Aave Labs has officially received authorization under Europe’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, positioning the DeFi protocol among the first major decentralized finance projects to operate under full MiCA compliance.
The approval enables Aave to offer regulated fiat-to-crypto ramps across the entire European Economic Area.
The Central Bank of Ireland granted authorization to Push Virtual Assets Ireland Limited, Aave Labs’ wholly-owned subsidiary, allowing its fiat-to-crypto service, Push, to facilitate seamless conversions between euros and digital assets, including the protocol’s native stablecoin, GHO.
Ireland Emerges as a Hub for MiCA-Compliant DeFi
Aave’s choice of Ireland highlights the country’s rising role as a preferred hub for compliant on-chain finance in Europe. Earlier this year, Kraken secured its MiCA authorization in Ireland, expanding its crypto offerings across the EEA.
The move signals a growing trend of DeFi and centralized platforms selecting regulatory-friendly European jurisdictions to scale operations.
Driving Mainstream DeFi Adoption
The MiCA approval allows Push to offer regulated on- and off-ramps for GHO and other stablecoins, with conversion fees set to zero. This competitive pricing undercuts traditional fintech providers and centralized exchanges, reducing friction for mainstream users entering decentralized finance.
Aave Labs emphasized that compliant payment infrastructure is critical for onboarding everyday users into DeFi. By providing an audited, predictable pathway between euros and crypto assets, Push bypasses dependence on centralized exchanges for fiat-to-crypto conversions, potentially accelerating DeFi adoption across Europe.
Data from DefiLlama shows Aave processed $542 million in volume over the past 24 hours, with total borrowed assets from its lending pools exceeding $22.8 billion, underscoring the platform’s continued growth and relevance in the DeFi ecosystem.
