Nano-crystalline BaTiO₃ powders with an average primary particle size of approximately 10 nm have been prepared by applying a microemulsion mediated synthesis technique. The powders were characterized with respect to their stoichiometry (ICP-OES, XRF), purity (XRD, FTIR, Analysis of C-content), crystalline structure (XRD), morphology (TEM, FE-SEM) and particle size distribution (XRD-line broadening, BET, SAXS). Compared to a commercial reference powder (primary particle size: 50 - 70 nm) the powders of our study clearly showed improved sinter activity, since the onset of densification is significantly shifted to lower temperatures. However, the preparation of highly densified nanocrystalline bulk BaTiO₃ ceramics requires the application of pressure assisted consolidation methods in order to reduce undesired grain-growth and porosity arising from differential sintering.