Germany Leads EU in MiCA-Licensed Crypto Firms With 122 Providers
Germany has strengthened its position as the European Union's largest hub for MiCA-licensed crypto-asset service providers, accounting for 122 of the 394 firms listed in the European Securities and Markets Authority's (ESMA) register. The figure represents nearly one-third of all licensed providers across the bloc, placing Germany well ahead of France and the Netherlands.
France ranks second with 36 licensed firms, followed by the Netherlands with 29. Germany's growing lead has been supported in part by the addition of cooperative banks to the regulatory register.
Germany's MiCA Licensing Lead Continues to Grow
The number of licensed crypto firms in Germany has increased steadily throughout 2026. An April snapshot of the ESMA register published by Binar showed 53 authorised entities in the country, representing more than 26% of the EU total at that time.
By August, Germany's count had climbed to 79, according to figures reported by Cointelegraph and summarised by Bloomingbit. Six cooperative banks were added in a single register update, while the country had recorded 57 licences at the end of June.
Germany's financial regulator, BaFin, attributed the high number of licences to the country's large financial sector and the number of credit institutions capable of providing crypto-asset services. The regulator also noted that Germany had established a national licensing framework for crypto businesses before MiCA, allowing some companies to receive authorisation through a simplified process.
Cooperative banks have continued to contribute to the increase. Register tracker Penning identified several new German entrants in October, including Raiffeisenbank Eifel eG, authorised on 19 October 2026, and Volksbank Niederrhein eG, authorised on 22 October 2026.
However, the reported totals differ depending on how licensing status is counted. ESMA's register includes certain authorisations that are scheduled to take effect later in November. Penning counts only licences that are already effective and reported 117 authorised firms in Germany out of 387 across the EU as of 6 November.
MiCA Transition Period Has Ended Across the EU
The growing number of licences comes as the transitional period under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) has expired. ESMA stated that the transition period ended across the bloc on 1 July 2026.
Under the regulatory framework, companies providing crypto-asset services to EU clients without the required MiCA authorisation after that date are in breach of EU law and must stop offering those services.
ESMA also called on firms without a licence to prepare orderly wind-down plans. As reported by ForkLog, those plans should include notifying customers and allowing them to transfer their digital assets to an authorised provider or a non-custodial wallet.
ESMA Register Could See Further Changes
ESMA maintains an interim MiCA register that is updated every few weeks. As regulators continue approving applications and new authorisations take effect, the number of licensed providers across the EU remains subject to change.
Germany's total could therefore increase further, particularly as additional cooperative banks and other financial institutions enter the register. The current figures nevertheless show the country's substantial lead in the implementation of the EU's crypto licensing framework.
source: bsc.news
Writer: Ethan Collins
Crypto Journalist
Ethan Collins reports on developments across the cryptocurrency and blockchain sector. His work covers market movements, protocol updates, regulatory changes, and emerging trends in digital assets.
He focuses on presenting complex topics in a clear and accessible manner for a broad readership.
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