For EU users, CASP-licensed exchanges are the only ones legally allowed to operate in the region.
However, many exchanges use misleading advertising to appear MiCA-licensed, even if they’re not. For this guide, our team has verified the MiCA/CASP authorization status of the largest exchanges on the market to identify the exchanges genuinely operating under MiCA.
Today, we’ll cover what MiCA means for users and what factors you should look at when evaluating the best MiCA-compliant exchange for you. Finally, we’ll look at the best CASP-licensed exchanges according to our testing.
Key Takeaways:
Offers tax guide, tax calculation, and reporting on multiple exchanges and coins simultaneously, with options of free trial and payment for plans with credit cards. Plans come in different rates for people to choose from, and its strenghts lies in the fact that it helps unravel complex and chaotic data, offers guided reconciliatioan, caters for unlimited clients for professionals, offers full integration, an automated crypto bookkeeping, full scalability, and tax loss harvesting.
ChangeNow is one of the best hybrid crypto exchanges out there. While offering crypto custodial services, users also enjoy some other decentralized exchange features, like dApps integration. Here, you can swap, buy, sell, and enjoy others services like Now payments, Now Nodes, a white label wallet that allows you launch your own non-custodial wallet, a telegram bot, a widget, a tracker, and a native token. It's centralized nature comes in the fact that you can buy and sell crypto with lots of fiat payment methods and currencies, so it is a full package.
Mining Rig Rentals is a site that offers a huge number of mining rigs of different capacity and prices in different countries for people to mine Bitcoin and Altcoins. The site has a very simplistic design , and is very userfriendly, but does not offer phone or email support, and the available ticket form does not work 24/7. Mining Rig Retals is domiciled in the United States, and supports the English language only. However, it offers some other extra features like Analytics and Pool Manager, but without any welcome offer for new users.
YouHodler Crypto Exchange, launched in Cyprus in 2018, stands as a versatile platform offering a plethora of crypto-fiat financial services including lending, trading, and savings accounts.
Safepal offers a complete suit of assets operations, with hardware and software wallets that are all multichain and multi-sig in nature. They do not just allow you to store and secure your assets, you can also swap, trade, buy and sell, and above all stake some of your assets to make profits. Safepal is fully anonymous and completely self-custodial, though its source is not 100% open. It supports assets across hundreds of chains and allows integration with lots of DEFIs and DAAPs. Above all, you are allowed to backup your almighty seeds both manually and on the cloud.
Cointracker was founded in the United States in 2017 as a platform through which people can get authoritative crypto prices and crypto taxes. All users have to do is connect their crypto wallets, and they’ll get their optimized tax reports within minutes. Cointracker can be used to get tax reports on your assets on over 500 exchanges and wallets, more than 10,000 cryptocurrencies and more than 20,000 DeFi smart contracts.
Hashing24 is a BTC mining app that allows users to try the demo version first and learn everything about their services before subscribing to a plan. With up to 5 different plans that you can buy with fiat currencies and payment methods, you have the chance to get your hands at Bitcoin mining through the instrumentality of well known mining firms like Wattum and Bitfury, which Hashing24 patners with.
Tokentax is a crypto tax software and accounting firm that was founded in 2017 in the United States to help traders get an on the spot data of their crypto tax. It syncs with your wallet and accounts, thereby eliminating manual data entry. It helps you review your crypto transactions and tax data in one place
Binance Pool is the mining branch of the popular Binance crypto exchange, and users of te main site only needs to choose a mining name and their mining account would be set up in seconds. Here, they offer ining in the most popular cryptocurrencies, like BTC, ETH and others. However, you can only mine about 10 coins on the site, and so it is not a good option that people that might want to explore more in the crypto mining game. on the other hand, the AFU in-house insurance feature of the parent exchange could be a confidence booster, and the fact that Binance is well established could mean that your assets will enjoy some level of protection.
Bitkey is a Bitcoin only non custodial wallet where users can store and exchange their Bitcoins. Bitkey offers a mobile wallet and hardware counterpart to users. On these wallets, you will enjoy a multi signature secure system that allows you full access and custody of your coin, with full anonymity. Here, you will have no issues with 2FA and aboslutely nothing to do with KYC verifications. While the code for the site is open source, you can only trade BTC here through the Bitcoin Network, and cannot enjoy any form of DeFi integration and staking support. You can also enjoy a basic level of portfolio tracking on the app, but there is no profit and loss statement and tax report.
BTCC Crypto Exchange, originating in China in 2011, is one of the longest-standing platforms in the cryptocurrency industry, offering a diverse range of trading pairs and financial services. BTCC prioritizes privacy by implementing strict security measures, including advanced encryption protocols and secure storage solutions.
Coinledger is one of the most popular tax tracking tools out there. To avoid getting into trouble with the authorities, and to get the best out of your crypto investments, the site helps you track your crypto tax from almost all top exchanges, involving all your held assets. Here, users will have the chance to choose from different plans, depending on their investments and what they can offer The site is alo prefered by many because of the 25% referral comission, and the fact that you can buy plans with fiat currencies. However, they are neither licenced nor insured, and you can only transact with the USD and in the English language.
Hive OS combines mining and farming features, plus a lot of other extra activities like wallet for storing, VPN services, Statistics and Real time monitoring data. Here, you are allowed to mine BTC, RVN and ETC, and enjoy your profits, even though you can only withdraw them in crypto. Hive offers a referral bonus that everyone can enjoy, as they try to grow the community. On the site, safety and security is paramount, and that is why users are encouraged to perfom their 2FA, as the site is already properly encrypted with SSL protocols.
Koinly tax software comes with support for lots of integrations. It helps users track more than 25,000 assets across more than 420 exchanges and 150 wallets. Users can pay with fiat currencies or crypto assets. The payment plans to choose from are many and they come in differnt prices, and users can enjoy tax calculator, profit calculator, portfolio tracking, tax guide, and access to accountants. However, their human live support is for paid members only, and they do not have any welcome offer for new users.
Disclaimer: Investing in cryptocurrencies carries significant risk. Values are highly volatile. Never invest more than you can afford to lose. This site does not provide financial advice. Act based on your own research and consult with a financial professional before making decisions. Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest.
Affiliate disclosure: This website may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you click on a product link and make a purchase/register.
The Crypto Citizens Network is an expert-led organization prioritizing transparency and hands-on testing to inform you about everything crypto.
Our site has hundreds of guides and reviews covering all manner of Web3 subjects from the best crypto wallets to deep dives into the latest market news. Each of these pieces is meticulously crafted by a team of writers, testers, and editors to ensure high quality and accuracy.
To ensure our community of over 10 million monthly readers stays up to date with Web3, we regularly update all of our old guides with new information. If you’re looking for an unbiased source for all your crypto needs, CCN is the right place for you.
MiCA is shorthand for the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation. The purpose of MiCA is to provide a single, unified framework for regulating crypto issuance and services.
Today, MiCA has replaced local crypto regulations across the EU and in the wider European Economic Area (EEA). The rollout of these regulations began in 2023, and the transition period for all member states to adopt them ended on July 1st, 2026.
Trading platforms are categorized as Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs). CASP authorization indicates that the exchange has met all required licensing requirements. The licensing process includes a full review of the exchange’s capital, governance, data management, user verification procedures, user fund management practices, and more.
For users, this means exchanges have to follow transparency rules and keep client funds segregated from their own capital, among other benefits.
One of the biggest benefits for exchanges is the EU passporting regulations. A MiCA-licensed crypto exchange is allowed to operate across the EEA, without needing to reapply for individual licenses from local governing bodies.
When looking at EU-regulated crypto exchanges, you want to know what aspects of an exchange you should prioritize. Let’s take a look at some of the most important ones and how important they’ll be for you based on your needs.
Just because an exchange advertises itself as a MiCA-licensed exchange doesn’t mean it actually is one. If you’re looking at an exchange outside of this list, make sure to check the ESMA Register under its legal name and not its brand name. If you can’t find it, it isn’t actually a CASP-licensed exchange.
The issuing regulator can also be relevant. Since MiCA is still relatively new, supervisory commitment varies between countries. Obtaining a license from a strong regulatory body like Germany’s BaFin carries more weight than a weaker one. Similarly, it may be worth checking the registration date, as an earlier exchange has more experience complying with MiCA rules.
MiCA regulates 10 services, and almost no entity is authorized to perform all of them. These are:
As of today, fewer than 20 platforms are licensed to offer a fully-fledged centralized crypto exchange under MiCA. Before using a platform, make sure to check which specific services it’s authorized to offer.
Although a MiCA license enables an exchange to operate across the EEA via passporting, it still requires the exchange to notify any new states in which it wants to operate. Before a state is notified, you may not be able to access the exchange even if it’s licensed. Generally, the process from notification to full operational capability takes 15 days.
If you don’t want to deal with restricted functionality and stalling verification processes, you’ll want to choose an exchange that’s already notified in your country.
MiCA sets a minimum capital requirement for the different service classifications, ranging from 50,000 EUR to 150,000 EUR. MiCA-authorized crypto exchanges are on the high end of this and must continually hold funds equal to 25% of their annual overhead.
To ensure your exchange follows these standards, you can review published proof-of-reserves statements or third-party audits.
This is one of the most important aspects of MiCA for users. A MiCA-compliant exchange must, at all times, keep its users’ funds separate from its own. The exchange also has to hold a record of what funds belong to whom and prevent any comingling in these funds. Furthermore, exchanges can be held liable for any losses that are attributable to them.
What this means in practice is that an exchange can’t use the funds you deposit and provides protection in case of security incidents.
This is why MiCA-licensed exchanges tend to have fewer available assets than non-EU competitors.
MiCA mandates that all listed tokens must have a MiCA-compliant crypto-asset white paper, with the exchange itself responsible for those that don’t. Because of this, MiCA crypto exchanges will generally not list tokens where the issuer doesn’t provide adequate documentation.
For stablecoins, MiCA mandates that they must be issued by a licensed authorized credit or e-money institution. This, in turn, severely limits the number of available stablecoins to EEA users.
Ensuring compliance can be costly, so you won’t find many MiCA-compliant low-fee exchanges. When comparing trading fees, make sure you look at the whole picture. Many exchanges have VIP/volume-based fee discounts or cashback, making them more attractive for active traders.
In the opposite direction, an exchange may have lower trading fees at first glance, while having steep deposit/withdrawal fees.
Given that fewer tokens are typically available on MiCA-licensed exchanges, a high number of trading pairs is even more desirable. This not only lets you pivot your holdings in response to market movements, but also makes it significantly easier to get into newly released tokens.

MiCA is the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation. It presents a unified set of regulations for crypto services and asset issuance across all EU member states and the European Economic Area (EEA). MiCA serves as a replacement for prior country-wide regulations in member states and encompasses crypto-asset service provider (CASP) licensing (such as exchanges), stablecoin issuance rules, transparency requirements, and more.
Using a MiCA-authorized crypto exchange means higher security for your funds, more transparency from your exchange, and protections when accessing stablecoins. However, it also means sacrificing some of your anonymity and complying with extensive KYC procedures. If privacy costs are too high, you may want to consider some of the best anonymous exchanges.
CASP authorizations can be issued by the National Competent Authorities(NCAs) of 20+ member states. Notable examples include Germany’s Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), the Polish Financial Supervision Authority (KNF), and the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF).
ESMA itself does not license exchanges; instead, it serves as a register for the licenses granted by the NCAs.
In theory, yes. Every MiCA-licensed crypto exchange can operate across the European Economic Area (EEA), including all 27 member states, via EU passporting rights. However, exchanges must notify local regulators 15 days before they intend to start operating in a state and remain subject to local consumer protection and advertising laws.
In practice, this means that not every MiCA-authorized crypto exchange is available in every EU country.
Yes, MiCA is one of the strictest stablecoin regulations. Under MiCA, stablecoins are split into two broad categories:
MiCA protections start with transparency, ensuring exchanges publish detailed documents and stay honest in their marketing efforts. MiCA mandates that user funds be kept separate from the company’s operational funds, preventing your exchange from using them.
MiCA crypto exchanges also have to follow rules, such as ensuring they maintain adequate reserves when issuing asset-referenced and e-money tokens. Finally, under MiCA, exchanges must give users the right to redeem stablecoins for their underlying value.
The quickest way to verify you’re looking at a MiCA-authorized crypto exchange is by checking the public ESMA Register. Make sure you look for the exchange under its legal name, not its brand name. If you want to be extra certain, you can cross-check the exchange’s home member state, authorized service codes, and authorization date.
Ilija is a CCN writer with 7 years of experience covering all things crypto. Ever since a fateful run-in with Litecoin in 2013, he's been an avid investor and writer in the space. When he's not maniacally hacking away at his keyboard, Ilija spends his time either hiking in nature or holed up in his apartment gaming.
You’re All Set!
Thanks for signing up. We’ll be in touch soon with the latest insights.
