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We prepare cryptoasset and stablecoin licence applications for exchanges, brokers, custodians, wallet providers and issuers from our offices in London and New York: under the UK's new regime, MiCA in the European Union and the leading regimes worldwide.
Selected engagements from more than 250 licences obtained since 2013, for payment, e-money and cryptoasset firms.
Volkswagen
Payment InstitutionObtained Nexpay’s FCA Authorised Payment Institution licence.
Electronic Money InstitutionObtained Dzing Finance’s FCA Authorised Electronic Money Institution licence.
Obtained Orbital’s FCA Authorised Payment Institution licence.
The short answer
A crypto licence consultant confirms which licence a cryptoasset business needs in each market, then prepares the application, the capital and custody arrangements, the anti-money laundering framework and the governance the regulator assesses. In the UK, applications for the FCA's new regime are open from 30 September 2026 to 28 February 2027; in the EU, MiCA authorisation from one country passports across the Union.
From 25 October 2027, seven cryptoasset activities become regulated activities that need FCA authorisation under the Financial Services and Markets Act: issuing a qualifying stablecoin, safeguarding, operating a trading platform, dealing as principal, dealing as agent, arranging deals and arranging staking. Permanent minimum capital runs from £75,000 to £750,000 by activity, and the application fee from £2,820 to £28,150.
The application window opened on 30 September 2026 and closes on 28 February 2027. A firm that applies within the window may keep trading after 25 October 2027 until its application is decided. Registration under the money laundering regulations does not convert into authorisation, so registered firms must apply or wind down their UK business.
A crypto-asset service provider needs authorisation under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) from the authority of its home country, and can then passport across the EU. Capital is €50,000, €125,000 or €150,000 by class of service, or a quarter of the previous year's fixed overheads if higher. The authority decides within 40 working days of a complete application; plan for three to five months.
The choice of home country matters as much as the application itself: authorities differ on fees, local people and how they assess. We compare the leading countries before you commit and recommend one in writing.
Stablecoin issuers need a licence in each market where they issue. In the United States, the GENIUS Act applies by 18 January 2027 at the latest and only a permitted payment stablecoin issuer may issue. In the EU, an e-money token is issued by an electronic money institution or a credit institution under MiCA. In the UK, issuing a qualifying stablecoin needs FCA authorisation from 25 October 2027, with £350,000 of permanent minimum capital and an £11,260 application fee.
We prepare cryptoasset applications in the markets crypto businesses most often enter. Each guide sets out the regulator's capital, fees and timing.
Crypto regulators test the same core areas, whatever the country. We prepare each of them to the standard the authority expects.
Crypto applications move quickly when the business model is settled early. We work in five stages, with the licence decision made at the start.
Our record in digital assets includes UK FCA cryptoasset applications, European virtual asset service provider applications and two complete stablecoin projects, from licensing to launch. The same team obtains payment and e-money licences, which matters for crypto businesses that need both a crypto licence and an e-money or payment licence to move customer funds.
We open global markets to payment, e-money and crypto businesses: the licences to enter, the banking to operate and the compliance to scale. Since 2013 we have obtained more than 250 licences in over 60 countries.
Yes. Registration under the money laundering regulations does not convert into authorisation under the new regime. A registered firm must obtain authorisation, ideally within the window that closes on 28 February 2027, or wind down its UK business before 25 October 2027.
The FCA must decide within six months of a complete application. Firms that apply within the window from 30 September 2026 to 28 February 2027 may keep trading after 25 October 2027 until their application is decided.
The home authority checks completeness within 25 working days and decides within 40 working days of a complete application, although questions can pause the clock. Plan for three to five months in total.
It depends on your services, your customers and the people you can place in the country. Authorities differ on fees, local substance and approach, and we compare the leading options in writing before you choose.
Yes. We prepare state money transmitter licences, FinCEN money services business registration and New York BitLicense applications, and advise stablecoin issuers on the GENIUS Act.
We agree the fee for the scope in writing before work starts. Regulator fees and other third-party costs are shown separately, and you receive the proposal the same day as your enquiry.
Tell us what you need and where you operate.