The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has added 14 new Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs) to its interim Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) register, raising the total number of licensed firms across the European Economic Area (EEA) to 294.
The latest update comes just weeks after the end of MiCA’s transitional period on July 1, 2026, indicating that European regulators continue to process and approve crypto firms as the bloc’s landmark digital asset framework moves into full implementation.
While ESMA maintains the centralized public register, CASP authorizations are granted by each country’s National Competent Authority (NCA). Once licensed, firms can leverage MiCA’s passporting regime to offer eligible crypto services throughout the EEA. ESMA does not issue MiCA licenses itself but publishes the centralized register after national regulators approve eligible firms.
Ripple and OSL Join the Register
Among the latest additions is Ripple Payments Europe, which recently obtained authorization from Luxembourg’s financial regulator. The approval strengthens Ripple’s expansion across Europe by enabling the company to provide regulated crypto payment services under MiCA.
The authorization also supports Ripple’s broader cross-border payments strategy and its RLUSD stablecoin initiative, further establishing Luxembourg as one of the company’s key regulatory hubs in Europe.
Another notable addition is OSL EU GmbH, the Austrian subsidiary of Hong Kong-listed digital asset platform OSL Group. The registration marks another step in OSL’s European expansion as the company seeks to provide regulated digital asset services to institutional and professional clients across the region.
Traditional Banks Expand Crypto Services
The latest update also highlights the growing participation of traditional financial institutions in Europe’s regulated digital asset market.
Among the newly authorized firms are:
- Ripple Payments Europe (Luxembourg)
- OSL EU GmbH (Austria)
- Bison Bank (Portugal)
- Hrvatska poštanska banka (Croatia)
- Volksbank Schwarzwald-Donau-Neckar (Germany)
- Raiffeisenbank Auerbach-Freihung (Germany)
- Kaiser Partner Privatbank (Liechtenstein)
The increasing presence of banks alongside crypto-native firms underscores how MiCA is encouraging established financial institutions to expand into services such as crypto custody, trading, transfers, and order execution under a harmonized regulatory framework.
Licensing Continues Beyond the MiCA Deadline
Although the MiCA transitional period officially ended on July 1, licensing activity has continued across the European Union.
The ESMA register has expanded steadily in recent weeks:
- Before July 1: Approximately 243–244 authorized CASPs
- Early July: The total increased to 280 licensed firms
- Latest update: 14 additional firms brought the total to 294
While the pace of approvals has moderated compared with the initial post-deadline surge, regulators continue to review applications, reflecting sustained demand from both crypto-native companies and traditional financial institutions seeking access to the European market.
Stablecoin Register Remains Unchanged
While the CASP register continues to expand, ESMA’s stablecoin registers remained unchanged in the latest update.
- Electronic Money Token (EMT) issuers: 21
- Asset-Referenced Token (ART) issuers: 0
- Non-compliant entities on ESMA’s register: 164
Meanwhile, ESMA also added two more entities to its register of non-compliant crypto firms following enforcement actions by Italy’s securities regulator, CONSOB.
Regulatory Scrutiny Intensifies Across Europe
Earlier this month, ESMA clarified that certain event contracts may fall under existing EU binary options restrictions if their structure qualifies them as financial instruments. The regulator said products should be assessed based on their economic characteristics rather than how they are marketed.
The latest expansion of the MiCA register follows broader efforts by European regulators to strengthen oversight of the crypto sector through harmonized rules and enhanced consumer protections.
The regulatory push has also been reflected at the national level. Belgium’s Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) recently warned investors against six unlicensed crypto firms allegedly offering services without the required authorization under MiCA.
Together, these developments underscore Europe’s tightening approach to digital asset regulation, combining stricter enforcement against unauthorized firms with a growing list of licensed providers operating under the MiCA framework.
Why It Matters
The latest update reinforces MiCA’s role as Europe’s unified regulatory framework for digital assets. With nearly 300 licensed crypto service providers now authorized across the EEA, the region continues to build a more transparent and regulated crypto ecosystem.
For crypto firms, MiCA provides greater regulatory certainty and the ability to expand across the European market through passporting. For investors, the growing register reflects stronger oversight, improved consumer protections, and increasing institutional participation as digital assets become more integrated into Europe’s financial system.
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