MiCA licence in Germany: BaFin

Who authorises CASPs in Germany?

The Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) is the competent authority for the crypto-asset service provider rules in Title V of MiCA when Germany is the home state. It receives Article 62 applications, decides on Article 63 authorisation and receives Article 60 notifications from eligible financial entities.

Lead CASP authority

BaFin

Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin)

Transition ended

31 December 2025

Germany used a 12-month period and created a separate simplified procedure for eligible firms.

Authorities in ESMA’s CASP file

1

Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin)

White papers notified here

170

164 other crypto-assets (Title II), 6 e-money tokens (Title IV)

The authority link opens the official regulator site. ESMA publishes the interim MiCA register that this page reads, and the searchable CASP register holds every entry from it. The 164 crypto-asset white papers notified in Germany are listed with the rest of the Title II notices.

CASPs authorised in Germany

ESMA’s CASP data dated 6 October 2026 lists 100 current entries with Germany as home state. The earliest authorisation date is 17 January 2025 and the latest is 12 October 2026. Names link to our exchange record where we track the brand, and to the register row otherwise.

Services held by CASPs in Germany

Each bar counts the current entries with Germany as home state that hold the service. Most firms combine several services, so the bars add up to more than 100.

1. aCustody and administration of crypto-assets for clients17
2. bOperation of a trading platform for crypto-assets2
3. cExchange of crypto-assets for funds (fiat)14
4. dExchange of crypto-assets for other crypto-assets11
5. eExecution of orders for crypto-assets on behalf of clients74
6. fPlacing of crypto-assets3
7. gReception and transmission of orders for clients22
8. hAdvice on crypto-assets10
9. iPortfolio management on crypto-assets8
10. jTransfer services for crypto-assets on behalf of clients17

Firms passported into Germany

In all, 187 firms authorised in another EEA state may serve residents of Germany. Each one lists Germany as a host state for at least one current service in ESMA’s file, through the Article 65 cross-border notification route. Most come from France (29), the Netherlands (22), Cyprus (20) and Malta (18).

Tracked exchanges in Germany

We track 52 licensed exchange and broker brands. The groups below sort them by ESMA’s home and host states for Germany.

A missing notification means ESMA’s file names no service in Germany for that legal entity. The brand may still reach Germany through another group entity or a later notification, so check the record before you rely on it. Platforms in the last group restrict EEA services or are still applying; see exchanges without a MiCA licence.

Article 110 warnings

ESMA’s Article 110 file dated 16 September 2026 holds no entry reported from Germany. The file is a warning dataset and not a complete list of unauthorised firms.

The MiCA warning list shows every entry with its reporting state and date.

How to apply for a MiCA licence in Germany

A firm with its registered office and effective management in Germany applies to BaFin for authorisation under Article 63. The Article 62 file covers the services in scope, governance, at least one EU-resident director, prudential safeguards, safeguarding of client assets, complaints handling and the business continuity and ICT controls that DORA requires.

Credit institutions, investment firms, e-money institutions, UCITS management companies, market operators and other entities listed in Article 60 can instead notify BaFin of equivalent services. They must notify at least 40 working days before they first provide the services.

Article 67 sets the requirement at the higher of the Annex IV minimum or one quarter of the previous year’s fixed overheads. The statutory periods cover the regulatory review only: preparation and questions from the authority add time. The CASP licence guide maps the services, documents and process, and the MiCA licence cost guide separates capital from fees and running costs.

Frequently asked questions

Sources