Key Takeaway
As of May 2026, 14 major exchanges hold MiCA CASP authorization. Binance filed its CASP application with HCMC Greece in January 2026 — review in progress. KuCoin EU banned by FMA Austria (Feb 2026). MEXC and HTX have no license. ESMA confirmed: no extension to the July 1, 2026 deadline. After that date, unlicensed exchanges cannot legally serve EU users.
⚠️ Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only. The regulatory situation is evolving — always verify the current authorization status of an exchange on the official regulator's website before making financial decisions.
The MiCA Regulation (Markets in Crypto-Assets) is the European regulatory framework that governs exchanges and crypto-asset service providers in the European Union. From July 1, 2026, all platforms operating in the EU must hold CASP (Crypto-Asset Service Provider) authorization issued by a regulatory authority of an EU Member State.
The single passport principle ensures that authorization obtained in a single Member State is valid across all 27 EU countries. This means an exchange authorized in Luxembourg can legally offer services to users in Italy, Germany, Spain, and all other Member States without additional national licenses.
📋 How to read this guide: The CASP status reported here reflects information available in May 2026. The situation is dynamic — some applications are still under review. Updated periodically.
Table: Exchanges and MiCA Status (May 2026)
📊 Update May 4, 2026: The ESMA CASP registry (European Securities and Markets Authority) counts 184 authorized providers across the entire EU. Of these, 14 are fully operational as centralized exchanges (CEX): Coinbase, Kraken, eToro, Bitvavo, Bybit EU, OKX, Bitstamp, Crypto.com, Bitpanda, Revolut Digital Assets, Gate.io EU, One Trading Exchange, Bullish Exchange, Binance (HCMC Greece — application Jan. 2026, review in progress). Gemini exited the EU on April 6, 2026 — EU/EEA accounts closed (withdrawal-only since March 5). KuCoin EU Exchange: FMA Austria banned all new business since February 23, 2026 due to AML/CTF staffing failures — new users cannot register (source: fma.gv.at). KuCoin has since hired Carmen Kleinhans as AML chief to remediate and appeal the ban.
⚠️ YMYL Note: This table is based on the official ESMA CASP Registry (esma.europa.eu). The registry updates weekly. Always verify current status on the official ESMA site before making financial decisions.
📋 ESMA Statement — April 17, 2026: Official statement on end of transitional periods under MiCA: unauthorized CASPs must have fully operational wind-down plans in place before July 1, 2026 — including arrangements to transfer user crypto-assets to an authorized CASP or self-hosted wallet.
| Exchange | MiCA Status | Authorizing Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coinbase | ✅ Authorized | Luxembourg | NASDAQ-listed, passported license across entire EU |
| Kraken | ✅ Authorized | Ireland (Central Bank) | Strong security track record: never hacked since 2011 |
| eToro | ✅ Authorized | Cyprus (CySEC) | MiCA CySEC from February 2025. Passported across all EU/EEA countries. World-leading copy trading (38M users) |
| Bitvavo | ✅ Authorized | Netherlands (AFM) | First Dutch MiCA exchange. Competitive fees (0.15–0.25%). Strong in NL, BE, growing in IT/DE/ES |
| Bybit EU | ✅ Authorized | Austria (FMA) | Vienna HQ; passported across all 30 EEA states. FMA Austria CASP license. → Bybit CEO on MiCA profitability |
| OKX | ✅ Authorized | Malta (MFSA) | First global exchange with full MiCA license. Also PSD2 license (OKX Card/Pay EU) |
| Bitstamp | ✅ Authorized | Luxembourg (CSSF) | One of the oldest exchanges worldwide (2011). CASP license passported across entire EU from Luxembourg |
| Crypto.com | ✅ Authorized | Malta (MFSA) | Malta MFSA license, passported in 28 EEA countries. Also operates EU Visa card services |
| Gemini | ❌ Exited EU | — | Had CASP license from MFSA Malta. Closed all EU/EEA accounts on April 6, 2026. Withdrawal-only since March 5, 2026. Redirected EU users to eToro. Strategic exit: Gemini refocused on US market, cut 25% staff (Gemini announcement). → Best Gemini Alternatives in Europe 2026 |
| Bitget | ⏳ Pending | Austria (FMA — pending) | EU VASP registered; CASP application filed in Austria (Vienna HQ, Q2 2026). New CEO: Oliver Stauber (ex Bitpanda/KuCoin) leading compliance push. Deadline June 30, 2026. |
| Bitpanda | ✅ Authorized | Malta | European exchange, strong focus on IT/DE/AT markets |
| Revolut Digital Assets | ✅ Authorized | Cyprus (CySEC) | Revolut's crypto entity with CASP license. Passporting in 30 EU/EEA countries. Integrated with banking services. |
| Gate.io EU | ✅ Authorized | Malta (MFSA) | Gate.io Technology Limited EU entity. 1500+ tokens, competitive fees (0.04% maker/0.08% taker), derivatives MiFID. |
| One Trading Exchange | ✅ Authorized | Netherlands (AFM) | Evolution of Bitpanda Pro (separate entity). Advanced trading, mobile app, EU focus. Fees 0.10% maker/0.20% taker. |
| Bullish Exchange | ✅ Authorized | Germany (BaFin) | Institutional exchange (ex Bullish Global, founded by Block.one). BaFin Germany CASP license, September 2025. Focus on deep liquidity and security for advanced and institutional traders. |
| KuCoin EU Exchange | 🚫 Banned (new business) | Austria (FMA) | CASP license from FMA Austria (Nov 2025). FMA banned all new business on Feb 23, 2026 due to AML/CTF staffing shortfalls — new users cannot register (fma.gv.at). KuCoin hired Carmen Kleinhans as AML chief to appeal the ban. Existing EU accounts still accessible. |
| Binance | ⏳ Review in progress | Greece (HCMC) | CASP application filed January 2026. HCMC review in progress — not yet confirmed in ESMA registry. |
| MEXC | ❌ Not Authorized | — | No known CASP application in EU as of April 2026 |
Source: ESMA CASP Registry (weekly updates), exchange announcements, April 2026. Always verify current status on esma.europa.eu before making financial decisions.
📅 CASP Authorization Timeline (2024–2026)
Below is a tracker of when major exchanges obtained their EU CASP licenses. Source: exchange announcements and ESMA registry. Dates marked ~ are approximate quarters.
| Exchange | Authorizing Regulator | License Date | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| OKX | MFSA Malta | December 2024 | CASP + Payment Institution (PSD2) |
| Coinbase | CSSF Luxembourg | ~Q4 2024 | CASP |
| eToro | CySEC Cyprus | February 2025 | CASP |
| Bitvavo | AFM Netherlands | ~Q1 2025 | CASP |
| Kraken | Central Bank of Ireland | ~Q1 2025 | CASP |
| Bitstamp | CSSF Luxembourg | ~Q1 2025 | CASP |
| Bybit EU | FMA Austria | ~Q2 2025 | CASP |
| Bitpanda | MFSA Malta | ~Q2 2025 | CASP |
| Revolut Digital Assets | CySEC Cyprus | ~Q2 2025 | CASP |
| Crypto.com | MFSA Malta | ~Q2 2025 | CASP |
| KuCoin EU | FMA Austria | November 2025 | CASP (all new business banned by FMA since Feb 23, 2026 — AML failures) |
| One Trading | AFM Netherlands | ~Q2 2025 | CASP |
| Gemini | MFSA Malta | Mid-2025 | CASP (EU accounts closed April 6, 2026 — strategic exit) |
| Gate.io EU | MFSA Malta | ~Q3 2025 | CASP |
| Bullish Exchange | BaFin Germany | September 2025 | CASP (institutional focus) |
| Binance | HCMC Greece | Jan. 2026 (application) | CASP application filed — review in progress, not yet authorized |
~ = approximate quarter. Dates based on exchange announcements and ESMA CASP Registry. Last reviewed: May 2026.
What MiCA Guarantees Users
CASP authorization is not just a formal badge. MiCA imposes concrete obligations on authorized exchanges to protect users:
- Fund segregation: customer funds must be held separately from exchange funds in dedicated accounts. In case of exchange insolvency, customer funds are protected.
- Minimum capital requirements: exchanges must maintain capital reserves appropriate to their size (from €150,000 for smaller platforms up to significantly higher amounts for large operators).
- Complaint mechanism: users have the right to formally file complaints with the exchange and, if necessary, with the competent regulatory authority.
- Transparency: obligation to publish white papers, governance policies, security incident history, and risk information.
- DAC8: MiCA-authorized exchanges are required to automatically transmit transaction data of EU users to tax authorities starting in 2026.
What Happens After July 1, 2026
On July 1, 2026, the MiCA transitional period ends. Exchanges without CASP authorization by that date cannot operate legally in the EU. In practice, this means:
- Unauthorized exchanges may block deposits and withdrawals for users with EU residency
- Active marketing to EU users without authorization becomes illegal
- Users can technically access foreign platforms, but without MiCA protections
- National regulators can issue blocking orders against non-compliant exchanges
Who's Still at Risk: Exchanges Without MiCA License
As of May 2026, these exchanges have not yet received MiCA authorization. Binance filed its CASP application in January 2026 — review in progress, not yet confirmed in ESMA registry.
| Exchange | Current Status | EU VASP Reg. | Risk for EU Users |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitget | MiCA application in progress | ✅ EU VASP registered | Yellow — VASP registered, MiCA pending |
| MEXC | No known MiCA application | ❌ Not Registered | Red - no protection, possible EU block |
| Bitunix | No known MiCA application | ❌ Not Registered | Red - young exchange, no EU compliance |
| Nexo | No known CASP application (April 2026) | ❌ Not Registered | Red — $45M SEC fine, no EU authorization. Read the investigation → |
Exchanges That Have Exited the EU (2026)
Some exchanges obtained a MiCA license but subsequently chose to exit the European market for strategic or commercial reasons — unrelated to compliance failures. Others never applied and are exiting to avoid July 1 enforcement.
| Exchange | Exit Date | Reason | What EU Users Should Do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gemini | April 6, 2026 | Strategic focus shift to US market; cut 25% global staff. Had valid CASP (MFSA Malta). | Accounts closed. Users redirected to eToro (special signup bonus offered). Withdraw any remaining assets immediately. |
| KuCoin EU Exchange | Feb 2026 (partial) | FMA Austria banned new customer onboarding due to AML/CTF staffing failures. License technically active but unusable for new users. | Existing users: monitor FMA updates. New users: avoid — use alternatives like Kraken or Bybit EU. |
📈 Broader trend: According to coinlaw.io statistics (April 2026), more than 18% of crypto platforms that operated in the EU have either shut down or exited the market since MiCA enforcement tightened. The compliance cost for smaller operators (governance upgrades, capital requirements, reporting obligations) makes EU operations unsustainable for platforms without scale. At least 30 smaller platforms have confirmed EU exits. The July 1, 2026 deadline will likely trigger additional exits from platforms still operating under transitional arrangements.
💡 What to do now: Binance filed MiCA application (January 2026), review in progress — monitor ESMA registry for final authorization. For Bitget: monitor CASP Austria application (Q2 2026). For MEXC and Bitunix, consider moving funds to already-authorized MiCA platforms before July 1. If you used WazirX or another exchange with security incidents, see our guide to MiCA-licensed alternatives to WazirX. Check our 2026 exchange reviews for safer alternatives.
How to Verify Exchange Authorization Status
To independently verify if an exchange has CASP authorization in the EU:
- Visit the official ESMA (European Securities and Markets Authority) website — they publish a registry of authorized MiCA operators and issuers.
- Check the website of the national regulator of the country where the exchange claims to hold its license (e.g., CSSF Luxembourg for Coinbase, Central Bank of Ireland for Kraken, FMA Austria for KuCoin).
- Verify in the exchange's account page — MiCA-authorized platforms must explicitly state the name of the authorized legal entity and its reference country.
FAQ
Learn more: best regulated bitcoin exchanges 2026 | MiCA-compliant stablecoins 2026 | Stablecoin MiCA 2026: Lista Approvate nell'UE | best staking exchange Europe 2026 | crypto tax guide 2026 | best stablecoin exchanges Europe 2026 | MiCA exchanges Spain 2026 | crypto CGT UK 2026 | exchanges leaving the EU 2026 | safe alternatives to WazirX after the $235M hack
Reviews of MiCA-compliant exchanges: Bitvavo | Coinbase | Kraken | Bitstamp | Crypto.com