ESMA Adds 15 New Crypto Providers, Totaling 309 Licensed Firms in Europe

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has announced that it has added 15 new Crypto Asset Service Providers to its official registry under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, bringing the total number of licensed providers to 309. This move marks a significant milestone for regulatory clarity in the EU's crypto market.

The newly added providers include BNY Mellon's Belgian subsidiary and payments giant BitPay, marking the first time a major custodial bank has been regulated under MiCA. The inclusion of these companies demonstrates that traditional finance is increasingly embracing regulation and compliance in the crypto space.

ESMA's registry provides legal certainty and passporting rights for investors across 27 EU states, reducing risks associated with counterparties failing. For developers, MiCA offers a single route to market their products in the EU, simplifying regulatory requirements compared to fragmented national licenses.