European MiCA CASP Licence & Compliance

Obtain your European MiCA CASP licence with specialist regulatory support.
We assist crypto exchanges, brokers, custodians, and digital asset platforms with CASP authorisation, regulatory structuring, and ongoing compliance under the EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation. Existing VASPs must obtain CASP authorisation by 1 July 2026. We help firms transition before the deadline.

Start Application

Our Simple 3-Step MiCA CASP Licence Process

Step 1: Business model and jurisdiction strategy

We determine the appropriate CASP permissions and recommend the most suitable EU jurisdiction for authorisation based on regulator responsiveness, substance requirements, banking access, and transition deadlines.

Step 2: CASP licence
application & documentation

We prepare the CASP licence file, governance documentation, compliance policies, and regulatory submissions.
We coordinate the application process and handle regulator interactions.

Step 3:

Ongoing Compliance

After authorisation, we support your compliance programme and assist with passporting your CASP licence across the European Economic Area.

Successful Licence Client Testimonial

“We engaged Buckingham Capital Consulting to support our European crypto licensing strategy. The team provided clear guidance on MiCA requirements, built our compliance framework, and structured our authorisation approach for long-term scalability across the EU.”

Why Buckingham Capital Consulting: Trusted Experts in MiCA CASP Licencing

Specialist support from strategy through authorisation and ongoing MiCA compliance.

Deep digital asset regulatory expertise

We advise crypto businesses globally on VASP registrations, CASP authorisations, and digital asset regulatory frameworks across Europe and beyond.

End-to-end CASP authorisation support

We manage the full process, from regulatory assessment and structuring through to CASP licence preparation and submission.

Through to banking and launch

We can support you with account opening and prepare your compliance documentation to the standard banks require.

Our Service is Trusted by Leaders in Financial Services

Expert European MiCA CASP Licence & Compliance Services

Since 2013, we’ve guided several businesses through successful MSB licencing. Our fast-track, end-to-end support ensures a smooth, compliant, and efficient process from start to finish.

CASP authorisation strategy

Assessment of your business model and identification of the correct CASP permissions under MiCA.

CASP licence application

Preparation and submission of the full CASP authorisation file, including governance, risk, and compliance frameworks.

Compliance policies and procedures

Drafting of internal policies covering AML, operational risk, governance, safeguarding of client assets, and internal controls.

Ongoing compliance support

Post-authorisation advisory, governance reviews, and preparation for regulatory inspections.

Our People

Our team combines payments, crypto, and regulatory expertise to guide digital asset firms through MiCA CASP authorisation and ongoing compliance. We work directly with founders, compliance leads, and legal teams to deliver practical, regulator-ready solutions

Key information and requirements for the European MiCA CASP licence

What is a CASP under MiCA?

Under the EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, businesses providing crypto-asset services must obtain authorisation as a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP).

Once authorised in one EU member state, a CASP can passport its services across the European Economic Area.

Activities that typically require a CASP licence

CASP authorisation is required for firms providing services such as:

Crypto-asset exchange services.
Execution of crypto-asset orders.
Reception and transmission of crypto-asset orders.
Crypto-asset custody and administration.
Operation of trading platforms.
Crypto-asset placement or distribution.
Transfer services for crypto-assets.

The exact permissions depend on the services offered.

Our services

We support clients through the full MiCA CASP authorisation process, including:

Business model and regulatory assessment.
Jurisdiction selection and structuring.
CASP licence application preparation.
Governance and compliance framework design.
Liaison with regulators.
Ongoing compliance advisory.

Key regulatory requirements

Typical CASP requirements include:

Authorisation from a national competent authority.
Fit and proper directors and senior management.
Minimum capital requirements based on service type.
Robust governance and risk management framework.
Safeguarding arrangements for client crypto-assets.
Operational resilience and security controls.
AML and counter-terrorist financing framework.
Ongoing regulatory reporting and supervision.

Required documentation

Typical CASP application documentation includes:

Detailed business plan and service description.
Corporate structure and ownership details.
Director and senior management information.
Governance and risk management framework.
Operational and security policies.
Safeguarding and custody arrangements.
AML and compliance policies.
Financial projections and capital details.

Other important information

MiCA introduces a single EU-wide crypto licensing regime.
CASP authorisation in one EU state allows passporting across the EEA.
Existing VASP regimes are being phased out or transitioned under MiCA.
Early structuring decisions can significantly affect authorisation timelines and capital requirements.

FAQs

How long does it take to obtain a MiCA CASP licence?

The formal MiCA timeline allows approximately three to four months from submission to decision. In practice, most authorisations take six to twelve months. Regulators routinely pause the assessment period to request additional information, and the quality of your initial submission directly affects how many rounds of questions you face. We prepare the application file to minimise regulator queries and keep the process on track.

How much capital do I need for a CASP licence?

MiCA sets three capital thresholds depending on the services you provide. Class 1 requires €50,000 for services such as receiving and transmitting orders, advisory, and placement. Class 2 requires €125,000 if you also exchange crypto-assets for fiat or other crypto-assets, or operate a trading platform. Class 3 requires €150,000 if you also provide custody and administration of crypto-assets. If your services span multiple classes, the highest threshold applies.

Which EU jurisdiction should I apply in?

The right jurisdiction depends on your business model, target markets, substance capacity, and banking requirements. Each EU member state has its own national regulator, processing speed, and approach to MiCA implementation. We assess your operational structure and recommend the jurisdiction that gives you the best combination of regulatory efficiency, banking access, and long-term scalability.

I already hold a VASP licence. Do I need to reapply under MiCA?

Yes. All existing VASPs must obtain full CASP authorisation under MiCA. The transition deadline is 1 July 2026, though some member states have set earlier cut-off dates. If you do not obtain your CASP licence before the deadline, you will no longer be permitted to provide crypto-asset services in the EU. We advise starting the process well in advance, as regulator capacity is limited and application volumes are increasing.

Can I operate across the whole EU with one CASP licence?

Yes. Once authorised in one EU member state, you can passport your CASP licence across all 27 member states and the wider European Economic Area. Passporting requires a notification to your home regulator, who then informs the host country authorities and ESMA. You can only passport services that are within the scope of your original authorisation.

Do I need a physical presence in the EU?

Yes. MiCA requires real operational substance, not a letterbox arrangement. You need a legal entity incorporated in an EU member state, a physical office where activities are carried out, and at least one EU-resident director. You also need to appoint a compliance officer and an AML reporting officer. Regulators will assess whether genuine decision-making takes place within the EU. We can support with incorporation, substance arrangements, and compliance officer appointments.