Crypto companies across Europe are reaching the end of the MiCA transition period, with July 1 marking the point when older national registrations will no longer be enough to stay in business. From that date, only firms that secured a MiCA license can continue offering crypto services across the region, placing many existing operators under pressure.
Industry figures show the gap between previously registered firms and those that completed the new licensing process. More than 3,000 virtual asset service providers (VASPs) were registered before MiCA, yet only 244 have obtained authorization as crypto-asset service providers (CASPs). Meanwhile, the European Securities and Markets Authority has instructed firms without approval to wind down their activities in an orderly manner while protecting customer assets.
MiCA Deadline Leaves Many Firms Without Authorization
MiCA became fully applicable across Europe after introducing stablecoin rules in June 2024 and broader crypto regulations later that year. Existing providers were granted a transition period that expires on July 1, allowing time to obtain authorization from national regulators. Licensed firms can then operate throughout the European Economic Area, which includes the European Union, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.
Meanwhile, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has instructed unauthorized crypto firms to close their operations in an orderly manner once the transition period ends. The regulator also asked companies to safeguard customer assets during the process. Industry executives expect the new framework to reduce the number of active providers across the region.
Erald Ghoos, CEO of OKX Europe, estimated that “80% of the crypto players won’t survive after MiCA.” He added that “It’s not only because of MiCA itself, it’s because of the whole width and heaviness of the European regulatory burden.” According to Ghoos, firms offering stablecoin services may also require Payment Institution or Electronic Money Institution licenses, adding further compliance requirements.
Compliance Costs Create Challenges for Smaller Companies
Industry participants say the financial burden extends beyond the minimum capital required for authorization. Patrick Gruhn, founder and CEO of Perpetuals.com Ltd, said firms need between €50,000 and €150,000 in regulatory capital depending on their license category. However, obtaining authorization can cost as much as €700,000 during the first year, followed by annual compliance expenses that may reach €250,000 for smaller firms.
Gruhn also stated that legal fees alone can approach €100,000, while the authorization process may take between 12 and 24 months before companies can begin regulated operations. He noted that although many businesses could disappear, numerous pre-MiCA registrations belonged to shell entities with limited activity. According to Gruhn, many compliance jobs created under the new framework may also offset employment losses elsewhere.
Several companies have reportedly explored acquisitions rather than completing the licensing process themselves. Ghoos said some firms approached OKX Europe after determining they could not meet the regulatory costs required under MiCA.
Poland Reflects the Wider Licensing Challenge
Poland presents one of the clearest examples of the transition’s effect. The country previously had around 2,000 registered VASPs, yet only one company has obtained a MiCA license. Legislative delays and regulatory hurdles slowed the licensing process, leaving many firms without authorization ahead of the deadline.
Mateusz Kara, CEO of Morphic Financial Group, said “It will change the business landscape of crypto entities a lot.” He added, “As far as I know, we are the only ones that have a MiCA license right now.” Kara also stated that many firms could be forced to cease operations during the second half of the year.
Meanwhile, legal experts expect enforcement to differ among European jurisdictions. John Salmon, partner at Hogan Lovells, said “None of us know what’s going to happen,” noting that some countries introduced legislation later than others. However, his colleague Lavan Thasarathakumar said “Any regulator, jurisdiction, or member states allowing firms to continue to operate under their existing national law would be deemed in breach of EU regulations.”
BitGo Europe has also introduced a regulated custody option that allows firms to transfer customer wallets instead of pursuing their own MiCA authorization. CEO Mike Belshe described the transition as ‘a setback,’ adding that “European users will become the biggest victims of the end of this transitional period.”
