Where to check a MiCA licence
ESMA publishes an interim MiCA register as a set of CSV files on its MiCA page.
| Register file | What it lists |
|---|---|
| Crypto-asset service providers (CASPS.csv) | Authorised exchanges, brokers, custodians and other providers |
| Non-compliant entities (NCASP.csv) | Entities providing crypto-asset services without authorisation |
| Issuers of EMT (EMTWP.csv) | Issuers of e-money tokens |
| Issuers of ART (ARTZZ.csv) | Issuers of asset-referenced tokens |
| White papers (OTHER.csv) | White papers for other crypto-assets |
File names as listed on ESMA's MiCA page.
The MiCA licence checker on this site searches a copy of the provider file, downloaded on 24 October 2026.
Check a MiCA licence in seven steps
- Find the firm's legal name: look in the website footer, the terms of use or the "legal" page.
- Search the register: by legal name and by brand name.
- Compare the LEI: the Legal Entity Identifier in the register should match any LEI the firm publishes.
- Compare the website: the address in the register should match the site you use.
- Read the services: buying with euros needs "exchange of crypto-assets for funds"; holding coins needs "custody".
- Check your country: your country should be in the firm's passport notification.
- Check the warning lists: search ESMA's non-compliant file and your national regulator's warnings.
Brand names and legal entities
Large crypto brands often operate in the EU through a separate company, such as one with "EU" or "Europe" in its name.
The authorisation belongs to that company, so your contract should be with it.
When you open an account, check that the terms name the authorised entity, not a company based outside the EU.
Warning signs when you check a MiCA licence
- The firm shows a licence number but no legal name you can find.
- The name in the register is similar but not identical.
- The website in the register is different from the one you use.
- The firm claims a licence from a country outside the EU as "EU regulation".
- You were sent a link to a "register" page by the firm itself.
Always open ESMA's page or your national regulator's site yourself, because scammers build fake register pages too.
Cloned firms
A cloned firm copies the name, address and even the licence details of a real authorised firm.
The register check passes, but the website, phone number or email belongs to the scammer.
Contact the firm only through the website address listed in the register, and treat unexpected calls or messages with suspicion.
National registers
National regulators also publish their own registers and warning lists, and their information can be more current than the interim ESMA files.
The page on MiCA regulators lists the authorities that appear in ESMA's register.
How to check a MiCA licence: worked example
Example: you are considering an app that calls itself "ExampleCoin EU" (fictional).
- Terms: the footer names "ExampleCoin Europe Ltd" as the provider.
- Register search: you search "ExampleCoin" in the MiCA licence checker.
- Match: an entry for "ExampleCoin Europe Ltd" appears, authorised by a national regulator.
- Website: the register lists the same website you are using.
- Services: the entry includes custody and exchange for funds.
- Passport: your country is in the notification list.
- Warnings: no matching entry in the non-compliant file or your regulator's warnings.
Fictional example for illustration.
If any step fails, stop and investigate before sending money.
How to check a MiCA licence: what a mismatch can mean
| Mismatch | Possible explanation | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Brand found, but website differs | A clone using a real firm's name | Use only the website in the register |
| Legal name differs slightly | A lookalike company | Treat as unauthorised |
| Entity found, but your country missing | Not notified for your country | The firm may not serve you under MiCA |
| Entity found, but services missing | Authorised for other services only | Check it may do what you need |
| Nothing found | Not authorised, or a different legal name | Search the legal name; do not pay until clear |
How to check a MiCA licence on a phone
The MiCA licence checker works on a phone and searches as you type.
For the original source, ESMA's page links to the CSV files, which can be opened in a spreadsheet app.
How to check a MiCA licence: keeping it current
Authorisations can be granted, changed or withdrawn, and the interim register is updated over time.
Recheck occasionally, especially if your provider announces changes to its EU services or entity.
How to check a MiCA licence: the services in the register
The register lists for each provider which of the ten crypto-asset services it may provide.
| Service | Entries listing it |
|---|---|
| a. Custody and administration | 216 |
| b. Operation of a trading platform | 21 |
| c. Exchange for funds | 173 |
| d. Exchange for other crypto-assets | 143 |
| e. Execution of orders | 203 |
| f. Placing | 34 |
| g. Reception and transmission of orders | 84 |
| h. Advice | 37 |
| i. Portfolio management | 49 |
| j. Transfer services | 201 |
Counted from ESMA's interim CASP register file downloaded on 24 October 2026, 387 entries; one entry can list several services.
The table shows that only a small share of entries are authorised to operate a trading platform, so many crypto apps buy and sell for you through other services such as exchange for funds or execution of orders.
How to check a MiCA licence: matching the service to your use
| What you want to do | Service to look for |
|---|---|
| Buy crypto with euros | c. Exchange for funds, or e. Execution of orders |
| Swap one coin for another | d. Exchange for other crypto-assets |
| Keep coins at the provider | a. Custody and administration |
| Send coins to another address | j. Transfer services |
| Trade on an order book | b. Operation of a trading platform |
| Get personal recommendations | h. Advice |
If the service you plan to use is missing from the entry, ask the provider which legal entity provides it.
How to check a MiCA licence: Article 59 and Article 60 entries
Most crypto firms need a CASP authorisation under MiCA, assessed under Article 63.
Certain financial entities, such as banks and investment firms, can instead notify their regulator under Article 60 and then provide crypto-asset services.
In the register file used by this site, 131 entries name Article 60 as the legal basis and 76 name Article 63, while many entries leave the field empty.
Both routes appear in the register, so a bank or broker offering crypto can be found there too.
How to check a MiCA licence: questions readers ask
Is a white paper the same as a licence? No; a white paper is a disclosure document about a crypto-asset, while an authorisation allows a firm to provide services.
Can a firm be in the register and still be a risk? Yes; authorisation means supervision, not a guarantee against losses or failure.
Where are firms that operate without authorisation? ESMA's register includes a separate list of non-compliant entities, which the not MiCA-authorised page explains.
How to check a MiCA licence: a record of your check
Writing down what you found makes it easy to repeat the check later or to show it if a dispute arises.
| Field | Example note |
|---|---|
| Date of check | The day you searched |
| Legal name and LEI | As shown in the register |
| Regulator and home state | As shown in the register |
| Your country | Home state or in the notification list: yes or no |
| Services | The letters relevant to you, such as a, c and j |
| Website match | Register website equals the site you use: yes or no |
Example record template.
How to check a MiCA licence: when to check again
- Before you open an account.
- Before a large deposit.
- When the provider announces a change of legal entity or terms.
- When you move to another country.
- Once a year for any provider where you hold crypto.
Authorisations can be withdrawn, and providers sometimes move customers to a new entity, so a check from years ago may no longer be accurate.
Keep your check records together with your account documents, so they are easy to find when you need them.
If something has changed since the last check, such as a new legal entity, read the provider's announcement and the updated terms before making further deposits.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a MiCA licence?
Search ESMA's interim MiCA register, or the MiCA licence checker on this site, for the firm's legal name, and compare the LEI, the website and the services.
What is an LEI?
A Legal Entity Identifier is a 20-character code that identifies a company. The ESMA register lists the LEI of each authorised provider.
The brand is famous but I cannot find it. Why?
It may operate through an EU entity with a different name, or it may not be authorised. Search for the legal name in its terms.
Can a scam pass a MiCA licence check?
A cloned firm can use a real firm's details. Always use the website address listed in the register.
Does ESMA list firms that are not authorised?
Yes. The interim MiCA register includes a file of non-compliant entities.
Sources
- Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation and the interim MiCA register, ESMA
- Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 (MiCA), Articles 59, 65, 109 and 110
Every figure on this page is checked against the ESMA register, the exchange's own terms and fee pages or another primary source, and the sources are listed above. Editorial policy · How we rate