The MiCA transition period was the window in which crypto service providers in the EU could keep operating without a new licence. It ended on 1 July 2026. If you hold or trade crypto assets with an exchange or platform, now is a good time to take a closer look at your provider.
Short answer: The transition period under the EU crypto regulation MiCA ended on 1 July 2026 for any provider that had not received a licence by then. From that date, crypto services in the EU may only be offered with a licence. You can recognise an authorised provider by its entry in the register of the competent supervisory authority. Last updated: November 2026.
The key points at a glance
- The period under Article 143 MiCA applied to providers that were active under the old national rules before 30 December 2024.
- It ended at the latest on 1 July 2026. It ended earlier once a decision on a licence application had been taken.
- Individual member states could shorten the period. Which rule applies to your provider is shown by its licence.
- For users, the decisive question is whether the provider appears in the register of the competent authority.
- The period concerns providers, not users. It does not oblige private individuals to sell their crypto assets.
What the MiCA transition period actually regulates
The EU crypto regulation, MiCA (Regulation (EU) 2023/1114, in German: Verordnung (EU) 2023/1114), created uniform rules for crypto-asset service providers. Providers that were already active before the cut-off date of 30 December 2024, in line with the law at that time, received a transition period. They could carry on until they were granted or refused a licence, but no longer than until 1 July 2026. This follows from Article 143 of the regulation, which the European securities regulator ESMA reproduces on its website (in German).
Individual member states could exclude or shorten the transition arrangement if their earlier national law was less strict than MiCA. Whether and how this applied in a given country follows from the licence of the provider and from notices of the competent authority. The licence of a specific provider is therefore always the starting point for any assessment.
What the end of the period means for you as a user
With the cut-off date, the transition phase ends for providers without a licence. Your existing holdings do not change automatically because of it. What matters is whether your provider holds the required licence, whether it may offer services to customers in Germany, and how it handles customer assets. These three points can be checked in a few steps.
A provider that continues to offer services without a licence after July 2026 is operating outside the transition arrangement. You can report such cases to the competent authority. A consumer protection organisation or a lawyer can explain which claims you have in your individual case.
How to recognise an authorised provider
The licence is the most important check. The table shows what you can verify and where to find the information.
| Check | What you verify | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | Is the provider authorised as a crypto-asset service provider? | Register of the competent authority, in Germany the BaFin |
| Origin | In which EU country was the licence granted? | Imprint and details on the website |
| Contracting party | Which company is responsible for you? | Terms of use and imprint |
| Scope | Does the licence cover the services you use? | Information from the authority on the scope of the licence |
A statement on the provider’s website does not replace a check in the register. Compare the name and legal form in the register with the details given by the provider. If they do not match, ask the provider directly before you pay in further amounts.
Frequently asked questions about the MiCA transition period
Does the deadline also apply to me as a user?
No, the transition arrangement is directed at providers. It sets out how long a service provider could continue without a new licence. For you, the important step is to check the provider before you deposit further funds.
Do I have to sell my crypto assets now?
The transition period does not create an obligation for private individuals to sell crypto assets. Whether a provider may continue to serve you depends on its licence. A decision to sell should not be made only because of a cut-off date, but discussed with a consumer protection organisation first.
Where can I find the list of authorised providers?
Authorised providers are listed in a register kept by the competent authority. In Germany this is the BaFin. The European securities regulator ESMA also publishes information on MiCA and on the transitional rules.
What changes for tax purposes?
The MiCA transition period does not address tax questions. The tax consequences of crypto transactions follow tax law and should be clarified separately, for example with a tax adviser.
Why the cut-off date matters for customers too
Many crypto users chose their platform years ago without looking at licences. The date of 1 July 2026 is therefore a good occasion to review your own situation calmly. This includes which assets sit with which provider, how you can withdraw them and which documents you would need if something goes wrong.
The distinction between custody and trading matters. A provider may hold crypto assets for you, arrange purchases and sales, or do both. Each of these services is covered by the licence, so it is worth checking which services the provider actually offers.
A helpful question is this: could you move your assets to another provider within a few days if the situation changed? If you cannot answer that, it is better to find out early rather than act only when a problem arises.
Common mistakes when checking a provider
- A seal or a marketing statement on the website does not replace the entry in the register.
- An entry does not automatically mean that every service of the provider is covered. The competent authority states the scope.
- Similar-sounding names can belong to different companies. Always compare the legal form and the seat.
- If people contact you claiming to help on behalf of the provider, check the warning signs before you hand over access data or assets.
What to do now
- Note which provider holds your crypto assets and whether you have an account or custody arrangement there.
- Search for the provider in the register of the competent authority and compare name and legal form with the imprint.
- Ask the provider in writing for its licence and for the scope of its services for customers in Germany.
- Pay in further amounts only if the details match, and keep receipts and account statements.
Related reading
- Krypto-Börsen mit MiCA-Lizenz: Woran du seriöse Anbieter erkennst (in German): link
- Bitcoin erklärt: Was Kryptowährungen eigentlich sind (in German): link
- Digitaler Euro: Was 2029 geplant ist und was er für Bargeld bedeutet (in German): link
- Geld, Konto und Kredit: Der Überblick für junge Erwachsene (in German): link
Sources: ESMA, Article 143 MiCA (transitional measures), accessed November 2026; Article 143 MiCA, full text in German, accessed November 2026.
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
