Standard Chartered has officially received a MiCA passport following the recent authorization of 57 new crypto businesses by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). This significant milestone marks the end of the EU's transition phase.

Growing MiCA Register

With the addition of these firms, the ESMA’s MiCA register now encompasses 300 authorized crypto service providers, a notable increase from 243 recorded on June 26. Standard Chartered, alongside the institutional crypto trading firm FalconX, has successfully secured MiCA licenses, granting them the ability to operate across all 27 EU member states under a single regulatory framework.

The looming July 1 deadline for MiCA compliance has particularly transformed the EU crypto landscape, mandating that only licensed entities are permitted to acquire new customers.

Standard Chartered's Authorization

Standard Chartered's MiCA authorization was granted by Luxembourg’s financial authority, the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF), on June 25. In addition to this, the bank gained an Electronic Money Institution license, facilitating its use of the MiCA passporting system. This allows Standard Chartered to deliver crypto services across the entirety of the EU without needing to secure further approvals from individual nations.

Similarly, FalconX achieved entry into this register after receiving authorization from Malta’s Financial Services Authority just before the critical deadline.

Additional Developments in the Crypto Sector

The latest adjustments to the MiCA register include various notable firms, such as digital asset bank Sygnum Europe, Ronin EM, and CACEIS, the asset servicing division owned by Crédit Agricole and Santander. Recently, CACEIS has been engaged in exclusive discussions to acquire the French crypto investment platform Meria, which boasts approximately 150,000 users and around €350 million in assets under management. This development comes on the heels of Meria’s registration as a MiCA CASP in France.

There has also been significant movement among other financial institutions. Stripe-owned Bridge has earned both MiCA CASP authorization and an Electronic Money Institution license in Luxembourg, further extending the reach of regulated crypto services across the European Union.

Impact of the MiCA Deadline

The increase in approvals aligns with the conclusion of MiCA's transitional period on July 1, 2026. During this phase, existing crypto companies had the opportunity to continue serving their clients while pursuing formal authorization. With the transition now concluded, firms that were unable to obtain a MiCA license are required to cease onboarding new customers.