CoinTelegraph
Standard Chartered has been added to ESMA's first post-deadline update of the MiCA crypto-asset service provider register, joining 36 other newly licensed firms.
ESMA added 37 CASPs in the update, bringing the total count of MiCA-authorised providers across the bloc to 280. Standard Chartered's inclusion is the headline name: one of Europe's largest banks now has a regulatory foothold for crypto services under the bloc's harmonised framework.
Why it matters
MiCA's full effective date passed in late 2024, and the register has been filling steadily ever since. A global systemically important bank joining the list signals that the largest TradFi players are no longer waiting on the sidelines of Europe's crypto regime. For institutional clients in the EU, the move narrows the gap between bank-grade custody rails and crypto-native venues.
Market impact
Stablecoin issuers and custodians operating in Europe now have a clearer institutional counterparty landscape to navigate. Expect competition for mandates around euro-denominated stablecoin reserves and tokenised asset custody to intensify as more Tier-1 banks enter the register in the coming quarters.
Frequently asked questions
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What is ESMA's MiCA register?
It is the public list of crypto-asset service providers authorised under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation. Firms on the register can passport crypto services across all 27 member states.
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How many CASPs are now authorised under MiCA?
ESMA's first post-deadline update added 37 new licensed providers, bringing the total count of MiCA-authorised CASPs across the bloc to 280.
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Why is Standard Chartered's inclusion significant?
Standard Chartered is a global systemically important bank. Its addition to the MiCA register signals that Tier-1 TradFi institutions are actively pursuing regulated crypto service authorisations in the EU.
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When did MiCA's full regulatory regime take effect?
MiCA's main provisions became fully applicable in late 2024, and ESMA has been populating the CASP register steadily since.
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What does this mean for institutional crypto services in Europe?
More Tier-1 banks on the register narrows the gap between bank-grade custody infrastructure and crypto-native venues, likely increasing competition for euro-denominated stablecoin reserves and tokenised-asset custody mandates.
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