Checking whether a crypto exchange or wallet provider is actually authorized in the European Union just got a lot simpler. On August 5, 2026, the MiCA Crypto Alliance rolled out a new tool called the MiCA CASP Tracker, designed to turn the European Securities and Markets Authority’s dense public filings on MiCA crypto licenses into something ordinary users, businesses, and compliance teams can actually search through.
Key takeaways
- The MiCA Crypto Alliance launched the MiCA CASP Tracker on August 5, 2026, turning ESMA’s public authorization data into a searchable directory.
- Users can filter results by country, regulator, company name, authorization date, and the specific crypto services a firm is licensed to offer.
- MiCA regulation covers ten distinct crypto services, including custody, exchange operations, trading, advice, and portfolio management.
- ESMA’s own interim register is updated weekly, with the most recent file dated July 31, 2026, and remains the official source of truth.
- Unauthorised providers were required to stop onboarding new EU clients as of July 1, 2026, making license verification more urgent for consumers.
Launch of the MiCA CASP Tracker by MiCA Crypto Alliance
The tracker exists because verifying MiCA crypto licenses manually was, until now, a slow and clunky process. ESMA’s authorization data has been public since the regulation took full effect, but it lived in downloadable files rather than a browsable interface. The MiCA Crypto Alliance built its tool specifically to close that gap, converting raw regulatory records into a directory that anyone can query in seconds.
Public authorisation data made searchable
At its core, the tracker pulls directly from ESMA’s official register and repackages it. A user can look up a crypto firm and see its legal entity identifier, home country, national regulator, authorization date, and the exact categories of service it has been cleared to offer. That last detail matters more than it might seem: a company authorized for custody is not automatically cleared to run a trading platform or execute client orders.
Key functionality: filters by country, regulator, name, and services
The searchable format lets users filter records by company name, country, regulator, authorization date, or the specific licensed service. That granularity is the tracker’s main selling point — instead of scrolling through a spreadsheet, someone checking a provider’s status can isolate the exact regulatory detail they need.
Scope of MiCA Regulation and ESMA’s Role
MiCA doesn’t treat all crypto activity the same way, and understanding which services fall under its umbrella is essential for judging what any given license actually covers. The regulation defines ten distinct regulated crypto services: custody, trading platform operation, crypto-to-fiat exchange, crypto-to-crypto exchange, order execution, token placement, order transmission, advice, portfolio management, and asset transfers.
Ten regulated crypto services defined by MiCA
Notably, crypto lending and borrowing sit outside that list. ESMA has confirmed those activities are not covered by MiCA’s service categories, which means a firm’s appearance in the register says nothing about whether its lending products are regulated. The MiCA Crypto Alliance’s tracker also excludes companies that operate solely under separate frameworks, such as firms handling financial instruments under MiFID rather than crypto-asset services.
ESMA’s weekly updates and authoritative register status
ESMA republishes its interim register on a weekly cycle, with the most recent file dated July 31, 2026. That cadence depends on national competent authorities feeding updates back to Brussels, which means there can be a short lag between a new authorization and its appearance in the official data. The MiCA CASP Tracker inherits that same data, so it is only as current as ESMA’s latest release — a limitation the Alliance itself has acknowledged.
Regulatory Deadlines and Compliance Implications
The timing of the tracker’s launch isn’t coincidental. MiCA’s main transition period ended on July 1, 2026, and that deadline changed the stakes for anyone still operating without a license.
July 1 deadline for unauthorized providers
Once the transition window closed, ESMA instructed unauthorised providers to stop accepting new EU clients, stop opening new accounts, and stop marketing services covered by the regulation. Firms still winding down operations are only permitted to take the steps necessary to close out client positions or transfer assets elsewhere. Consumers who continue using unauthorised platforms lose the protections MiCA is designed to guarantee, including safeguards over client assets — which is precisely why regulators have been pushing verification tools into the spotlight.
Ongoing licensing activity, including banks entering the space
Licensing hasn’t slowed down since the deadline passed. In a late-July update, ESMA added 15 new providers to its register, including BNY’s Belgian unit alongside other banks, payment companies, and crypto-native firms. That steady stream of additions underscores a broader shift: traditional financial institutions are now actively seeking the same crypto authorizations as native exchanges, a sign that MiCA compliance is becoming a competitive requirement rather than a niche concern.
Verification Guidance and Tracker Limitations
Convenient as it is, the MiCA CASP Tracker was never meant to replace regulators. The Alliance has been explicit that its tool is an independent research resource built on ESMA’s public data, not an official regulatory database in its own right.
Tracker’s independent status and update lags
That distinction carries real weight. ESMA’s own register can lag behind what national regulators already know internally, and it may still list withdrawn authorizations alongside their effective end dates rather than removing them instantly. A listing in the tracker, in other words, shouldn’t be read as a blanket stamp of approval — the precise service categories still need checking.
Why final checks still belong with ESMA and national regulators
For anyone making a real decision about where to trade or custody assets, the safer path is to treat the tracker as a starting point rather than a final answer. The Alliance itself points users back to ESMA and the relevant national regulator for definitive confirmation. As more banks and payment firms file for authorization in the coming months, the real test for this new directory will be how quickly it keeps pace with ESMA’s weekly refresh cycle and any license withdrawals that follow.
FAQ
What is the MiCA CASP Tracker?
It is a searchable directory launched by the MiCA Crypto Alliance on August 5, 2026, that makes ESMA’s public authorisation data on crypto providers easier to search and filter.
Which crypto services are regulated under MiCA?
MiCA regulation defines ten regulated crypto services, including custody, trading platform operation, crypto-to-fiat exchange, crypto-to-crypto exchange, order execution, token placement, order transmission, advice, portfolio management, and asset transfers.
Is the MiCA CASP Tracker the official source for EU crypto licenses?
No. The tracker is an independent tool built on ESMA’s public data, but ESMA’s official register remains the authoritative source and should be used for final license verifications.
What are the compliance requirements for crypto providers without MiCA authorization?
Unauthorized providers must stop onboarding new EU clients as of July 1, 2026, and may only take actions needed to wind down operations or transfer client assets.
Article produced with the assistance of artificial intelligence and reviewed by the editorial team.