CASP authorisation now in force: 280 providers regulated

Since 1 July 2026, only platforms with a CASP licence (Crypto-Asset Service Provider) may still offer crypto services within the European Union. On 8 July 2026, 280 companies were registered, up from 244 a few weeks earlier.

In short · 📅 Since 1 July 2026: CASP licence mandatory for all exchanges serving EU customers · 📈 280 licensed providers as of 8 July 2026, up quickly from 244 · 🏦 15 of the world's 100 largest exchanges are MiCA-licensed, including Coinbase, Kraken, Bybit, OKX, Crypto.com and KuCoin · 🇩🇪 Germany leads with the most licences, including Commerzbank and Trade Republic · 🔍 Check for yourself via the official ESMA CASP register whether a provider is licensed · ⚖️ Decentralised exchanges (DEXs) are not subject to the CASP requirement

This is the follow-up to the earlier milestone of 244 licences: the MiCA transition period is now definitively over and the licensing requirement has become a hard rule, no longer a transitional measure.

What the 1 July deadline means in practice

As of 1 July 2026, operating without a CASP licence within the EU is no longer a grey area or a minor offence. Every centralised exchange offering services to EU customers needs a licence from a national supervisor, which is then valid in all 29 EEA countries via the European passporting system.

Which major exchanges are already licensed

Of the world's hundred largest exchanges, fifteen are now MiCA-licensed, including Coinbase (via Luxembourg), Kraken, Bybit (via Austria), OKX, Crypto.com and KuCoin. Germany leads in the number of licences, with Commerzbank, flatexDEGIRO Bank, Baader Bank, N26 and Trade Republic among those that have obtained CASP status.

How to check whether an exchange is regulated

The official ESMA CASP register provides an up-to-date overview of all licensed providers in the EU. For anyone in doubt about whether a platform may legally operate, a quick check in this register is the most reliable way to find out — more reliable than relying on a platform's own marketing claims.

What if you use an unlicensed exchange

Decentralised exchanges (DEXs) fall outside the CASP requirement because they are non-custodial: users retain control of their own funds. For centralised platforms without a licence, there is no more leniency as of 1 July. Anyone active on such a platform would be wise to reconsider and possibly switch to a licensed provider.

The acceleration from 244 to 280 licences in a matter of weeks shows the sector is adapting to the new framework at high speed. For European users this means more clarity, but also a greater responsibility to check for themselves where they keep their funds.

This article is informational and not investment advice. When in doubt, always verify a platform's licensing status yourself via the official ESMA register.

Sources: ESMA. Last checked: 10 July 2026.