ESMA Adds 15 Crypto Firms to MiCA Registry, Bringing Total to 309
Key Takeaways
- •ESMA has expanded its official MiCA registry to 309 registered Crypto Asset Service Providers after adding 15 new firms.
- •BNY Mellon’s Belgian subsidiary is among the new registrants, marking the first major custodial bank to fall under MiCA.
- •BitPay was also added to the registry, broadening the list of licensed payments providers in the EU crypto market.
- •The registry provides passporting rights across 27 EU member states and is described as reducing counterparty risk for investors and compliant venues.
- •The article says future ESMA developments may include stablecoin guidance and enforcement beyond national borders.
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) said it has added 15 new Crypto Asset Service Providers to the official MiCA registry, bringing the total number of registered providers to 309.
Among the new registrants are BNY Mellon’s Belgian subsidiary and payments company BitPay. The addition marks the first time a major custodial bank has come under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation.
ESMA Oversight Expands Across EU CASPs
As more Crypto Asset Service Providers (CASPs) are registered across the European Union, ESMA’s oversight role continues to expand. BNY Mellon’s registration brings institutional custody infrastructure within MiCA’s scope, while BitPay’s inclusion broadens the list of licensed payments providers.
Other newly listed providers include exchanges, wallets, and platforms that support tokenization.
Also Read: Ripple CASP License Expands as ESMA Adds 14 New Crypto Firms Under MiCA
MiCA Delivers Legal Certainty
The ESMA registry provides legal certainty and passporting rights across 27 EU member states, which the article says is beneficial for investors. It also reduces counterparty risk for investors, asset funds, and exchanges seeking compliant venues.
🐋 WHALE WATCH : 309 licensed crypto asset service providers in Europe now. ESMA just added 15 new CASPs to the official MiCA registry with BNY Mellons Belgian unit and BitPay heading the group. Three big takeaways from this: TradFi Isnt Waiting: Custodial titans are building… pic.twitter.com/L6Z8r1wbgY — Whale Factor (@WhaleFactor) July 27, 2026
🐋 WHALE WATCH : 309 licensed crypto asset service providers in Europe now. ESMA just added 15 new CASPs to the official MiCA registry with BNY Mellons Belgian unit and BitPay heading the group. Three big takeaways from this: TradFi Isnt Waiting: Custodial titans are building… pic.twitter.com/L6Z8r1wbgY
For developers, MiCA offers a single route to bring products to market across the EU instead of navigating fragmented national licensing regimes. It also sets regulatory requirements covering reserve management, governance, and consumer protection, making the registry relevant not only for compliance teams but also for firms deciding where to base regulated crypto operations.
Also Read: Coinbase AiFi Could Drive Crypto Growth as AI Adoption Accelerates
Past Trend, Industry Development, and Future Outlook
The article says the expansion reflects a broader 2026 trend of traditional finance moving deeper into cryptocurrency through regulated platforms. With 309 companies now listed, the compliance moat is growing, and compliant CASPs may be better placed to serve institutions that require clear licensing and operational standards as MiCA becomes more established in the market.
Source: BitPay’s X Post
The next major developments are expected to include ESMA’s guidelines on stablecoin regulation and enforcement beyond national borders, which the article describes as important for the development of cryptocurrency in the EU. It adds that the registry may also become a reference point for crypto legislation in other institutionalized markets.
Also Read: CLARITY Act Gains Senate Support as US Moves to Tighten Crypto Regulations
