MiCA CASP authorisation in Cyprus (CySEC)

At a glance

Regulator: CySEC
Typical timeline: ~3 to 6 months
Transitional deadline: Open until 1 July 2026 (existing national registrants had to apply by 27 February 2026)
Fees: From around €4,500; annual contribution up to around 0.5% of revenue, minimum around €750
CASPs authorised so far: ~10
Pre-MiCA experience: National CASP register since 2021; CIF experience

As of June 2026; figures drift and transitional dates trace to the ESMA grandfathering list. Capital is set EU-wide by service class (€50,000 / €125,000 / €150,000), not by country. Compare member states on the jurisdiction comparison and confirm exact dates on the deadlines page.

Why teams look at Cyprus

Cyprus is a long-standing hub for cross-border investment firms, with deep experience servicing brokerage and trading businesses across the EU. CySEC ran a crypto-asset service provider registration regime before MiCA, so it came to the regime with relevant supervisory practice. Under MiCA’s crypto-asset service provider regime, applying from 30 December 2024, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) is the authorising authority, with the Central Bank of Cyprus involved on prudential matters.

The combination of an experienced securities regulator, a familiar professional-services ecosystem, and competitive tax makes Cyprus a common choice for trading-oriented firms.

This page is informational and does not replace legal, regulatory, or tax advice. Confirm current requirements, forms, fees, and timelines directly with CySEC before acting.

The authorisation route

A firm that is not already an EU-authorised financial entity applies to CySEC for authorisation as a CASP under Article 62. A firm already authorised under EU financial law can use the lighter Article 60 notification.

Under Article 63 CySEC has 25 working days to confirm completeness and then 40 working days to decide once the file is complete.

What CySEC expects

Local substance

A registered office in Cyprus and management effectively based there under Article 59(2).

Governance and fit-and-proper

Collective crypto-asset competence and sufficient time under Article 68, with assessment of directors and qualifying shareholders.

Custody and client assets

Segregation, reconciliation, a custody policy, and strict liability for loss under Article 75 where you hold client crypto-assets or the means of access.

Prudential safeguards

Own funds, an insurance policy, a comparable guarantee, or a mix under Article 67, at the higher of the class minimum or one quarter of fixed overheads.

Capital and the Article 67 question

The minimum is 50,000 euro, 125,000 euro, or 150,000 euro depending on the services you are authorised for, or one quarter of the previous year’s fixed overheads if higher. If you are weighing insurance against capital, build the evidence first: see the CASP insurance evidence pack and own funds vs insurance.

Coming from a CySEC crypto registration

Firms registered under the pre-MiCA CySEC crypto-asset service provider regime do not convert automatically to a MiCA authorisation. They transition through a process CySEC manages within a national transitional window. Confirm the current cut-off date and the exact transition steps with CySEC.

Transitional dates have moved at the member-state level. Confirm any date against current CySEC guidance before planning around it.

FAQ

Is a Cyprus CASP licence valid across the EU?

Yes. A CASP authorisation passports to all 27 member states under Article 65. You authorise in Cyprus and notify the host states before providing services there.

Why do trading firms cluster in Cyprus?

CySEC has long supervised cross-border investment firms, and the island has a deep professional-services ecosystem and competitive tax. That experience carries into crypto, though MiCA substance rules still apply.