bitFlyer, a Japanese bitcoin exchange operator founded in 2014, has launched service in Europe following receipt of a payment institution licence from Luxembourg’s financial regulator Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF).

bitFlyer said it will initially support trading of only bitcoin/euro pair but intends to add other virtual currencies including Litecoin, Ethereum, Ethereum Classic and Bitcoin Cash to its platform later in 2018.

Until the end of February 2018, bitFlyer Europe will not charge users any trading fee.

bitFlyer will market its platform across the European Union from its Luxembourg House of Financial Technology Foundation base.

bitFlyer founder and CEO Yuzo Kano said: “I am proud that we are now the most compliant virtual currency exchange in the world; this coveted regulatory status gives our customers, our company and the virtual currency industry as a whole a very positive future outlook.”

bitFlyer operates in Japan under the licence of the Japanese Financial Services Agency (FSA). Last year, it also secured a licence to launch operations in the US.

bitFlyer Europe COO Andy Bryant said: “What we bring to Europe is a platform designed by traders for traders. Through our web interface or API, traders can get up and running quickly and benefit from some of the most robust systems, highest speeds and an interface designed with their specific needs in mind.”