MiCA Is Here.
Every EU Crypto Business Needs Authorization.
Get Compliant or Get Out.

Capital Requirement vs. Operating Cost

The minimum capital (€50K–€150K) must be held in the entity throughout operations — it is not spent. Legal preparation, governance buildout, AML/KYC infrastructure, and technology systems are the actual cash outflows in year one. Budget for capital ring-fencing and operational costs separately.

Year-Two Ongoing Compliance Cost

Post-authorization obligations include: quarterly regulatory reporting, annual independent audits, AML/KYC program maintenance, suspicious transaction reporting, and capital adequacy monitoring. Budget €20K–€60K per year for ongoing compliance operations, depending on transaction volume and jurisdiction.

Lithuania vs. Ireland: The Trade-Off

Lithuania processes MiCA applications fastest — 3–5 months, lowest all-in cost, established crypto licensing ecosystem. Ireland's Central Bank authorization takes 6–12 months at higher cost, but carries stronger institutional credibility with European banking counterparties. The right choice depends on target market, banking relationships, and timeline. Book a consultation for a jurisdiction recommendation.

Lithuania CASP

€80,000–€200,000

Fastest EU authorization. 3–5 months. Strong crypto regulator. Best for startups and exchanges wanting efficient EU market entry.

Ireland CASP

€175,000–€300,000

Premium regulatory credibility. 6–12 months. Central Bank regulated. Best for operators targeting institutional counterparties.

France or Germany CASP

€100,000–€280,000

AMF or BaFin regulated. Market-specific advantage. Best for operators with existing French or German market presence.

Step 1 — Gap Analysis (Weeks 1–4)

We assess your current operations, technology, and governance against MiCA CASP requirements. Output: a gap register mapping your actual state to each regulatory requirement, with remediation priorities and a realistic timeline to authorization.

Step 2 — Structure & Governance (Weeks 4–12)

Incorporate the entity in the target jurisdiction. Appoint fit-and-proper management and board. Establish the compliance function, MLRO role, and internal controls. Governance arrangements are the most common rejection point for self-filed MiCA applications.

Step 3 — Application Preparation (Weeks 8–16)

Draft the full application package: business plan, AML/KYC policies, client asset segregation procedures, ICT security documentation, capital adequacy proof, and individual fitness assessments for each senior manager and board member. We ensure completeness before submission.

Step 4 — Submission & Regulatory Engagement (Months 3–9)

Submit to the national competent authority. The regulator has 40 working days to assess a complete application, and issues requests for information that pause the clock. We manage all regulatory correspondence and respond to RFIs within 5 business days to keep the timeline on track.

Step 5 — Authorization Conditions (Months 5–12)

Authorization typically arrives with conditions — specific operational or reporting requirements. We review conditions, advise on fulfillment, and establish ongoing compliance infrastructure before first transactions begin.

Step 6 — EU Passporting

Once authorized in one EU member state, you can passport to all 27 via notification to each host-state regulator. Typically 2–3 months per country. We manage the passporting process in parallel so you can expand across the EU without additional full applications.