MiCA authorisation: checking the legal entity behind an exchange

USERS: CHECK WHETHER YOUR EXCHANGE ACTUALLY HAS A MiCA LICENCE.

MiCA authorisation does not make a CEX trustworthy, solvent or immune to hacks.

It does, however, mean that a specific European legal entity has passed an authorisation process and is subject to regulatory supervision, governance rules, prudential safeguards, client-asset protection requirements, complaints procedures, AML controls and operational standards.

The following centralised exchanges and consumer-facing crypto trading platforms currently have an authorised MiCA CASP entity listed by ESMA:

Major international platforms:

@coinbase
@krakenfx
@okx
@cryptocom
@BitstampUK
@Bitpanda_global
@Bybit_Official EU
@kucoincom EU
@Gate
@Gemini
@blockchain .com
@WhiteBit EU
@bitFlyer Europe
@Backpack EU
@GetCoinJar
@osldotcom EU
@Bullish Europe

European and regional platforms:

21bitcoin
https://t.co/mlvgdgFOfV
Bare Bitcoin
Bitcoin Suisse
Bit2Me
Bitvavo
BTC Direct
CoinFlip
Coinmate
Coinmerce
Coinmotion
Conio
Criptan
Cryptosmart
Deblock
Firi
Finst
Hodleris
Kanga
K33
NBX
NorthCrypto
One Trading
Paybis
Paymium
Safello
Smart Valor
Tothemoon
Whitely
Young Platform
ZBX
Anycoin
BLOX
Coinhouse
Coinfinity
Cryptonow
Bitonic
SwissBorg

Additional licensed exchange and trading entities:

BSDEX
D2X
RULEMATCH
TÝR Markets
https://t.co/tj9vyFkXM7
Sling
Webot
Madison Six / crypto4me
https://t.co/YRd2pXeWFv / wBTCb
GG Digital
ComplyCrypto
Krypto Knight
Noemon Tech
Cloverum
Perpetuals
Januar
CPS / enum8

Some multi-asset platforms, banks and brokers also hold MiCA permissions, including eToro, Revolut, Robinhood Europe, Swissquote Bank Europe, Trading 212, https://t.co/a37YPHzXME, https://t.co/CtreYBkPbj, Tradu and NAGA X.

They are not conventional crypto-native CEXs, so I have separated them from the main list.

I remain a strong supporter of self-custody.

A MiCA licence is not a reason to store your life savings on an exchange. It is merely evidence that the European entity has accepted a minimum level of legal accountability and supervision. Use a CEX to buy, sell or move funds, then withdraw assets you intend to hold.

Since 1 July 2026, platforms providing crypto services to EU and EEA clients are expected to operate through a MiCA-authorised entity. An old VASP registration, a pending application, a foreign licence or a website claiming to be “MiCA compliant” is not the same thing as authorisation.

Check the exact company named in your account agreement. A global brand may own one licensed European subsidiary while routing other customers through an entirely different offshore company.

If an exchange continues targeting EU or EEA users but its legal entity cannot be found in the ESMA MiCA register, do not leave money there. Withdraw it. You are accepting offshore counterparty risk without even the limited protections that regulated competitors provide.

Self-custody remains the standard.

MiCA is simply the minimum compliance filter every CEX user should apply.

MiCA imposes requirements concerning prudential safeguards, governance, segregation of client assets and complaint handling, but ESMA also warns users not to overestimate the protection provided by authorisation.

MiCA does not guarantee solvency, prevent losses or cover every product offered by a licensed company.