MiCA License
A crypto licence under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) — authorisation as a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) — is now the only legal basis for providing crypto-asset services in the EU. The transitional periods for previously registered providers have ended, and one CASP authorisation gives access to the entire EU market.
We assist in obtaining a MiCA licence across various European jurisdictions, providing regulatory consulting, policy drafting, licence application support and ongoing compliance assistance. Our expertise ensures businesses meet MiCA requirements, mitigate risks and pass the approval process in the EU.
Secure compliance and expand your crypto business with our comprehensive CASP licensing services.
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Operate in all EU member states (and the EEA) under one authorisation and a unified regulatory framework — no additional permits required.
MiCA compliance builds trust among clients, banks, investors and partners, and your authorisation is publicly visible in the ESMA register.
Our team has ensured crypto compliance and licensing in the EU since 2017, guiding businesses from national VASP registrations to MiCA authorisation.
What is MiCA: the single regulatory framework for crypto companies in the EU
MiCA (Regulation (EU) 2023/1114) is an EU regulation that sets uniform rules for crypto-asset issuers and crypto-asset service providers across all 27 EU member states and, since 2025, the EEA states. It standardises licensing requirements for CASPs, introduces capital, governance and client-asset protection rules, and ensures transparency and investor protection.
MiCA was adopted in 2023 and has applied in full since 30 December 2024 (the rules for stablecoins — asset-referenced and e-money tokens — since 30 June 2024). It replaced the patchwork of national VASP registrations with a single authorisation regime.
CASP authorisation is required for any company providing one or more of the ten MiCA crypto-asset services to EU clients: exchange of crypto-assets for funds or for other crypto-assets, custody and administration, operation of a trading platform, execution and reception/transmission of orders, transfer services, placing, advice and portfolio management. This includes crypto exchanges, brokers, custodial wallet providers, OTC desks and trading platforms.
Token issuers follow separate MiCA rules: most offerors of crypto-assets publish and notify a white paper, issuers of asset-referenced tokens need their own authorisation, and e-money tokens may be issued only by credit institutions or licensed e-money institutions. We advise on these regimes as well.
MiCA licences are issued by the national financial regulators of the EU member states, which review applications and supervise authorised CASPs. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) and the European Banking Authority (EBA) develop the technical standards and guidelines that regulators apply, coordinate supervisory practice and maintain the EU-wide register of authorised CASPs — but they do not issue licences.
MiCA has applied to CASPs since 30 December 2024. National transitional periods allowed existing providers to continue operating temporarily, but the last of them ended on 1 July 2026. Any company offering crypto-asset services to EU clients without CASP authorisation is in breach of EU law and faces fines, restrictions and referral to law enforcement, while licensed firms gain EU-wide market access. For a detailed timeline and the latest developments, see our MiCA Regulation: 2026 Guide.
MiCA licensing procedure with our legal team
We offer complete end-to-end assistance in obtaining MiCA licences in the EU. From legal consultations and jurisdiction selection to document preparation, submission and communication with the regulator, we ensure your crypto business complies with EU regulations through a fully managed licensing process.
With experience in licensing crypto companies since 2017, our team has guided numerous businesses through complex regulatory landscapes and now builds application files to the standards that MiCA regulators actually apply.
- Basic MiCA Licensing€19 900
- Advanced MiCA LicensingContact for pricing
- Premium MiCA LicensingContact for pricing
MiCA compliance framework for CASPs
MiCA groups the ten crypto-asset services into three classes (Annex IV) based on their risk profile. The class determines the minimum capital requirement; in each case the actual requirement is the higher of the fixed amount and one quarter of the previous year’s fixed overheads. All classes are subject to licensing, governance, AML/KYC, client-asset protection, conduct, operational-resilience and reporting obligations.
These CASPs provide advisory and intermediary services with limited direct exposure to client assets. Class 1 services include:
- Execution of orders on behalf of clients
- Placing of crypto-assets
- Providing transfer services for crypto-assets on behalf of clients
- Reception and transmission of orders for crypto-assets
- Providing advice on crypto-assets
- Portfolio management of crypto-assets
These CASPs hold client assets or exchange crypto-assets, which carries higher financial and operational risk and stricter safeguarding and AML obligations. Class 2 covers any Class 1 service plus:
- Custody and administration of crypto-assets on behalf of clients
- Exchange of crypto-assets for funds (crypto-to-fiat)
- Exchange of crypto-assets for other crypto-assets (crypto-to-crypto)
Operators of crypto-asset trading platforms face the most extensive requirements — market surveillance, operating rules, operational resilience and liquidity standards. Class 3 covers any Class 2 service plus:
- Operation of a trading platform for crypto-assets
Regardless of classification, all CASPs must comply with the following core obligations:
- Licensing — obtain authorisation from the national financial regulator and be entered in the ESMA register.
- Governance — fit-and-proper management and shareholders, internal controls and sound risk management.
- Client-asset protection — segregate and safeguard client funds and crypto-assets.
- AML/KYC compliance — robust anti-money-laundering and know-your-customer procedures, including the Travel Rule for crypto transfers.
- Operational resilience — ICT-risk management, cybersecurity and incident reporting under DORA.
- Conduct and reporting — fair treatment of clients, clear risk disclosures, complaints and conflicts handling, controlled outsourcing, record-keeping and regular reporting to the regulator.
Applying for a CASP licence under MiCA
Obtaining a MiCA licence involves regulatory approval, compliance verification and a business assessment by the national regulator. Below are the key steps:
- Map your services to the MiCA list and determine your class (1, 2 or 3).
- Choose the jurisdiction and corporate structure; identify directors and the compliance/AML function.
- Prepare the policy framework: governance, risk management, AML/KYC, ICT and DORA, custody and safeguarding, conflicts, complaints, business continuity and wind-down.
The application is submitted to the national regulator of the EU country where the company is established and includes:
- Company registration details, ownership structure and shareholder information
- Programme of operations and business plan with financial projections
- Proof of minimum capital (€50,000, €125,000 or €150,000, or one quarter of fixed overheads if higher)
- Fit-and-proper documentation for management and shareholders
- Governance, internal-control, risk-management and AML/KYC procedures
- ICT systems, security and DORA documentation
- Custody, safeguarding, outsourcing and complaints procedures; for platforms — operating rules and market-abuse controls
The regulator has 25 working days to confirm the application is complete and 40 working days to assess it, with the clock paused for additional information requests. The review typically includes:
- Due diligence on owners, directors and key personnel
- Evaluation of internal policies and risk controls
- Assessment of financial sustainability and capital
- Scrutiny of ICT architecture, group structure and outsourcing
If the CASP meets all requirements, the regulator grants the authorisation and the company is entered in the ESMA register. The CASP can then passport its services to all other EU/EEA states by simple notification. Post-licensing obligations include regular reporting, audited annual accounts, continuous AML/KYC and DORA compliance and notification of material changes.
Securing a MiCA licence ensures legal market access, investor trust and long-term business growth in the EU crypto sector.
Why choose us?
Securing a MiCA licence requires expertise in regulation, compliance and legal procedures. Our team provides end-to-end support, ensuring a smooth licensing process and full compliance with MiCA and the national regulator’s requirements.
We specialise in crypto compliance and licensing in the EU since 2017, helping CASPs navigate MiCA and meet all legal requirements.
From regulatory consulting and jurisdiction selection to document drafting and communication with authorities, we handle the entire licensing process.
We create custom policies, AML/KYC frameworks and risk-management procedures that reflect MiCA, DORA and the EU AML rules and match your business model.
We liaise with national financial authorities, prepare your management for interviews and handle information requests, ensuring a transparent and efficient approval process.
Our support does not stop after licensing — we provide continuous compliance monitoring, reporting support, audits and regulatory updates to keep your business aligned with MiCA.
FAQ: MiCA regulation and CASP licence
MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (EU) 2023/1114) is the EU’s directly applicable rulebook for crypto-asset issuers and crypto-asset service providers. It applies in all 27 EU member states and the EEA.
Any company providing crypto-asset services to EU clients — exchanges, brokers, custodial wallets, trading platforms, transfer, advisory and portfolio-management services. Token issuers fall under separate MiCA rules (white paper notification for most tokens, authorisation for asset-referenced token issuers, EMI or bank status for e-money token issuers).
No. The last national transitional periods in the EU ended on 1 July 2026. Providing crypto-asset services to EU clients without CASP authorisation is now a breach of EU law.
Legal access to the entire EU/EEA market under one authorisation, passporting by notification, credibility with banks and institutional partners, and a public listing in the ESMA register.
€50,000 for Class 1 (advisory and intermediary services), €125,000 for Class 2 (custody and exchange) and €150,000 for Class 3 (trading platforms) — or one quarter of the previous year’s fixed overheads if that is higher.
Authorisation by the national regulator; fit-and-proper management and shareholders; capital requirements; segregation and safeguarding of client assets; AML/KYC procedures including the Travel Rule; DORA ICT-risk and incident reporting; conduct rules, complaints and conflicts handling; controlled outsourcing; record-keeping and reporting.
The regulator has 25 working days to check completeness and 40 working days for the assessment, but the clock pauses for additional questions. In practice, plan for 3–6 months of regulator review on a well-prepared file and 6–12 months overall including preparation.
The national financial regulator of the EU member state where the company is established. ESMA maintains the EU register and sets the standards but does not issue CASP licences; a European Commission proposal to centralise CASP supervision at ESMA is still under negotiation and does not change the procedure today.
Yes. After notifying its home regulator, a CASP may provide the same services in all EU and EEA states without another licence, at the latest 15 calendar days after the notification.
Fines, operational restrictions, website blocking and referral to law enforcement — and, since the transitional periods have ended, regulators are expected to act.
Yes. Asset-referenced tokens and e-money tokens have been regulated since 30 June 2024, and CASPs may offer EU clients only MiCA-compliant stablecoins. Other crypto-assets (including utility tokens) require a white paper. Crypto-assets that qualify as financial instruments (security tokens) are outside MiCA and fall under MiFID II.
ESMA develops technical standards and guidelines, coordinates supervisory practice across member states and maintains the EU-wide register of authorised CASPs. Authorisations are granted by national regulators.
DORA (ICT risk and incident reporting), the Travel Rule under Regulation (EU) 2023/1113, the EU AML framework and national AML law, and payment-services rules for certain e-money token activities.
Not directly. A non-EU company must establish a legal entity in an EU member state with its registered office there, effective management in the EU and at least one EU-resident director, and meet all regulatory requirements. Reverse solicitation is a narrow exemption that regulators interpret strictly.
Corporate and ownership documents, a programme of operations and business plan, proof of capital, fit-and-proper files, governance and internal-control descriptions, AML/KYC procedures, ICT and DORA documentation, custody and safeguarding policies, outsourcing and complaints procedures and, for platforms, operating rules and market-abuse controls.
We provide full regulatory support: consulting and classification, jurisdiction selection, company registration, preparation of the complete application and policy set, submission, communication with the regulator, passporting and ongoing compliance.
