Overview
- ESMA published a registry update on July 3 that added 37 firms and raised the publicly reported total of authorised crypto-asset service providers to roughly 280–283.
- Analysis of the register shows a late licensing surge, with 36 authorisations dated between June 23 and July 1 as firms raced to meet MiCA’s July 1 transitional deadline.
- Most new licences grant custody, transfer or similar services rather than full exchange permissions, and the register lists just 17 firms authorised to run crypto trading platforms.
- Authorisations remain concentrated in a handful of jurisdictions, led by Germany and with Cyprus contributing six approvals in the latest cycle, which will shape where EU clients can access passported services.
- Large institutions including Standard Chartered secured MiCA and electronic money licences, giving banks and licensed custody providers clear pathways to absorb migrating customers and reshape custody and payments in Europe.