What is a CASP (crypto-asset service provider)?

You buy Bitcoin through an app, but do you know which company is behind it?

CASP stands for Crypto-Asset Service Provider. Think of the difference between a traveler who exchanges euros for a trip and the business that provides the foreign currency. In the same way, a CASP is the provider, not the customer. Holding crypto or trading it on your own account doesn’t make you a CASP.

The services covered include operating a trading platform, exchanging crypto for euros or other crypto, custody on behalf of clients, giving advice and portfolio management.

Why it matters

The EU’s MiCA regulation, i.e. Regulation (EU) 2023/1114, sets rules on licensing, organization and client protection. The provisions on CASPs have applied since December 30, 2024. As a rule a license is required, although some already-supervised financial institutions can provide permitted services through a notification procedure.

A licensed CASP can provide its authorized services in other EU member states without a separate license in each one. For us, the practical value is that users can check which company is serving them and which services it is licensed for.

What to watch out for

In the MiCA register of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), look up the exact legal entity and its permitted services, not just the app’s brand name. An old national registration doesn’t by itself prove MiCA authorization: the transitional periods ended on July 1, 2026 at the latest.

A license doesn’t guarantee the value of your crypto, nor automatic compensation for losses. It also doesn’t mean that every product the company offers falls under the same regulatory framework. You’re not required to keep your crypto with a CASP; you can use your own wallet, taking responsibility for the security of its keys.

In Greece

Law 5193/2025 (Government Gazette FEK A 56, April 11, 2025) sets out national measures implementing MiCA. The Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC) and the Bank of Greece have supervisory powers depending on the provider’s category. CASP status doesn’t by itself determine how your transactions are taxed; that’s a separate matter that needs an individual tax review.