MiCA & CASP — FAQ
The questions people ask most about MiCA, CASP licensing and what it means for using crypto exchanges in Europe.
What does it mean if an exchange is "MiCA-licensed"?
It means the exchange holds an authorisation as a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, granted by a national regulator such as Malta’s MFSA, Germany’s BaFin or France’s AMF. A licence in one EU/EEA member state can be "passported" to operate across all 30 EEA countries.
When did MiCA come into force?
MiCA’s rules for stablecoins (asset-referenced and e-money tokens) applied from 30 June 2024, and the rules for crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) applied from 30 December 2024. Member states could grant existing firms a transitional ("grandfathering") period of up to 18 months. The deadline was not uniform — Germany and Ireland ended theirs on 31 December 2025, while 1 July 2026 is the latest possible backstop, which ESMA has confirmed will not be extended.
Is the MiCA deadline the same in every EU country?
No. Each member state set its own transitional window of up to 18 months. Germany (BaFin) and Ireland (CBI) ended theirs on 31 December 2025; the Netherlands, Poland and others used shorter ~6-month windows. 1 July 2026 is simply the latest date any country could allow, and it cannot be extended.
Is Binance MiCA-licensed?
No. Binance does not hold a MiCA CASP authorisation. It applied via Greece, then formally withdrew that application in June 2026 and said it would suspend regulated services across the EU from 1 July 2026 while seeking a licence elsewhere. Always confirm the current position on the official ESMA register before trading.
Does MiCA apply in Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein?
Yes. MiCA is an EEA-relevant regulation, so once incorporated into the EEA Agreement it applies in the three EEA-EFTA states (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) in addition to the 27 EU member states.
Why did some exchanges delist USDT and other stablecoins for EU users?
MiCA requires stablecoins offered to EU users (e-money tokens and asset-referenced tokens) to be issued by an authorised issuer with an approved whitepaper. Stablecoins that did not meet these requirements were restricted or delisted for EEA users by several exchanges during 2024–2025.
Where is the official list of licensed CASPs?
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) maintains the official public register of authorised CASPs and notified white papers. EU MiCA is an independent tracker that summarises and links to those primary sources — always confirm the current status in the ESMA register.
Informational only — confirm current licensing in the official ESMA register.