still have USDT available on our platform, but prioritized EUR and USDC spot trading pairs for the EEA. Any plans related to any delisting will be announced publicly through our official channels,” a spokesperson for OKX later told Cointelegraph.
Related: Tether backs European stablecoin firm StablR amid USDT uncertainty
Bitpanda declined to comment on whether the exchange has delisted or plans to delist USDT in the near future.
The final MiCA deadline is just weeks away
Stablecoin regulation is part of MiCA’s phase one stablecoin regime, which has been applicable since June, but the stablecoin framework is expected to come into full force from Dec. 30.
With the deadline approaching, crypto exchanges in Europe still have time to decide on whether or not to delist USDT in the coming weeks.
USDT is available for trading for EU customers on exchanges such as Kraken (left), MEXC (middle) and KuCoin (right). Source: Cointelegraph
Cointelegraph approached several exchanges for comment regarding USDT delistings but did not receive responses by publication.
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