The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has added 15 crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) to its interim Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) register, bringing the total to 309 distinct authorised entities. The update, published on July 24, reflects post-deadline licensing momentum after the EU’s MiCA transitional period ended on July 1, 2026.
The most notable new entry is BNY SA/NV, the Belgian banking subsidiary of global financial services group BNY. The National Bank of Belgium authorised the unit on July 20 for crypto-asset custody and transfer services—activities that align with BNY’s institutional focus. With $62.6 trillion in assets under custody or administration, BNY’s entry signals a strategic push into regulated digital-asset infrastructure, including tokenised fund support and stablecoin-based settlement.
Germany contributed four new providers, including three cooperative banks: Raiffeisenbank Falkenstein-Wörth, Spar- und Kreditbank Rheinstetten, and VR-Bank Augsburg-Ostallgäu, plus JT Technologies. Denmark added three—Coinify, SafeLynx Technologies, and Januar—while Bulgaria, Latvia, Cyprus, Liechtenstein, and the Netherlands each added one or two firms. The mix underscores the broadening scope of the register, which now spans custodians, payment companies, regional banks, and crypto-native businesses.
The additions followed the hard deadline of July 1, after which firms operating under old national regimes could no longer rely on transitional arrangements. A pending application does not grant continued service rights; only full authorisation or proper notification (for credit institutions under Article 60) permits ongoing activity. ESMA’s register records each firm’s national regulator, approval date, and permitted services—with the legal entity explicitly listed, as some groups appear under multiple subsidiary names.
While the register’s growth signals regulatory progress, industry voices caution that compliance costs remain a burden. Gate Europe’s CEO recently warned that some licensed firms may struggle with the ongoing resource demands of staffing, security, and reporting. Nevertheless, the presence of a global custodian and traditional banks marks a significant step in institutional adoption, reinforcing the MiCA framework as a gateway to pan-European digital-asset services.
