Regulation, deadline and stablecoins
What does it mean if an exchange is "MiCA-licensed"?
EU MiCA uses this label when the named EEA legal entity has a current entry in the ESMA register for crypto-asset services. The entry can use an Article 63 authorisation or an eligible Article 60 notification. Article 65 lets a firm notify other host states. The home entry does not prove which states or services the firm has notified.
When did MiCA come into force?
MiCA’s stablecoin rules applied from 30 June 2024. The CASP rules applied from 30 December 2024. Member states could give existing firms a transitional period of up to 18 months. The final window closed on 1 July 2026.
Is the MiCA deadline the same in every EU country?
No. Each member state set its own transitional window of up to 18 months. Ireland closed after 30 December 2025, and Germany closed after 31 December 2025. The Netherlands and several other states used shorter windows. No window could continue after 1 July 2026.
Is Binance MiCA-licensed?
No. Binance has no current MiCA register entry. It applied through Greece, withdrew the application in June 2026 and announced service restrictions for affected users in several EU markets. Binance said it would seek authorisation in another member state, which it has not named. Confirm the current position in the official ESMA register before trading.
Which exchanges are leaving or restricting the EU?
Binance withdrew its EU licence application on 24 June 2026 and announced service restrictions for affected users in several EU markets. MEXC has no verified current MiCA entry, and the Dutch AFM warned on 24 September 2025 that it was offering services without the required licence. Neither exchange has a current entry in the dated ESMA snapshot.
Does MiCA apply in Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein?
Yes. MiCA is part of the EEA framework. It applies in Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein through EEA incorporation and each state’s implementation process. Check the national authority for the applicable local date.
Why did some exchanges delist USDT and other stablecoins for EU users?
MiCA requires in-scope e-money and asset-referenced tokens to have the required issuer status and a white paper. An e-money token white paper is notified and published, and notification is not regulatory approval or endorsement. The competent authority approves the white paper of an authorised asset-referenced token issuer. Several exchanges restricted or delisted tokens that did not meet their MiCA listing policies during 2024–2025.
Where is the official list of licensed CASPs?
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) maintains the official public MiCA register. The register includes current and ended CASP entries and notified white papers. EU MiCA is an independent tracker that summarises and links to these sources. Confirm the current status in the ESMA register.
Exchange and licence questions
What happens to my crypto if my exchange is not MiCA-licensed?
MiCA does not confiscate your crypto when a provider lacks a CASP authorisation. The rules apply to the provider. Service, account and withdrawal access varies by firm and product. Follow the platform’s dated notice and verify the contracting entity before you act.
Is it illegal for me to use an unlicensed exchange?
MiCA does not make it illegal for a user to hold an account. The provider has the licensing obligation. National law and separate product rules can still apply. Without a verified MiCA route for the contracting entity and service, do not assume that CASP-specific conduct, safeguarding or complaint rights apply.
What is the difference between a CASP and a VASP?
VASP means "virtual asset service provider". National anti-money-laundering regimes used this term before MiCA. France’s PSAN registration is one example. Article 63 CASPs face MiCA prudential, conduct and custody rules. Eligible Article 60 entities keep their sectoral prudential regime, while relevant MiCA service duties still apply. A home entry does not show which host states were notified.
Do DEXes like Uniswap need a MiCA licence?
MiCA Recital 22 excludes services that are provided in a fully decentralised manner without an intermediary. A DEX needs a fact-specific review because its interface, governance or an identifiable intermediary can bring the service into scope. An out-of-scope result does not prove safety or remove other EU rules.
How many CASPs are licensed in the EU?
As of 6 October 2026, the ESMA snapshot contains 365 current legal-entity entries and 2 ended entries across 370 source records. The snapshot includes Article 63 authorisations and eligible Article 60 notification routes. This site separately maps major consumer brands to exact entities.
Can a licensed exchange lose its MiCA licence?
Yes. National regulators can restrict or withdraw an authorisation after it is granted. Austria’s FMA prohibited KuCoin EU from starting business operations on 18 February 2026 and banned new business on 19 February 2026. The FMA lifted the new-business ban on 18 May 2026, but the prohibition on starting operations remained. The FMA did not revoke the licence. Each status on EU MiCA has a verification date and a register link.