Crypto-asset service provider (MiCA CASP) · Netherlands

Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) authorisation under Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 (MiCA) (Netherlands)

The Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) authorisation under Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 (MiCA) is issued by Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) under Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 on markets in crypto-assets (MiCA). It can be passported to the other EU/EEA states by notification. The legal decision period is 25 working days completeness assessment from receipt, followed by 40 working days decision period once complete (Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 Art. 63). Ownership changes need the regulator's approval before completion.

Last verified 2026-09-24Regulator AFMMarkdown · Data (CC BY 4.0)
Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) authorisation under Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 (MiCA): licenceCASP

At a glance

Official nameCrypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) authorisation under Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 (MiCA)1
Issued byAuthority for the Financial Markets
JurisdictionNetherlands
Licence familyCrypto-asset service provider (MiCA CASP)
Legal basisRegulation (EU) 2023/1114 on markets in crypto-assets (MiCA)2
Regulation (EU) 2023/1113 on information accompanying transfers of funds and certain crypto-assets3
PassportingEU/EEA passport available
Application feeEUR 200 per hour worked by the AFM, with a statutory maximum cap of EUR 100,000 for MiCA Art. 62/63 authorisations (Bbft 2019 Bijlage 2, code EU.A1.08), EUR 50,000 cap for Art. 60 notifications (code EU.A3.08), plus EUR 700 per person for integrity assessment and EUR 2,900 for suitability assessment (or EUR 1,500 / EUR 500 if previously assessed by DNB)4
Annual feeEUR 8,000 base supervisory levy plus a turnover-based component and service modules under Regeling bekostiging financieel toezicht 2026: custody EUR 4,250; trading platform EUR 4,250; crypto-fiat exchange EUR 2,125; crypto-crypto exchange EUR 2,125; order execution EUR 4,250; placing EUR 2,125; reception/transmission EUR 2,125; advice EUR 4,250; portfolio management EUR 6,375; transfer services EUR 4,2505
Statutory decision time25 working days completeness assessment from receipt, followed by 40 working days decision period once complete (Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 Art. 63)2

What it lets you do

  • Custody and administration of crypto-assets. Safekeeping or controlling crypto-assets, or the means of access to them such as private keys, on behalf of clients.
  • Operating a crypto-asset trading platform. Managing a multilateral system that brings together buying and selling interests in crypto-assets so that contracts are concluded.
  • Exchange of crypto-assets for funds. Buying or selling crypto-assets against fiat money using the provider's own capital.
  • Exchange of crypto-assets for other crypto-assets. Concluding contracts with clients to swap one crypto-asset for another using the provider's own capital.
  • Execution of orders for crypto-assets on behalf of clients. Concluding agreements to buy or sell crypto-assets on behalf of clients, including subscribing to offers.
  • Placing of crypto-assets. Marketing crypto-assets to purchasers on behalf of or for the account of the offeror or a related party.
  • Reception and transmission of orders for crypto-assets. Receiving a client's order to buy or sell crypto-assets and passing it to a third party for execution.
  • Advice on crypto-assets. Giving personalised recommendations to a client about transactions in crypto-assets or the use of crypto-asset services.
  • Portfolio management of crypto-assets. Managing portfolios that include crypto-assets on a discretionary, client-by-client basis under a mandate.
  • Transfer services for crypto-assets. Moving crypto-assets on behalf of a client from one distributed-ledger address or account to another.

Where it is valid

Netherlands licence, passportable across the EU/EEAATBEBGHRCYCZDKEEFIFRDEGRHUIEITLVLTLUNLPLPTROSKSIESSEISNOMTLI
Issued in Netherlands (gold); can be passported to the other EU/EEA states (blue) by notification.

Cost

Cost components, upper bound total EUR 8,200Application fee: EUR 200Annual supervisory fee: EUR 8,000
Regulatory costs from the official sources above. Professional fees, staff, office and audit come on top and depend on the business model.

How long it takes

Time to licence: statutory 1.2-1.2 months, observed 5-5 monthsStatutory1.2 monthsObserved5 months

Statutory: 25 working days completeness assessment from receipt, followed by 40 working days decision period once complete (Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 Art. 63)2. Observed: At least 5 months in practice, often longer: 'even in a best-case scenario it will take at least five months. In practice, it will often take longer.'1. The statutory clock usually starts only when the regulator treats the application as complete, and pauses while it waits for answers to its questions.

Buying a company that already holds it

Prior approval required. In the Netherlands' Twin Peaks supervisory architecture, change of control and qualifying holdings (gekwalificeerde deelnemingen) are strictly regulated. Any natural or legal person proposing to acquire, increase, or divest a qualifying holding, defined as a direct or indirect holding of at least 10%, 20%, 33% (or 30%), or 50% of voting rights or capital, or the ability to exercise significant influence/control, in an investment firm or fund manager governed by the Wft must obtain a prior Declaration of No Objection (Verklaring van geen bezwaar - VVGB) from De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) under Wft Article 3:95, with DNB consulting the AFM on conduct-of-business aspects. For crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) under Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 (MiCA Article 83), proposed acquisitions of qualifying holdings require prior assessment and approval by the competent supervisor (AFM charges EUR 2,400 per assessment under Bbft 2019 code EU.D1.07). The statutory assessment period is 60 working days from written acknowledgement of receipt of a complete filing, interruptible once by up to 20 or 30 working days if additional information is required from the proposed acquirer.6

Ready-made companies holding this licence: see verified positions.

Laws behind it

Getting this licence

Protegra handles this licence end to end: CASP licensing in the Netherlands: process, timeline and our fee.

Last verified 2026-09-24Author Danil Marmysh, Founder & CEO, ProtegraReviewed by Anastasia Sidorenkova, Head of Licensing, ProtegraReport an errorReference information, not legal advice.

Sources

  1. afm.nl: casp vergunning · retrieved 2026-09-24
  2. eur-lex.europa.eu: HTML (32023R1114) · retrieved 2026-09-24
  3. eur-lex.europa.eu: HTML (32023R1113) · retrieved 2026-09-24
  4. afm.nl: kosten · retrieved 2026-09-24
  5. zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl: stcrt 2026 20792 · retrieved 2026-09-24
  6. wetten.overheid.nl: BWBR0020368 · retrieved 2026-09-24

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