The countdown is almost over. As of June 27, 2026, the official ESMA register lists 280 authorized CASP (Crypto Asset Service Provider) entities in the European Union. Days remain until July 1, 2026 — the date on which the CASP licensing obligation becomes mandatory for all exchanges serving EU customers.
But there is a problem with that 280 number: it covers very different types of providers. There are large consumer exchanges like OKX and Kraken. There are German banks offering crypto custody. There are small local brokers, portfolio management firms, and payment processors. Amid all of this, how many are actually exchanges that a European retail trader can use as a full trading platform?
Fewer than you think. And the distinction that makes all the difference — whether an exchange does or doesn't hold "Trading Platform" authorization in its CASP — is something almost no MiCA article bothers to explain. This guide does.
What Is a CASP and Why Does July 1 Change Everything
MiCA (EU Regulation 2023/1114) introduces, for the first time, a single European license for crypto service providers. The CASP is that license. From July 1, 2026, operating without a CASP for EU clients is illegal for the platform — and the transitional periods that allowed exchanges to continue under national regimes all expire on June 30.
MiCA defines ten categories of CASP services. An exchange can apply for authorization for one, some, or all of them:
- Custody and administration of crypto-assets on behalf of clients
- Operation of a trading platform — the multilateral order book
- Exchange of crypto-assets for fiat funds (buying and selling)
- Exchange of crypto-assets for other crypto-assets (conversions)
- Execution of orders on behalf of clients
- Placing of crypto-assets
- Reception and transmission of orders
- Advice on crypto-assets
- Portfolio management
- Transfer services
Holding a CASP means being authorized for at least one of these services. But having only "Custody + Transfers" is very different from having "Custody + Trading platform + Order execution + all others." And this is where the confusion begins.
MiCA Authorized Exchanges 2026: The Main Player List
Below are the main consumer exchanges in the ESMA register as of June 27, 2026, with the specific services authorized under their CASP license. Source: casptracker.eu (weekly updates from the official ESMA register).
| Exchange | Legal Entity | Regulator | Trading Platform | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OKX | OKX Europe Limited | MFSA (Malta) | ✅ Yes | Full license: Custody, Trading platform, Crypto↔cash/crypto, Order execution, Portfolio mgmt |
| Kraken | Payward Global Solutions Ltd | CBI (Ireland) | ✅ Yes | Separate entity for Trading platform. Payward Europe Solutions: all other services |
| Bitstamp | Bitstamp Europe S.A. | CSSF (Luxembourg) | ✅ Yes | One of the oldest exchanges. Trading platform + Order execution confirmed |
| Bitvavo | Bitvavo B.V. | AFM (Netherlands) | ✅ Yes | Custody + Trading platform + Transfers. Strong in DACH/NL region |
| Gate.com | Gate Technology Limited | MFSA (Malta) | ✅ Yes | Trading platform + Crypto↔cash/crypto + Order execution |
| Coinbase | Coinbase Luxembourg S.A. | CSSF (Luxembourg) | ❌ No | Custody, Crypto↔cash/crypto, Order execution, Placing, Transfers — no Trading platform |
| Bybit EU | Bybit EU GmbH | FMA (Austria) | ❌ No | Only: Custody, Crypto↔cash/crypto, Placing, Transfers. NO Order execution in CASP |
| Bitpanda | Bitpanda GmbH | FMA (Austria) | ❌ No | Custody, Crypto↔cash/crypto, Order execution, Placing, Transfers |
| Crypto.com | Foris DAX MT Limited | MFSA (Malta) | ❌ No | Custody, Crypto↔cash/crypto, Order execution, Order routing, Transfers |
| eToro | eToro (Europe) Ltd | CySEC (Cyprus) | ❌ No | Custody, Crypto↔cash, Order execution, Advice, Portfolio mgmt |
| Trade Republic | Trade Republic Bank GmbH | BaFin (Germany) | ❌ No | Custody, Order execution, Order routing, Transfers. Neobroker, not a pure exchange |
| Bit2Me | Bitcoinforme S.L. | CNMV (Spain) | ❌ No | Custody, Crypto↔cash/crypto, Order execution, Placing, Transfers |
| Gemini EU | Gemini Intergalactic EU Ltd | MFSA (Malta) | ❌ No | Custody, Crypto↔cash/crypto, Order execution, Placing, Transfers |
| KuCoin EU | KuCoin EU Exchange GmbH | FMA (Austria) | ❌ No | Custody, Crypto↔cash/crypto, Placing, Transfers. Very limited license |
| Binance | — | — | ❌ Absent | HCMC Greece application withdrawn June 24, 2026. No CASP license in the EU as of June 27, 2026 |
| Strike | Zap Solutions Inc. EU | MFSA (Malta) | ❌ No | Authorized June 25, 2026. Lightning Network native — first Lightning-native CASP in Europe. EEA passport 30 countries. Founder: Jack Mallers |
| Bitcoin Suisse (Europe) AG | Bitcoin Suisse (Europe) AG | FMA (Liechtenstein) | ❌ No | Authorized June 24, 2026. Swiss broker since 2013 — most complete license: Custody, Exchange, Order execution, Order routing, Transfers. EEA passport 30 countries |
| WhiteBIT EU | WB-Shield Innovations GmbH | FMA (Austria) | ❌ No | Authorized June 18, 2026. Custody, Exchange, Transfers. Platform: whitebit.eu. EEA passport 30 countries |
| PAYMIUM | Paymium SAS | AMF (France) | ❌ No | Authorized June 22, 2026. One of Europe's first Bitcoin exchanges (2011). Bitcoin-only, Paris. paymium.com |
| KRIPTOMAT | Kriptomat d.o.o. | HANFA (Croatia) | ❌ No | Authorized June 18, 2026. Multi-asset exchange with focus on Eastern European markets. kriptomat.io. EEA passport |
Data as of June 27, 2026 — source: ESMA register via casptracker.eu. MEXC: absent from ESMA register as of June 27, 2026.
Update June 18–25, 2026 — The ESMA register received 16 new CASP authorizations in the final week before the deadline. Key entrants: WhiteBIT EU (FMA Austria, June 18), Lightspark Payments Europe AS (EFSA Estonia, June 18 — Lightning infrastructure), KRIPTOMAT (HANFA Croatia, June 18), Damex (MFSA Malta, June 18), PAYMIUM (AMF France, June 22 — historic BTC exchange), LEONOD / Bull Bitcoin EU (AMF France, June 22), MERIA (AMF France, June 22 — staking/yield), Bitcoin Suisse (Europe) AG (FMA Liechtenstein, June 24 — Swiss broker, most complete license), OP Digital / OpenPayd (MFSA Malta, June 24 — B2B payments), ELECTROCOIN (HANFA Croatia, June 25), Myntkaup (CBI Iceland, June 25), STOKR (CSSF Luxembourg, June 25 — tokenisation), Strike (MFSA Malta, June 25 — Lightning native, Jack Mallers). Source: ESMA CSV downloaded June 26, 2026.
Update June 27, 2026 — The ESMA register received seven new CASP authorizations. Notable new entrants: Robinhood Europe UAB (Lithuania), Gemini Intergalactic EU Ltd (Malta), Gate Technology Limited (Malta), Joh. Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG (Germany — private bank founded in 1590), OLLIV ITALIA S.R.L. / CoinFlip (Italy), RIV-DIGITAL S.R.L. (Italy), ClearBank Europe N.V. (Netherlands). Italy rises to 4 CASPs: Conio, CheckSig, OLLIV ITALIA and RIV-DIGITAL. Total authorized: 244 CASPs across the EEA.
Update July 3, 2026 — The ESMA register now lists 280 authorized CASPs across the EEA, with 36 new authorizations since June 26. Among the notable new entrants: Standard Chartered Bank (Luxembourg) S.A. (Luxembourg). The total rises to 280 MiCA-authorized providers in the European Union.
Update June 30, 2026 — Young Platform (Turin) receives CASP authorization from Consob with one of the broadest MiCAR scopes granted by an Italian regulator: 8 of 10 services (custody, exchange, order execution, portfolio management, token placement). Italy rises to 5 CASPs: Conio, CheckSig, OLLIV ITALIA, RIV-DIGITAL and Young Platform — Italy's first retail exchange with a full MiCA license. Source: Consob press release June 30, 2026.
The Key Distinction Nobody Explains: "Trading Platform" in the CASP
This is the point that almost no MiCA article clarifies, yet it is crucial for active traders.
In the ESMA register, the service "Operation of a trading platform" has a precise meaning: it is authorization to operate a multilateral market with an order book where buyers and sellers interact directly. It is not simply "selling crypto to users" — it is managing a market.
Among all 280 authorized CASPs, only a handful of consumer exchanges hold this specific authorization: OKX, Kraken, Bitstamp, Bitvavo, Gate.com. One Trading Exchange (formerly Bitpanda Pro, AFM Netherlands) is worth noting as well.
Coinbase, Bybit EU, eToro, Bitpanda, Crypto.com — all with valid CASPs, but without "Trading platform." How do they operate? They execute orders internally (internalization), often acting as direct counterparty or using liquidity from market makers. This is a perfectly legal model, but technically different from running an open bilateral market.
For the retail trader: the practical difference is almost irrelevant for simple buy/sell transactions. For professional traders who need deep order books, market making capabilities, or cross-exchange arbitrage, the distinction matters: only exchanges with "Trading platform" authorization run a true bilateral market.
Binance and the Major Absentees: Who Still Has No License
The most searched name on Google does not appear in the ESMA register. Binance — the world's largest exchange by trading volume — holds no CASP license in the European Union as of June 27, 2026.
It pursued the Greek route: the application filed with the HCMC (Hellenic Capital Market Commission) was considered the most likely path to an EU passport. But on June 16, 2026, Reuters reported that the HCMC was set to reject the application — citing two anonymous sources. Binance denied receiving any formal negative signals. The HCMC declined to comment.
The situation was resolved on June 24, 2026: Binance formally withdrew its HCMC application. No CASP, no announced timeline for future authorization. From July 1, 2026, operating on Binance.com from the EU falls outside the MiCA regulatory framework. Existing funds remain withdrawable with no stated deadline.
Other notable absentees or borderline cases:
- MEXC: absent from the ESMA register as of June 27, 2026. MiCA status not confirmed.
- Bybit (global): only Bybit EU GmbH holds a CASP. The global version has no EU license. Note: Bybit global appears on the MAS Singapore investor alert list (June 2026).
- KuCoin EU: holds a CASP but with a very limited license (no Order execution, no Trading platform).
How to Check Your Exchange's CASP Status
Two tools, both free:
- CASPtracker.eu — casptracker.eu: a searchable version of the ESMA register, updated weekly. Filter by country, regulator, and service type. Simple and immediate.
- Official ESMA Register — esma.europa.eu: the primary source, updated directly by national regulators.
How to use them: search for the exchange name (or legal entity name), verify the regulator, and check which services are included in the license. An exchange with only "Custody + Transfers" is very different from one with "Custody + Trading platform + Order execution + all others."
What Happens After July 1 for Users of Unauthorized Exchanges
From July 1, 2026, an exchange without a CASP cannot legally:
- Open new accounts for EU residents
- Accept new deposits from EU users
- Continue offering services (under most regulatory interpretations)
For users, the immediate risk is not a sudden freeze on funds — MiCA does not order confiscations and your funds remain yours. The problem is the absence of MiCA protections: in the event of a hack, insolvency, or dispute, users of a non-CASP exchange are not covered by the EU regulation's safeguards.
What to do if your exchange has no CASP: check the ESMA register, open an account on an authorized exchange (KYC process takes 1-5 days), and follow official communications from your platform. See our full guide: What to do if your exchange loses its MiCA CASP license.
Best MiCA Authorized Exchanges: Operational Summary
If you are looking for a European exchange with a full MiCA license, here is the operational summary based on the ESMA register:
- Best exchange with full Trading Platform: OKX Europe (Malta), Bitstamp (Luxembourg), Kraken (Ireland)
- Best exchange for ease of use with CASP: Coinbase (Luxembourg), Bitpanda (Austria), eToro (Cyprus)
- Best for DACH region users: Bitvavo (Netherlands), Trade Republic (Germany)
- Best in Spain: Bit2Me (CNMV Spain)
Compare detailed reviews on BitcoinMarket.net: Kraken · Coinbase · Bitvavo · Bitpanda
Sources
- ESMA CASP register (via casptracker.eu): casptracker.eu — updated June 27, 2026
- ESMA — Official MiCA register: esma.europa.eu
- Reuters, June 16, 2026: "Exclusive: Binance set to lose EU licence bid" — Lefteris Papadimas, John O'Donnell
- EU Regulation 2023/1114 (MiCA): eur-lex.europa.eu
- Cryptonews, May 2025: "Trade Republic Secures Full MiCA License From Germany's BaFin"