European Union regulators have added 12 more companies to the roster of crypto firms authorized under the Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation, pushing the total number of licensed crypto-asset service providers to 321 in the fourth update since the framework's compliance deadline passed.
Growing List of Authorized Firms
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) maintains the official register that tracks which companies have secured MiCA authorization to operate legally across the bloc. With the latest additions, 321 crypto-asset service providers, or CASPs, now hold the green light to offer services within the EU under the harmonized rulebook.
MiCA represents the EU's landmark attempt to bring uniform oversight to the crypto sector, replacing a patchwork of national approaches with a single licensing regime. Firms that obtain authorization in one member state can passport their services throughout the union.
The register is becoming the definitive scorecard for which crypto firms can legally operate across Europe.
The steady expansion of the authorized list signals that more providers are completing the compliance process and clearing the regulatory bar set by national authorities working under the MiCA framework.
Non-Compliant Register Also Grows
Alongside the additions to the authorized list, ESMA also updated its register of entities flagged as non-compliant, adding three more names. This separate list serves as a warning to investors about companies operating outside the sanctioned framework.
The dual-register approach highlights ESMA's effort to distinguish between properly licensed operators and those that fall short of the rules or attempt to serve EU customers without proper authorization.
Key takeaways from the update include:
- Twelve new companies added to the authorized CASP list
- Total authorized providers now stands at 321
- Three additional entities placed on the non-compliant register
- The changes mark the fourth update since the MiCA compliance deadline
As the framework matures, the registers are expected to keep shifting as more firms seek authorization and regulators continue scrutinizing the market for bad actors.