The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has expanded its Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) register to 375 unique crypto-asset service providers after adding nine firms in its October 16 update. The new entries include crypto exchange BingX, digital asset platform YouHodler, and banking entities linked to Banco Santander and German cooperative lenders.
Austria’s Financial Market Authority authorized BingX’s European entity, MEGE zweite GmbH, on October 13. The authorization covers four services: custody and administration of crypto-assets, exchanging crypto-assets for fiat currency, exchanging crypto-assets for other cryptocurrencies, and transferring crypto-assets on behalf of clients. BingX EU said it plans to use the Austrian authorization to offer regulated services across 29 European Economic Area countries through passporting arrangements. The approval applies specifically to MEGE zweite GmbH and does not automatically extend to every product available through BingX’s international platform, particularly derivatives products governed by separate financial regulations.
Italy’s securities regulator, CONSOB, approved YouHodler Italy S.r.l. on October 8 under resolution No. 24156, following consultation with the Bank of Italy. The Italian subsidiary received authorization covering five activities: custody, fiat-to-crypto and crypto-to-crypto exchange, order execution, and transfers. YouHodler said it intends to extend authorized services across all 27 EU member states through MiCA’s passporting mechanism. However, its crypto-backed lending and yield products are not included among the five authorized services, and the approval should not be interpreted as endorsing the company’s entire product portfolio.
The latest register update also includes Prakma Markets, associated with Spain’s Goin investment application, and three German entities: Openbank Deutschland, part of Banco Santander’s banking group, and cooperative lenders VR-Bank Alb-Blau-Donau and VR Bank im südlichen Franken. These additions demonstrate how MiCA is drawing traditional financial institutions into regulated digital asset services, potentially increasing competitive pressure on independent crypto exchanges in custody and basic trading services.
ESMA’s database now shows 375 unique CASPs, while the e-money token register contains 50 entries representing 25 unique entities and the asset-referenced token issuer register remains empty. The register of non-compliant crypto-asset service providers increased by five entries to 178. The July 1, 2026 expiration of MiCA’s transitional arrangements removed previous routes for unlicensed providers to continue serving EU clients, giving authorized firms an advantage in Europe’s regulated crypto market.
