The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has expanded its MiCA register by incorporating 37 new licensed crypto-asset service providers. This update marks the first significant change since the transition period for the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulation ended on July 1, increasing the total number of licensed firms in the EU from 243 to 280.
Noteworthy Additions
Among the newly licensed firms are notable entities such as Standard Chartered and FalconX. Standard Chartered attained its MiCA authorization through its Luxembourg subsidiary on June 25, while FalconX secured its license from Malta's Financial Services Authority (MFSA) on June 29. Other new entrants include Sygnum Europe and Ronin EM, along with Crédit Agricole’s CACEIS being added to the electronic money tokens (EMT) register.
Regional Contributions
Cyprus contributed the largest share, with six of the 37 new licenses. France, Italy, and Malta each provided five new licenses. Other countries contributing to the update include:
- Czech Republic: 4
- Spain: 4
- Luxembourg: 3
- Netherlands: 2
- Germany: 1
- Liechtenstein: 1
- Latvia: 1
Germany holds the highest number of MiCA authorizations overall, with 58. France follows with 31, the Netherlands has 26, and both Malta and Cyprus have around 20 licenses.
Future of Crypto Firms in the EU
The update did not include any changes to the list of approved asset-referenced token issuers, which remains unoccupied, nor were there updates to the list of non-compliant entities, which continues to have 162 entries. As per the MiCA regulations, crypto firms in Europe must secure full regulatory authorization by July 1, 2026, or cease their operations within the region. Many founders are considering relocating to regions with more favorable regulatory environments, such as the UAE.
