EU Crypto Firms Face License Cutoff as MiCA Deadline Hits July 1, 2026

The European Union’s Markets in Crypto‑Assets (MiCA) transition period ends on 1 July 2026. From that date, crypto‑exchange, broker and wallet providers must hold a MiCA licence (CASP) to offer services to EU customers; firms without such approval must cease operations, withdraw assets, or transfer users to authorised platforms.

Analysts estimate that around 75 % of existing EU crypto providers could lose their licences, leaving only a few hundred authorised firms. Regulators such as France’s AMF warn of fines and prison sentences for non‑compliance, while other members, including Poland and Italy, have varied rollout speeds. Users on unlicensed platforms will need to move their holdings, verify identities with approved entities, or adopt self‑custody solutions. The deadline tests MiCA’s goal of a single EU crypto market and could reshape service provision across the bloc.