What is the MiCA regulation?

If an exchange says “we comply with MiCA,” does that mean your money is safe?

The name comes from Markets in Crypto-Assets. You will also see it as MiCAR. Think of it as a common set of operating rules for shops: they define who can operate, what information they must provide and what obligations they have toward the customer. They don’t guarantee that every product on the shelf is a good choice.

The legal basis is Regulation (EU) 2023/1114. The core provisions for specific categories of stablecoins have applied since June 30, 2024, and most of the rest since December 30, 2024. It covers crypto-asset issuers and businesses that provide services such as exchange, custody and operating trading platforms. It doesn’t cover everything: crypto-assets that qualify as financial instruments fall under other financial rules.

Why it matters

For you, the main change is that there are common requirements on disclosure, organization and complaint handling. A licensed provider can, following the required procedures, offer its permitted services in other EU countries too.

You don’t need a MiCA license to hold crypto or to trade on your own account. The regulation doesn’t abolish self-custody or force you to sell your coins. The bans on market manipulation, however, can apply to individuals too.

What to watch out for

We keep a company’s licensing separate from the safety of an investment. Check ESMA’s MiCA register for the specific legal entity that serves you and the services it is authorized to provide, not just its brand name. An old national registration is not proof of current authorization: the transitional periods in the EU ended no later than July 1, 2026.

A license doesn’t guarantee the value of your crypto. Nor does the filing of a whitepaper in a register mean the investment has been approved. Also, identity and transfer checks rest partly on separate anti-money laundering rules, not exclusively on MiCA.

In Greece

MiCA applies directly in Greece as well. Law 5193/2025 sets out national implementing measures, with supervisory roles for the Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC) and the Bank of Greece, depending on the entity and the activity.

Taxation is a separate issue: MiCA doesn’t determine how you report your gains to AADE (Greece’s Independent Authority for Public Revenue). Keep records of your transactions and expenses, and discuss your own case with a tax advisor who knows crypto.