ESMA_QA_2086
Topic
Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP)
29/01/2024
Subject Matter
Passporting rights for entities benefiting from grandfathering
Question
1) Are entities benefiting from grandfathering eligible to passport their crypto services to other Member States?

2) Can an entity grandfathered to provide crypto services in one Member State provide cross-border activities in another Member State that has elected not to allow grandfathering (i.e., shortened or opted out of the transitional period)?
Level 1 Regulation
MiCA
ESMA_QA_2085
Topic
Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP)
29/01/2024
Subject Matter
New CASPs established before (and after) 30 December 2024
Question
Does Article 143 allow for new CASPs established between MiCA’s entry into force (June 2022) and 30 December 2024 to continue providing crypto-asset services (under national applicable law) until 1 July 2026 (assuming the MS allows the full duration of the grandfathering period)?
Level 1 Regulation
MiCA
ESMA_QA_2071
Topic
Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP)
09/01/2024
Subject Matter
Crypto-asset transfers as component of another crypto-asset service or as a separate crypto-asset transfer service
Question
Recital 93 of MiCA states that “[…] Many crypto-asset service providers also offer some kind of transfer service for crypto-assets as part of, for example, the service of providing custody and administration of crypto-assets on behalf of clients, exchange of crypto-assets for funds or other crypto-assets, or execution of orders for crypto-assets on behalf of clients […].”

Does Recital 93 of MiCA imply that a crypto-asset transfer offered as part of a crypto-asset service (such as custody and administration or execution of orders on behalf of clients) is to be regarded as a component of such a crypto-asset service and should therefore not be subject to the authorisation requirements under Article 59 of MiCA? Or would such a transfer of crypto-asset still qualify as the separate service of crypto-asset transfer, as defined under Article 3(1), point (26), of MiCA, and be subject to authorisation requirements?

What criteria should be taken into account to determine whether the crypto-asset transfer is a separate service or not?

Please confirm that, if a transfer of crypto-assets is part of a crypto-asset service such as custody and administration or execution of orders on behalf of clients and thus does not constitute the separate service of transfer of crypto-assets, the requirements in Article 82 MiCA apply anyway (including the ESMA guidelines issued according to the mandate in Article 82(2)).
Level 1 Regulation
MiCA
ESMA_QA_2070
Topic
Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP)
09/01/2024
Subject Matter
Simplified authorisation procedures
Question
Can entities which were authorised under national law to provide crypto asset services according to a registration regime under the EU AML/CFT framework on 30 December 2024 benefit from the simplified authorisation procedure set out under Article 143(6) MiCA?
Level 1 Regulation
MiCA
ESMA_QA_2068
Topic
Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP)
09/01/2024
Subject Matter
Grandfathering clause and applicable AML laws
Question
Can entities providing crypto asset services registered under national arrangements that transpose the AML/CFT framework into national law benefit from the grandfathering clause set out under Article 143(3) MiCA?
Level 1 Regulation
MiCA