Banks now account for nearly one in four crypto-asset service providers listed under the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, highlighting the growing role of traditional lenders in the bloc's regulated digital-asset market, according to a report by BitcoinKE.

An analysis of data published by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), which maintains the public register of authorised crypto-asset service providers in the bloc, shows that the number of banks listed rose to about 80 as of September 16, 2026. That is roughly double the count of about 40 recorded on June 26, 2026, a period of about three months. Over the same stretch, the total number of listed crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) increased from 243 to 349.

The changes lifted banks' share of the register to approximately 23%, up from roughly 16% in late June 2026, while the share of non-bank providers fell to about 77% from 84%. Of the 106 providers added to the register over period, banks accounted for roughly 38%.

Germany has accounted for a significant portion of the increase, with regional cooperative lenders joining larger financial institutions in registering crypto services. According to the report, Deutsche Bank is also preparing to offer crypto custody to institutional and corporate clients in Europe and expects MiCA approval for the service in October 2026.

Banks have a different route into the MiCA market than crypto-native firms. Under Article 60, EU credit institutions can provide crypto-asset services through a notification procedure rather than applying for a separate CASP licence. Institutions using this route must notify their home regulator and provide information covering areas including governance, internal controls, custody, anti-money-laundering procedures, and information-technology systems. Crypto-native firms, by contrast, must obtain a standalone CASP licence. In practical terms, the notification route allows banks to enter the market on the basis of their existing status as supervised credit institutions, while crypto-native firms must complete a full authorisation process to serve the EU market.

The acceleration in bank registrations comes as MiCA moves into full enforcement across the EU. ESMA has said that unauthorised crypto providers must wind down covered services, and it has advised clients to confirm that a provider is authorised by consulting the regulator's public register — the same list where the shift from a predominantly non-bank field toward a growing bank presence is now visible.

The shift is changing the composition of Europe's regulated crypto market. Non-bank firms still make up the majority of registered providers, but banks are entering at a substantially faster rate. For crypto firms, MiCA is therefore becoming not only a regulatory filter but also a channel through which established banks can extend their existing financial infrastructure into digital assets. The development underscores how the framework is reshaping access to the EU crypto market for both incumbent lenders and crypto-native firms. Deutsche Bank's expected approval decision in October 2026 is among the next data points that will show how the balance between banks and non-banks on ESMA's register evolves.

Source: BitcoinKE