# Crowdfunding services

Source page: https://protegra.io/licensing/activities/crowdfunding/

Matching business project owners with retail and institutional investors to facilitate loans or securities placements requires authorisation under the European Crowdfunding Service Providers Regulation (ECSPR) Article 2(1)(a), held by investment firms or dedicated lending platforms. Authorised crowdfunding providers benefit from full passporting rights across all European Union member states.

## Definition

Matching business funding interests of investors and project owners through a platform, by facilitating loans or placing securities.

- ECSPR, Art. 2(1)(a): [official text](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2020/1503/oj)

## Which licence you need

Licence families that typically permit this activity:

- [Investment firm / broker-dealer](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/)
- [Lending / consumer credit](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/)

- [MSB · CanadaMoney services business (MSB) registration (covers foreign exchange dealing, money transferring, virtual currency dealing, crowdfunding platforms and related services; a separate foreign-MSB registration applies to businesses without a place of business in Canada that direct services at Canadians)FINTRAC](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/money-transmitter/canada/)
- [Credit · CyprusEuropean Crowdfunding Service Provider authorisationCySEC](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/cyprus-crowdfunding/)
- [Credit · Czech RepublicCrowdfunding Service Provider authorization under ECSPR (povolení k činnosti poskytovatele služeb skupinového financování)CNB](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/czech-republic-crowdfunding/)
- [Credit · EstoniaAuthorisation as a crowdfunding service provider under ECSPRFI](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/estonia-crowdfunding/)
- [Credit · FrancePrestataire de services de financement participatif (PSFP) / European crowdfunding service provider authorizationAMF](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/france-crowdfunding/)
- [Credit · IrelandCrowdfunding Service Provider Authorisation (ECSPR)CBI](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/ireland-crowdfunding/)
- [Credit · ItalyFornitore di servizi di crowdfunding / European crowdfunding service provider authorization (ECSPR)CONSOB](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/italy-crowdfunding/)
- [Credit · LatviaCrowdfunding service provider authorizationLB](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/latvia-crowdfunding/)
- [Credit · LithuaniaCrowdfunding service provider authorizationLB](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/lithuania-crowdfunding/)
- [Credit · LithuaniaPeer-to-peer lending platform operatorLB](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/lithuania-p2p/)
- [Credit · LuxembourgCrowdfunding service provider authorisationCSSF](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/luxembourg-crowdfunding/)
- [Credit · NetherlandsEuropean Crowdfunding Service Provider (ECSPR) authorisation under Regulation (EU) 2020/1503AFM](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/netherlands-crowdfunding/)
- [Credit · PolandCrowdfunding Service Provider authorization under ECSPR (dostawca usług finansowania społecznościowego)KNF](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/poland-crowdfunding/)
- [Credit · SlovakiaCrowdfunding service provider authorisation under ECSPR (povolenie na činnosť poskytovateľa služieb kolektívneho financovania)NBS](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/slovakia-crowdfunding/)
- [Credit · SpainProveedor de servicios de financiación participativa / European crowdfunding service provider authorizationCNMV](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/spain-crowdfunding/)

## Where it can be licensed

| | EU/EEA passport | Domestic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Canada: Money services business (MSB) registration (covers foreign exchange dealing, money transferring, virtual currency dealing, crowdfunding platforms and related services; a separate foreign-MSB registration applies to businesses without a place of business in Canada that direct services at Canadians)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/money-transmitter/canada/) | | ✓ |
| [Cyprus: European Crowdfunding Service Provider authorisation](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/cyprus-crowdfunding/) | ✓ | |
| [Czech Republic: Crowdfunding Service Provider authorization under ECSPR (povolení k činnosti poskytovatele služeb skupinového financování)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/czech-republic-crowdfunding/) | ✓ | |
| [Estonia: Authorisation as a crowdfunding service provider under ECSPR](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/estonia-crowdfunding/) | ✓ | |
| [France: Prestataire de services de financement participatif (PSFP) / European crowdfunding service provider authorization](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/france-crowdfunding/) | ✓ | |
| [Ireland: Crowdfunding Service Provider Authorisation (ECSPR)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/ireland-crowdfunding/) | ✓ | |
| [Italy: Fornitore di servizi di crowdfunding / European crowdfunding service provider authorization (ECSPR)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/italy-crowdfunding/) | ✓ | |
| [Latvia: Crowdfunding service provider authorization](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/latvia-crowdfunding/) | ✓ | |
| [Lithuania: Crowdfunding service provider authorization](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/lithuania-crowdfunding/) | ✓ | |
| [Lithuania: Peer-to-peer lending platform operator](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/lithuania-p2p/) | | ✓ |
| [Luxembourg: Crowdfunding service provider authorisation](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/luxembourg-crowdfunding/) | ✓ | |
| [Netherlands: European Crowdfunding Service Provider (ECSPR) authorisation under Regulation (EU) 2020/1503](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/netherlands-crowdfunding/) | ✓ | |
| [Poland: Crowdfunding Service Provider authorization under ECSPR (dostawca usług finansowania społecznościowego)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/poland-crowdfunding/) | ✓ | |
| [Slovakia: Crowdfunding service provider authorisation under ECSPR (povolenie na činnosť poskytovateľa služieb kolektívneho financovania)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/slovakia-crowdfunding/) | ✓ | |
| [Spain: Proveedor de servicios de financiación participativa / European crowdfunding service provider authorization](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/lending/spain-crowdfunding/) | ✓ | |

## Frequently asked questions

### What individual project fundraising cap applies under ECSPR?

Under ECSPR, crowdfunding project owners are subject to an annual capital raise cap per project. Larger capital raises must comply with standard prospectus regulations and full MiFID II investment firm placement rules.

### How are retail investors protected on crowdfunding platforms?

Platforms must categorise investors as sophisticated or non-sophisticated. Non-sophisticated investors must complete an entry knowledge test, undergo simulated loss simulations, and receive explicit risk warnings before investing capital, accompanied by a pre-contractual reflection period.

## Sources

1. [ECSPR Art. 2(1)(a)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2020/1503/oj): retrieved 2026-09-24

Last verified 2026-09-24 · Author: Danil Marmysh · Reviewed by Anastasia Sidorenkova · © Protegra. Data: CC BY 4.0, cite "Protegra Licensing Atlas". Not legal advice.