MiCA Crypto Licence — EU/EEA CASP Authorisation
Compare MiCA CASP authorisation across EU and EEA jurisdictions. One authorisation, 30+ markets. Select a country to see full requirements, costs, banking and application process.
What is MiCA CASP authorisation?
MiCA is the EU-wide regulatory framework for crypto asset service providers. CASP authorisation is required to legally operate as a crypto business serving EU/EEA clients.
- MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation) came into full effect for CASPs in December 2024.
- Any business providing crypto asset services to EU/EEA clients may need CASP authorisation.
- A single CASP authorisation can be passported to all 27 EU member states and EEA members.
- Service scope (exchange, custody, wallet, brokerage, advice) determines capital requirements.
- Each jurisdiction implements MiCA through its own national competent authority (NCA).
MiCA jurisdictions
Select a country to see the full country page with regulator profile, costs, banking strategy, requirements and application process.
Compare MiCA jurisdictions
Side-by-side comparison of costs, timelines, banking and reputation across MiCA-implementing EU/EEA countries.
Who MiCA CASP authorisation is right for
Best for
- Crypto exchanges and brokers targeting EU/EEA retail or institutional clients.
- Custody and wallet providers that need a single licence for cross-border EU operation.
- Businesses already operating in one EU member state that want to expand EU-wide via passporting.
- Businesses that need a high-reputation, fully regulated EU licence to satisfy institutional counterparties.
Not for
- Businesses whose primary market is outside the EU/EEA — consider VASP or DASP instead.
- Businesses with very limited capital who cannot meet share capital requirements.
- Businesses with unclear securities or DeFi activity — MiCA scope needs prior legal assessment.
- Projects with tight timelines — all MiCA routes start from 6 months.
Other routes to consider
If MiCA is not the right fit, these routes may be more appropriate for your business model.
Non-EU markets: Dubai, BVI, Cayman Islands, Seychelles and others with full VASP authorisation.
Turkey CASP authorisation — note: Turkey is not EU/EEA and passporting does not apply.
Turkish CASP does not grant EU/EEA passporting rights.
El Salvador and Kazakhstan digital asset service provider authorisation for non-EU market access.
If your model does not clearly fit any single route, a feasibility review identifies the correct path.
Frequently asked questions about MiCA
MiCA came into full effect for crypto asset service providers (CASPs) in December 2024. Issuers of asset-referenced tokens and e-money tokens had an earlier deadline of June 2024.
Yes. Once authorised in any EU member state, a CASP can passport its services to all other EU member states and EEA members (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) through a notification procedure without needing a separate licence per country.
Lithuania and Poland tend to have lower service fees, but total cost depends on share capital, annual supervision fees, local substance and banking preparation. The cheapest service fee is not always the lowest total cost.
All MiCA jurisdictions currently show timelines from 6 months. This covers pre-assessment, company setup, documentation, submission and the regulator review phase. File quality significantly affects timelines.
Capital requirements depend on service scope. The comparison below uses the base estimate of from 50 000 EUR for these MiCA routes, but custody, exchange, fiat-heavy or more complex models may need a higher capital plan.
Banking is one of the main post-authorisation challenges. Most MiCA country routes are rated medium to high for banking difficulty, with some premium jurisdictions still requiring detailed flow-of-funds, safeguarding and compliance evidence.
This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal or regulatory advice. Requirements may change. Always validate with a qualified adviser.