To verify a crypto exchange is licensed in the EU, check the ESMA interim MiCA CASP register for the exchange's legal entity name (not brand name), then cross-check the issuing national authority — Malta's MFSA, Luxembourg's CSSF, or Ireland's Central Bank, for example. A marketing claim of being 'MiCA-compliant' is unverified until you find the register entry. Here is a step-by-step guide.
Step 1 — Find the ESMA MiCA CASP Register
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) maintains the authoritative register of all MiCA-authorised Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs) across the EU. This is the single most reliable starting point for verifying any exchange's regulatory status.
Go to the ESMA MiCA CASP register at: https://www.esma.europa.eu/esma-registers/casp-register. The register is searchable and updated continuously as national competent authorities (NCAs) grant or revoke licences.
The register lists each authorised entity by legal name, country of authorisation, the NCA that granted the licence, and the services the entity is permitted to provide. If an exchange is not in this register, it does not hold a valid MiCA CASP authorisation — regardless of what its website claims.
This is information for verification purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
Step 2 — Identify the Exchange's Legal Entity Name
Exchanges operate under brand names that rarely match their registered legal entity names. The ESMA register lists legal names only — searching for a brand name will return no results and may lead you to incorrectly conclude an exchange is unlicensed.
Before searching the register, find the legal entity name by checking the exchange's Terms of Service or Legal Notice page. Look for phrasing like "operated by" or "services provided by". The legal entity name will typically include "Limited", "GmbH", "S.A.", or a similar corporate suffix.
- Brand name: Coinbase → Legal entity: Coinbase Europe Limited (Ireland) or Coinbase Germany GmbH
- Brand name: Kraken → Legal entity: Payward Europe Digital Assets Limited (Ireland)
- Brand name: Bitstamp → Legal entity: Bitstamp Europe S.A. (Luxembourg)
- Brand name: Bitpanda → Legal entity: Bitpanda Asset Management GmbH (Austria via MFSA Malta passporting)
Step 3 — Cross-Check the National Competent Authority
MiCA licences are issued by individual EU member state regulators, not ESMA directly. Once you identify the issuing country from the ESMA register, verify the authorisation on the national regulator's own database — this is the primary source and the most current record.
The three most active MiCA licensing jurisdictions as of 2026 are Malta (MFSA), Luxembourg (CSSF), and Ireland (Central Bank of Ireland). Each publishes its own register of authorised CASPs.
- Malta MFSA — Virtual Financial Assets register: https://www.mfsa.mt/financial-services-register/
- Luxembourg CSSF — CASP register: https://www.cssf.lu/en/virtual-asset-service-providers/
- Ireland Central Bank — Register of CASPs: https://registers.centralbank.ie/
- Germany BaFin — Crypto custody and CASP authorisations: https://www.bafin.de/EN/PublicationsReports/Registers/registers_node_en.html
- France AMF — PSAN/CASP register: https://www.amf-france.org/en/professionals/fintech/my-relations-amf/obtain-dasp-authorisation
Step 4 — What to Do If You Cannot Find the Entry
If you cannot locate the exchange in the ESMA register or the relevant national authority register, do not assume the exchange is licensed. Marketing language such as "MiCA-ready", "MiCA-aligned", or "MiCA-compliant" has no regulatory meaning — only an entry in the official register confirms authorisation.
Take the following steps before depositing any funds:
- Email the exchange directly and ask: 'What is the legal entity name and registration number of the MiCA CASP authorisation that covers EU users?' A legitimate exchange will answer promptly with specifics.
- Check the exchange's Terms of Service for the governing jurisdiction and entity name, then search that NCA's register directly.
- Search ESMA's Q&A and transitional period guidance — some exchanges were registered under pre-MiCA national regimes and are operating under transitional provisions until end of 2026.
- If the exchange cannot provide a clear answer or references only offshore entities (Seychelles, Belize, Comoros), treat this as a significant red flag.
- Do not deposit funds with an exchange you cannot verify. The absence of MiCA authorisation means no EU investor compensation scheme applies and client funds may not be legally required to be segregated.
Frequently asked questions
Is MiCA authorisation mandatory for exchanges serving EU customers?
Yes. Under MiCA (Regulation EU 2023/1114), any crypto-asset service provider offering services to EU retail clients must hold a CASP authorisation from an EU national competent authority. The MiCA CASP title came into full effect in December 2024. Exchanges operating without authorisation are acting in breach of EU law, and EU residents using them have no regulatory protection.
What does 'MiCA-pending' mean and is it safe?
MiCA-pending typically means an exchange has applied for authorisation but has not yet received it. EU member states can grant transitional relief allowing exchanges previously registered under national crypto frameworks to continue operating while their MiCA application is assessed — this transitional period runs until mid-to-late 2026 depending on the member state. It is not the same as being authorised. Check whether the exchange holds a valid national registration and whether the transitional provisions apply in your country before depositing.
Can an exchange be MiCA-licensed in one EU country and serve users across the whole EU?
Yes — this is the MiCA passporting mechanism. An exchange authorised in one EU member state (for example, Luxembourg via CSSF) can passport its services across all other EU member states without needing separate licences in each country. The ESMA register will show the home member state and the services passported. Always verify the home state authorisation, not just the exchange's claim to serve your country.
Does MiCA cover all cryptocurrencies including stablecoins?
MiCA has separate licensing tiers. Title III covers issuers of asset-referenced tokens and e-money tokens (stablecoins); Title VI covers crypto-asset service providers such as exchanges. Stablecoins like Tether (USDT) do not currently have MiCA-compliant issuer authorisation, and Binance removed USDT pairs for EU users in December 2024. MiCA-compliant stablecoins as of 2026 include USDC and EURC (both issued by Circle, which holds e-money licences in the EU). When evaluating an exchange's EU licence, check both the CASP authorisation and which stablecoins the exchange offers EU users.
Sources & further reading
An independent publisher mapping the regulation of cryptocurrency exchanges. Our editorial desk verifies every licence and availability claim against primary sources — the ESMA MiCA register, the FCA register, ASIC, MAS, VARA and each exchange's own terms — and never accepts payment for a better assessment or placement. We publish information only; nothing here is financial advice.