July 1, 2026 is less than two weeks away. From that date, any crypto exchange operating in the European Union without a CASP (Crypto-Asset Service Provider) authorization is in violation of MiCA. No extensions: ESMA has confirmed the transitional period ends definitively. The public CASP register lists 216 authorized providers today, out of thousands of operators that were active before the deadline. If you're using an exchange not on that list, this guide is for you.
This is not an article explaining what MiCA is โ you can find that here. It is an operational guide: what to check, what risks you're taking, and what to do concretely in the next few days.
Step 1 โ Check: Does Your Exchange Have a CASP License?
Before taking any action, you need to know with certainty whether your exchange is authorized. There are three methods, each taking under five minutes.
Method 1: Official ESMA Register
The ESMA website (esma.europa.eu), under crypto-assets, publishes the CASP register in downloadable CSV format. Search for the name of your exchange. This is the authoritative source, updated weekly by ESMA.
Method 2: casptracker.eu
casptracker.eu aggregates ESMA data in a searchable interface. As of June 15, 2026: 216 authorized providers across 19 EU member states. Updated weekly and includes pending applications where confirmed.
Method 3: BitcoinMarket.net Reviews
Every exchange review on this site includes an up-to-date CASP status for the platform. Check your exchange's review page directly.
Exchanges WITHOUT a CASP License as of June 15, 2026
โ ๏ธ These exchanges do not appear in the ESMA CASP register as of the publication date:
- Binance โ filed for CASP in Greece (HCMC) in January 2026, but no approval has been issued. Greece has zero CASP licenses granted to date. โ Binance MiCA status update
- Bitget โ FMA Austria application in progress, not in the ESMA register. No CASP license granted in Europe as of June 16, 2026. โ Full Bitget analysis
- Nexo โ absent from the ESMA CASP register, no public disclosure of an active EU application โ Nexo CASP status
- Others: KuCoin global, MEXC global, Huobi โ no known EU authorization
Exchanges WITH a CASP License (available on BitcoinMarket.net)
| Exchange | CASP Authority | Country | Review |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coinbase | CSSF | Luxembourg | Review |
| Kraken | CBI | Ireland | Review |
| OKX | MFSA | Malta | Review |
| Bybit | FMA | Austria | Review |
| Bitpanda | BaFin / MFSA / FMA | AT / MT / DE | Review |
| Bitstamp | CSSF | Luxembourg | Review |
Step 2 โ What Happens If You Don't Act Before July 1
Article 60(8) of MiCAR establishes that from July 1, 2026, exchanges without CASP authorization must stop providing services to EU users. In practice:
- Account suspension โ the exchange may block access with very short notice. In previous cases (Bybit Q1 2026, KuCoin EU February 2026), notice was 24โ72 hours.
- Fiat balances frozen โ EUR or other fiat balances can take weeks to be returned in an orderly wind-down scenario.
- No legal protection โ MiCA's user protections (transparency, rights, complaint mechanisms) only apply to authorized exchanges. If you're on an unlicensed platform, you're outside that framework.
- Network fee spike on June 30 โ a wave of last-minute withdrawals will congest Bitcoin, Ethereum and Tron networks. Fees can multiply 5โ10x in hours.
This isn't speculation. KuCoin EU was blocked by FMA Austria in February 2026 for non-compliance. Bybit closed to new EU clients before obtaining its CASP. These precedents show how fast account restrictions are applied.
Step 3 โ How to Migrate: Operational Checklist
โฐ Act Before June 25
SEPA bank withdrawals take 3โ5 business days. Waiting past June 25 risks your fiat transfer arriving after the deadline.
First: Three Quick Checks
- โ Search your exchange's name in the ESMA register or casptracker.eu
- โ Check your exchange's blog or announcements: have they named a specific EU authority reviewing their CASP application?
- โ Calculate your total exposure: crypto + fiat held on the platform
If You Need to Migrate: 5 Steps in Order
- Open an account on a CASP-licensed exchange โ Kraken, Coinbase and OKX offer the most complete service for European users. See the reviews table above.
- Complete KYC โ verification takes 1 hour to 48 hours depending on the provider and amount. Start now: don't wait until your funds are already in transit.
- Withdraw fiat first via SEPA โ the slowest transfer. A standard SEPA transfer takes 1โ3 business days under normal conditions; delays are likely near the deadline.
- Transfer crypto by network, token by token โ BTC via Bitcoin network, ETH via Ethereum network, USDT via Tron or Ethereum. Confirm the destination exchange supports the specific network before sending.
- Do not wait until June 30 โ transaction volume on all major networks will spike sharply near the deadline. Network fees can triple or quadruple within hours.
Alternative: Self-Custody With a Hardware Wallet
If you prefer not to open another centralized exchange, a hardware wallet (Ledger, Trezor) lets you hold crypto completely autonomously. Self-custody wallets fall entirely outside MiCA's scope โ no exchange dependency. Important: this requires a minimum of technical knowledge and full responsibility for your private keys. If you lose your seed phrase, you lose your funds.
Step 4 โ Frequently Asked Questions
My exchange has applied for a CASP license โ can I wait?
If the application is formally accepted and under review, the exchange may continue operating during the process under MiCAR art. 60(9). You need to verify this: check the website of the competent national authority in the exchange's home country โ not just the exchange's own announcement. If you can't find official confirmation, migrate preventively.
I only have โฌ200 on my account โ is it really worth migrating?
Yes. The risk of account suspension is not proportional to the balance. A frozen account requires the same weeks-long resolution process regardless of amount. And opening an account on a licensed exchange costs nothing.
Can I use a DEX instead of moving to another centralized exchange?
Fully decentralized DEXs โ Uniswap, Curve, PancakeSwap โ fall outside MiCA's scope and do not require CASP authorization for users. A technically valid alternative, but EUR liquidity is limited and the experience is more complex than a CEX. Best suited for users already comfortable with self-custody wallets and on-chain transactions.
Will I lose my staking bonuses if I move?
Generally yes: staking rewards, loyalty programs and active promotions are tied to your account on the originating platform. Factor this into your overall risk assessment. A lost staking bonus can be recovered; a frozen account for months, much less easily.
Step 5 โ Where to Find Verified CASP-Licensed Exchanges
To track all authorized providers in Europe with weekly updates:
- โ CASP Tracker: 216 MiCA-authorized exchanges โ updated weekly
- โ Exchange reviews 2026 โ all with verified MiCA status
- โ Exchange comparison โ fees, security, MiCA compliance
The deadline is real, confirmed by ESMA, and there will be no extension. Licensed exchanges exist. The register is public. The transfer process is technically straightforward. The only variable that matters is time: those who act in the next 10 days transfer under normal conditions. Those who wait until June 30 face a congested network and potential account locks.
Sources
- ESMA โ Official CASP Register (updated June 12, 2026): esma.europa.eu
- casptracker.eu โ 216 authorized CASPs as of June 15, 2026
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 โ MiCA, art. 60(8) and 60(9)
- ESMA Statement April 2026 โ Communication to operators and investors
- AML Intelligence, June 2026 โ Binance MiCA Greece application status