# Fintech licensing in Germany

Source page: https://protegra.io/licensing/jurisdictions/germany/

In Germany, fintech and crypto licences are issued by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). The Atlas covers 8 licence types there, in 7 families: bank, crypto-asset service provider (MiCA), electronic money institution, fund manager, investment firm, payment institution and virtual asset service provider. Because Germany is in the EU/EEA, passportable licences issued there can be extended to the other member states by notification. Crypto-asset service providers are authorised under MiCA. Each licence page lists its legal basis, fees and decision period with sources.

## Financial regulators in Germany

- [GermanyFederal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin)BaFin operates as Germany's unified federal financial supervisor under the Federal Ministry of Finance, supervising credit institutions, fin](https://protegra.io/licensing/regulators/bafin-germany/)

## Fintech licences available in Germany

### [Bank / credit institution](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/)

- [Bank · GermanyCredit institution licence (Erlaubnis zum Betreiben von Bankgeschäften nach § 32 KWG / CRR)BaFin](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/bank/germany/)

### [Crypto-asset service provider (MiCA CASP)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/casp-mica/)

- [CASP · GermanyCrypto-asset service provider licence (Zulassung als Anbieter von Kryptowerte-Dienstleistungen nach Art. 59 MiCAR / KMAG)BaFin](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/casp-mica/germany/)

### [Electronic money institution (EMI)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/emi/)

- [EMI · GermanyElectronic money institution licence (Erlaubnis für das E-Geld-Geschäft nach § 11 ZAG)BaFin](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/emi/germany/)

### [Fund manager](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/fund-manager/)

- [FM · GermanyInvestment management company licence (Erlaubnis als Kapitalverwaltungsgesellschaft nach § 20 KAGB)BaFin](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/fund-manager/germany/)

### [Investment firm / broker-dealer](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/)

- [IF · GermanyInvestment firm licence (Erlaubnis zur Erbringung von Wertpapierdienstleistungen nach § 15 WpIG)BaFin](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/investment-firm/germany/)

### [Payment institution (PI)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/payment-institution/)

- [PI · GermanyAccount information service provider registration (Registrierung als Kontoinformationsdienstleister nach § 34 ZAG)BaFin](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/payment-institution/germany-aisp/)
- [PI · GermanyPayment institution licence (Erlaubnis zur Erbringung von Zahlungsdiensten nach § 10 ZAG)BaFin](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/payment-institution/germany/)

### [Virtual asset service provider (non-MiCA)](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/vasp/)

- [VASP · GermanyQualified crypto custody licence (Erlaubnis für das qualifizierte Kryptoverwahrgeschäft nach § 1 Absatz 1a Satz 2 Nummer 6 KWG)BaFin](https://protegra.io/licensing/licences/vasp/germany-custody/)

## Path to market

Start by mapping the activities you plan to offer onto the licence types above; the activity pages show which licence permits each one. BaFin offers pre-application meetings, an innovation hub and a regulatory sandbox; the regulator page explains how to use them. The application goes to BaFin, together with the capital, governance and AML documentation the licence page lists. Once authorised, an EU/EEA licence can be extended to other member states by passport notification rather than a new licence.

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