The European crowdfunding market is growing fast. In 2023, Europe had 159 certified crowdfunding platforms. By early 2026, that number had already increased to 254. Expectations are that this number will continue to grow in the coming years. A key driver behind this growth is the introduction of the European Crowdfunding Service Providers Regulation (ECSPR). This regulation brings clarity, strengthens trust, and enables platforms to scale within the sector.
What does the ECSPR mean in practice?
The ECSPR requires crowdfunding platforms to apply for a license with their national regulator (in the Netherlands, this is the AFM). With this license, platforms also obtain an EU passport. This allows them to operate in multiple member states without additional national licenses. The regulation significantly lowers the barrier for cross-border services.
In addition, the ECSPR sets clear requirements for, among other things:
- transparent disclosure of risks and costs,
- mandatory use of a KIIS (Key Investment Information Sheet) for each campaign,
- strict due diligence in project assessments,
- procedures for complaint handling, conflicts of interest, and business continuity.
These measures protect investors and increase the reliability of crowdfunding as a form of financing. Because the ECSPR is an EU regulation, the same framework applies in every member state.
The role of GoCredible
Crowdfunding is not only about connecting supply and demand. Money flows are the backbone of the platform. Third-party funds, fees, investments, interest and repayment flows, and arrears require a robust payment infrastructure. Add onboarding for both investors and borrowers, and you are dealing with a broad compliance challenge under financial regulation.
GoCredible provides those smart and secure payment solutions for platforms. We have supported crowdfunding since the first Dutch initiatives, well before the ECSPR was introduced. Our customers are proof of that. With our Smart Contracts platform, we help crowdfunders with:
- flexible and compliant third-party funds management,
- full PSD2 compliance,
- processing complex payment flows (split payments, wallets, segregated accounts),
- onboarding customers with high conversion,
- meeting a range of requirements, including ECSPR and DORA.
By integrating technology and compliance into one solution, we enable safe growth without limiting scalability.
Ready for the next step?
Do you want to grow your crowdfunding platform with a partner that demonstrably puts compliance, transparency, and reliability first? Get in touch and discover what GoCredible can do for your platform when entering or expanding within the European market.
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