Exchanges that ARE MiCA-licensed
These hold a full CASP authorisation that passports across all 30 EEA countries. Your funds keep MiCA protections — segregated custody, a complaints process and capital requirements. A licence from any one EEA country covers them all.
| Exchange | MiCA status | Best for |
|---|---|---|
 Kraken |
✓ LicensedIreland · CBI | #1 overall — deepest regulatory standing (MiCA + MiFID + e-money)→ |
 Bitvavo |
✓ LicensedNetherlands · AFM | Lowest fees in the EU→ |
 Crypto.com |
✓ LicensedMalta · MFSA | Card, app & full ecosystem→ |
 Coinmate |
✓ LicensedCzech CASP register | Czech & Slovak users (CZK)→ |
Want the safest move? Kraken has the deepest regulatory standing in Europe — open an account in minutes and enter the €1M draw.
→
Other licensed exchanges EEA users can use
Beyond the four above, several more platforms hold full CASP authorisation and can serve EEA users after July 1: Coinbase (Luxembourg / Ireland), OKX (Malta), Bitstamp (Luxembourg), Bitpanda (Austria), eToro (Cyprus / CySEC) and Bybit.eu (Austria). As of mid-June 2026 around 200 firms held full CASP authorisation across the EEA, though only roughly 14 also hold the specific permission to run a trading platform. Always confirm the exact licensed legal entity — not just the brand — on the public ESMA register before depositing.
CASP status verified against the public ESMA register, June 2026. A pending application does not count — only an approved licence allows an exchange to serve EEA users after the deadline.
Exchanges WITHOUT a MiCA licence
These either have no licence or only a pending application — which does not count. After 1 July 2026 they must stop serving EEA users and run an orderly wind-down, including offboarding clients with prior notice.
| Exchange | MiCA status | What it means for EEA users |
|---|---|---|
 Binance |
? Uncertain | No valid MiCA licence as of June 2026; application stuck at review, outcome unclear. Watch closely. |
 MEXC |
✗ No licence | Must offboard EEA users. Still usable outside the EEA (e.g. for non-EU users). |
| HHTX (Huobi) | ✗ No licence | Offshore exchange with no MiCA authorisation; must stop serving EEA users. |
 Bitget |
✗ Pending | Application with Austria's FMA pending; says it will pause EEA services until approved. |
| KKuCoin | ⚠ Restricted | Holds an EU licence, but Austria's FMA barred it from onboarding new customers (Feb 2026). |
Some platforms have already begun leaving: Gemini closed EEA accounts in April 2026, and Luno started its EU wind-down in June 2026. If your exchange is on this list — or isn't on the ESMA register — plan your move now rather than waiting for a forced offboarding that may not happen on your timeline.
What to do before July 1 — step by step
If you use an unlicensed exchange, don't wait for the deadline. KYC and transfers take time, and late June will be congested.
- Check if your exchange is licensed. Look up the exact entity serving you on the public ESMA CASP register. Listed = authorised. Not listed = plan to move.
- Open an account on a licensed exchange now. Identity verification (KYC) typically takes 1–3 business days — don't leave it for late June.
- Convert your USDT. Tether isn't MiCA-compliant. Swap USDT to USDC, EURC or fiat before the deadline (more below).
- Move your funds. Withdraw crypto to the licensed exchange or a self-custody wallet before 1 July, rather than risking a rushed, forced exit.
What happens to your USDT
USDT (Tether) is not MiCA-authorised, and licensed EU exchanges cannot offer non-compliant stablecoins to EEA clients. Coinbase, Kraken, Crypto.com and Binance already removed EEA USDT trading. The only top stablecoins compliant under MiCA's e-money token rules are Circle's USDC and EURC.
If you hold USDT on any platform, convert it to USDC, EURC or a fiat currency before 1 July 2026. This matters especially if you send remittances or hold stablecoin balances — on a licensed EU exchange, USDT simply won't be tradeable.