Standard Chartered among 37 new additions to ESMA's MiCA registry in first update after transition period
Following the end of the transitional period, ESMA releases its initial MiCA register update, incorporating 37 crypto-asset service providers such as Standard Chartered and FalconX.
Following the conclusion of the transitional period on Wednesday, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has released its initial update to the registry of cryptocurrency firms operating under the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA).
The registry received an update on Friday that incorporated 37 newly licensed crypto-asset service providers (CASPs), among which was the international banking institution Standard Chartered, having obtained MiCA authorization from regulatory authorities in Luxembourg on June 25.
The newly added CASPs include digital asset prime brokerage platform FalconX, along with Sygnum Europe and Ronin EM, whereas the electronic money tokens (EMTs) register has incorporated CACEIS, which belongs to Crédit Agricole.
The interim MiCA register maintained by ESMA currently contains 280 CASPs, representing an increase from the 243 that appeared in the update released on June 26.
Standard Chartered advances crypto strategy in Europe with MiCA and EMI licenses
Beyond obtaining MiCA authorization, Standard Chartered has also been awarded an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) license, which enables the bank to issue electronic money and deliver payment services, according to the bank's announcement made on Monday.
Securing our MiCA and EMI licences is a key step in progressing our digital asset journey in Europe
Margaret Harwood-Jones, Standard Chartered's global head of financing
According to the bank, these approvals represent a continuation of recent achievements, which include the introduction of digital asset custody services across Asia and the Middle East, while also addressing the increasing client demand for regulated digital asset access throughout Europe.
Cyprus leads new MiCA authorizations
In the most recent wave of MiCA authorizations, Cyprus emerged as the leader, representing six of the newly registered crypto-asset service providers (CASPs), marking the largest share among all EU jurisdictions.
With five entries each, France was next in line, along with Italy and Malta, which similarly recorded five newly authorized CASPs. Spain and the Czech Republic each contributed four CASPs, whereas Luxembourg was responsible for three listings and the Netherlands contributed two. One new entry was recorded by each of the following: Germany, Liechtenstein and Latvia.
With these approvals, the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) has now granted a total of 21 MiCA authorizations, though Germany's Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) continues to hold the position as the EU authority with the highest number of MiCA authorizations at 58.
No changes were included in the most recent update to the asset-referenced tokens (ARTs) register, which continues to display no approved issuers, nor to the roster of non-compliant entities, which has stayed at 162.