European regulators authorized dozens of crypto firms in the final days before the EU’s MiCA transition period ended, according to an analysis of the latest ESMA register data.
The register shows 36 crypto-asset service provider authorizations dated between June 23 and July 1, highlighting a late licensing push as firms moved to comply with the bloc’s new unified crypto rules.
Crypto firms rushed for approval before MiCA deadline
The uploaded CASP register shows 283 authorized crypto-asset service provider records, with 66 authorizations dated in June alone.
The pace accelerated near the deadline. The register lists 13 authorizations on June 30, one day before the transition period ended, and one more on July 1.
ESMA had warned that unauthorized providers serving EU clients should stop onboarding new clients and begin winding down regulated activities once the transition period ended.
Germany leads Europe’s MiCA licensing race
Germany has the largest number of authorized CASPs in the register, with 59 records.
France leads with 31, followed by the Netherlands with 28, Malta with 22, and Cyprus with 21.
The data suggests MiCA authorizations remain concentrated in a handful of jurisdictions, even though the regulation creates a passporting framework for licensed firms to operate across the European Economic Area.
Trading platform approvals remain limited
The register also shows that not all MiCA licenses are equal.
Custody, transfer services, and exchange permissions appear far more common than trading platform authorizations. Only 17 firms in the file are authorized to operate a crypto trading platform.
That distinction matters because a large CASP count does not mean Europe has 283 fully authorized exchanges. Many firms hold narrower permissions, such as custody, transfer services, order execution, or crypto-to-fiat exchange.
Final Summary
- ESMA register data shows 36 CASP authorizations issued between June 23 and July 1, suggesting a late MiCA approval wave before the EU deadline.
- Germany leads with 59 authorized CASP records, while only 17 firms are authorized to operate crypto trading platforms.