ESMA adds 14 new CASPs as MiCA licensing momentum slows
ESMA adds new CASPs to the official EU MiCA register in its latest batch of 14 newly authorized crypto asset service providers, bringing the total number of licensed providers to 294 as post-deadline licensing momentum slows across the European Union. The European Securities and Markets Authority update includes traditional banks and Ripple Payments Europe among the latest entrants, signaling continued—but uneven—progress toward MiCA compliance across Europe.
Key Takeaways
- ESMA added 14 new crypto asset service providers (CASPs) to its MiCA register.
- Total registered providers under MiCA now stand at 294.
- Banks and Ripple Payments Europe are among the newly listed entrants.
- Licensing momentum has slowed following the MiCA compliance deadline.
- The update reflects ongoing—but uneven—adoption of EU crypto market rules.
The latest ESMA register update marks another incremental step in Europe's rollout of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework. Rather than a surge of approvals, the modest batch size underscores a broader pattern: licensing is continuing, but at a slower pace than many market participants expected once key deadlines passed.
What Did ESMA Add to the MiCA Register?
ESMA, the EU's securities markets watchdog, expanded its official MiCA register with 14 newly authorized crypto asset service providers. CASPs under MiCA include firms that offer services such as custody, exchange, and transfer of crypto assets to EU clients.
With this addition, the register now lists 294 providers in total. That figure offers a snapshot of how many firms have cleared MiCA authorization requirements to date—not how many ultimately plan to operate in the bloc.
Why Is MiCA Licensing Slowing After the Deadline?
Reporting on the update describes licensing momentum slowing in the period following MiCA's compliance deadline. Several factors commonly shape that pace, even when rules are already in force: national competent authorities must review applications, firms must meet capital, governance, and disclosure standards, and legacy operators may need time to restructure operations.
A slower approval cadence does not necessarily mean enforcement has stalled. It can also reflect a transition from rush-to-register activity toward steadier, case-by-case authorizations as regulators and applicants work through complex filings.
Who Are the Notable New CASP Entrants?
Among the 14 new listings, traditional banks appear alongside crypto-native firms—a mix that suggests MiCA is drawing in established financial institutions, not only specialist digital-asset companies. Ripple Payments Europe is also named among the fresh entries, highlighting cross-border payments players seeking a regulated foothold in the EU.
The presence of banks on the register may reassure institutional clients that MiCA can accommodate firms with existing compliance infrastructure, while crypto-focused entrants show the framework remains open to specialized providers.
What Does This Mean for EU Crypto Markets?
For users and businesses, a growing MiCA register expands the pool of firms legally authorized to serve EU customers under harmonized rules. A total of 294 providers indicates meaningful uptake, yet the slowing pace of new approvals may leave some operators still navigating transitional arrangements or national licensing paths.
Market participants watching EU crypto regulation should treat each ESMA update as a pulse check on authorization progress rather than a full picture of every firm active in the region. For ongoing coverage of licensing shifts and compliance deadlines, see our Fintech & Crypto Alerts section.
ESMA publishes register changes as part of its MiCA oversight role. For the original reporting on this batch of additions and the post-deadline licensing trend, refer to CoinTelegraph's coverage.