MiCA License Holders: Europe's Crypto Exchanges Post-Grandfathering
The MiCA regulation's grandfathering window slammed shut on July 1, 2026, forcing crypto exchanges to obtain CASP authorization or exit the European Economic Area (EEA). This means any exchange serving EEA residents without a valid license is now operating illegally. ESMA publicly told unauthorized firms to initiate an orderly exit, returning or transferring client assets.
As of July 17, 2026, the EU's register listed 297 CASP authorization records covering 293 firms across 26 EEA home states. Only 16 of the world's top 100 exchanges by volume hold a MiCA license, according to casptracker.eu's July snapshot.
The table below shows major retail-facing exchanges with full CASP authorization for trading services:
Exchange Licensing state Notes
Coinbase Luxembourg Licensed by the CSSF on June 20, 2025. Moved its EU hub from Ireland to Luxembourg as part of the authorization.
Kraken Ireland Payward Europe Solutions Ltd, authorized by the Central Bank of Ireland on June 25, 2025. Also holds a MiFID license for derivatives.
eToro Cyprus CySEC authorization from January 2025. Crypto sits alongside its stock and CFD offering.
Bitvavo Netherlands AFM-licensed. The dominant euro spot venue in the Dutch market.
Bybit EU Austria Bybit EU GmbH, authorized by the FMA on May 28, 2025, with its EU headquarters in Vienna.
OKX Malta OKX Europe Ltd, authorized by the MFSA on January 27, 2025. One of the first movers among global majors.
Bitstamp Luxembourg Bitstamp Europe S.A., CSSF-licensed. Now part of the Robinhood group.
Crypto.com Malta Foris DAX MT Ltd, MFSA authorization from January 2025.
Bitpanda Germany BaFin license, plus additional authorizations via Austria's FMA and Malta's MFSA. The only major with three.
Revolut Digital Assets Cyprus CySEC-licensed entity handling crypto for Revolut's EEA app users.
Gate.io EU Malta Gate Technology, MFSA-authorized. Runs a separate EU platform from its global exchange.
One Trading Netherlands Vienna-based, AFM-licensed. Institutional and pro-trader focus, spun out of Bitpanda.
Bullish Germany Bullish Europe GmbH, authorized by BaFin on September 4, 2025.
WhiteBIT EU Austria WB-Shields Innovations GmbH, FMA-authorized.
Bit2Me Spain Bitcoinforme S.L., authorized October 31, 2025. Spain's largest home-grown exchange.
Backpack Exchange Latvia Trek Technologies SIA, authorized May 27, 2026. One of the newest entries in the register.