MiCA-CASP

The July 1, 2026 Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) CASP authorization deadline represents the end of the transitional period that allowed crypto-asset service providers to operate in the EU under grandfathered national licenses. From July 1, 2026, only platforms that have received formal CASP authorization from an EU member-state competent authority under MiCA may serve retail EU customers.

What happened at the deadline

Fourteen crypto-asset service providers confirmed CASP authorization before the July 1, 2026 deadline. Authorized platforms include Coinbase Europe (Irish entity, CBI-licensed), Kraken Europe (Irish entity), Bitstamp (Luxembourg, CSSF-licensed), OKX Europe (Malta, MFSA-licensed), and Bitpanda (Austrian-licensed FMA entity), among others. The full list is maintained by ESMA under its CASP register.

Binance — the world’s largest exchange by trading volume — was rejected or failed to complete authorization in time. Binance had pursued authorization through multiple EU member-state regulators including Malta, France, and Greece. The Greek regulator HCMC confirmed it rejected Binance’s application in June 2026. Binance stated it is pursuing appeal processes and may continue operating during any interim period, but its legal ability to serve retail EU customers after the CASP transitional deadline is under active challenge.

Implications for fintech affiliates

Comparison page rankings: MiCA CASP authorization status is now the primary trust and safety filter for EU crypto exchange comparison pages. Any comparison table that does not lead with CASP authorization status will produce lower conversion rates as EU traders increasingly verify regulatory status before evaluating fees or features.

Binance affiliate program: Affiliates promoting Binance to EU audiences must update their content immediately to disclose Binance’s MiCA CASP non-authorization status. Failure to disclose material regulatory risk is an FTC/consumer-protection compliance issue in addition to the editorial credibility risk.

High-intent query window: The query “best MiCA authorized crypto exchange EU 2026” is a new high-commercial-intent search term with no established affiliate coverage as of the deadline. The post-deadline window (July–October 2026) is the highest-EPC period for this content.

Seven-shard cross-linking opportunity: The seven crypto-exchange affiliate shards (EU, UK, CA, AU, GCC, Asia, Latam) all reference MiCA CASP as a compliance consideration. This hub page is the canonical reference for all seven shards’ comparison tables and review pages covering non-CASP-authorized platforms.

France: specific July 1 restrictions

France issued specific guidance that non-CASP-authorized exchanges may not accept new French retail customers from July 1, 2026, and must wind down existing French customer accounts within 90 days. This is the strictest national enforcement posture of any EU member state at the deadline.

CASP authorization vs. national VASP/PSAN registrations

MiCA CASP authorization supersedes national VASP/PSAN registrations (France’s PSAN regime, Germany’s BaFin crypto custody license, etc.) for EU market access. Platforms that held only national registrations — not full MiCA CASP authorization — are in the same position as unregistered platforms for post-July 1 operations. Distinguish clearly in content: “PSAN registered” ≠ “MiCA CASP authorized.”