Fourteen crypto trading platforms hold a valid MiCA license across the entire European Union as of July 1, 2026, the hard deadline confirmed by ESMA on April 17. From today, any exchange operating without a CASP license is outside EU law. No extensions, no grace periods.
The ESMA CASP register counts roughly 210 full authorizations, including custodians and brokers. But the platforms actually cleared to run a live trading venue remain a small group. Here is the updated list, with a notable last-minute development from Italy.
TL;DR: Only 14 crypto exchanges hold a MiCA trading license as of July 1, 2026, per the ESMA CASP register. Unlicensed platforms now face fines of up to 15 million euros or 12.5% of annual revenue under MiCA Article 111.
What Changes From July 1, 2026
The July 1 cutoff is firm. ESMA confirmed on April 17 that no further transitional-period extensions would be granted. A license obtained in a single EU member state unlocks the European passport, meaning the platform can serve clients across all 27 member states without additional national filings.
Operating without authorization from this date exposes a firm to fines of up to 15 million euros or 12.5% of annual revenue, whichever is higher. The risk is concrete: earlier this year, France's AMF moved against unlicensed operators in a targeted enforcement sweep, a pattern that other national authorities are expected to follow.
The 14 Authorized Trading Platforms
Functionally, the exchanges below hold authorization to operate as crypto-asset trading venues, along with the member state whose regulator granted the license. Bitvavo was among the first to receive approval.
- Coinbase, Luxembourg (CSSF)
- Kraken, Ireland (CBI)
- Bitstamp, Luxembourg (CSSF)
- Bitvavo, Netherlands (AFM)
- OKX, Malta (MFSA)
- Crypto.com, Malta (MFSA)
- Gate.io EU, Malta (MFSA)
- Bitpanda, Germany (BaFin) and Austria (FMA)
- Bybit EU, Austria (FMA)
- WhiteBIT EU, Austria (FMA)
- eToro, Cyprus (CySEC)
- Revolut, Cyprus (CySEC)
- One Trading, authorized in the EU (ESMA register)
- Bullish EU, authorized in the EU (ESMA register)
The register is updated every week, so always cross-check directly. A broader look at the platforms cleared for operation is available in our piece on the July 1 deadline.
Where the Licenses Are Concentrated
The geography of MiCA licensing is uneven. Germany leads with roughly 25% of all CASP authorizations, according to the ESMA CASP register and MiCA SCAN data as of June 2026, more than double the Netherlands at 12%. France and Malta each account for around 6%. The UK-adjacent financial hubs are moving faster than southern Europe.
Authorized CASPs by Country
Source: ESMA CASP register and MiCA SCAN, approx. 210 CASPs as of June 2026 (values approximate)
- Germany, 25%
- Netherlands, 12%
- France, 6%
- Malta, 6%
- Italy, 2%
- Spain, 1%
- Other EU states, 48%
Smaller jurisdictions matter too. Liechtenstein, part of the EEA, is cementing its role as the gateway to European markets for non-EU groups. The Liechtenstein FMA authorized Bitcoin Suisse (Europe), the European arm of the Swiss group, covering trading, custody, and staking for institutional and high-net-worth clients.
Italian Platforms That Made the Deadline
The most significant last-minute development came from Italy. Young Platform, the Turin-based exchange backed by asset manager Azimut and serving over 2.5 million clients, received its CASP authorization from Italy's Consob covering eight of the ten services defined under MiCAR. That scope, from custody and exchange to order execution, portfolio management, and new token placement, is one of the broadest granted by any Italian regulator.
Young Platform is not alone. Cryptosmart, based in Padua and backed by Banca Popolare di Cortona, secured its full CASP license via Consob resolution n. 24047, dated June 24. Several custodians are already authorized, including CheckSig, Conio, and Banca Sella for custody via passporting notification. Operators such as YouHodler Italy remain pending. For Young Platform co-founders Alexandru Stefan Gheban and Andrea Ferrero, the authorization is the payoff of a compliance-first approach, and the European passport now opens the door to cross-border expansion. The current status for all Italian CASPs is on the Consob CASP page.
Who Is Left Out
In practice, not every platform passed the test. KuCoin was banned by the Austrian regulator in February 2026. Gemini withdrew from the EU market in April. Binance's position remains fluid: the most recent reports point to a withdrawal of its Greek license application and an exit from the EU market, despite earlier signals of a license being secured. Always verify on the register before acting.
Stablecoins deserve a separate note. Tether's USDT is not MiCA-compliant and has been delisted on regulated platforms, where it may remain available only in custody mode. The aligned options are Circle's USDC and EURC, as explained in our coverage of the MiCA and GENIUS Act stablecoin framework.
How to Check Your Platform
- Search for the exchange name in the ESMA CASP register.
- Confirm that the specific legal entity you use is the one that holds the authorization, not just a parent or affiliate.
- If your platform isn't listed, consider moving assets before the deadline passes, not under last-minute pressure.
The EU crypto market taking shape from July 2026 will be smaller and more concentrated. Fewer operators, shared rules across 27 countries, and one practical question for every user: is my platform on the list? The ESMA register is the only authoritative answer.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Authorization status changes week by week: always verify on the official ESMA register before making any decision.
