# Crypto Licensing: MiCA CASP & VASP

Crypto licensing in 2026 means one of three routes: a MiCA CASP authorisation (the EU standard), a legacy/national VASP registration, or an offshore crypto licence. We advise on jurisdiction choice, the application, and the compliance build, sequenced so the licence you obtain is the one your target bank or acquirer will actually recognise.

## CASP vs VASP vs offshore
- **CASP (MiCA, Reg (EU) 2023/1114)** — the harmonised EU authorisation that replaced national VASP registers from 30 December 2024. One licence, passportable across the 27 EU/EEA states.
- **VASP** — the legacy/FATF term; national registrations are being phased out in favour of CASP. Existing VASPs have a transitional window ending, at the latest, ~1 July 2026 (shorter in several member states).
- **Offshore** — jurisdictions such as Seychelles, Cayman, Vanuatu, Belize and BVI. Faster and cheaper, but weaker EU market access and harder banking.

## The deep-dive pages
- [VASP License in Europe](/crypto-licensing/vasp-license-europe/)
- [CASP License under MiCA](/crypto-licensing/casp-license/)
- [Offshore Crypto License](/crypto-licensing/offshore-crypto-license/)

## Licence guides by jurisdiction
- [Seychelles crypto licence](/crypto-licensing/seychelles-crypto-license/)
- [Lithuania crypto licence (MiCA CASP)](/crypto-licensing/lithuania-crypto-license/)
- [St Vincent (SVG) crypto licence](/crypto-licensing/st-vincent-crypto-license/)
- [Vanuatu crypto licence](/crypto-licensing/vanuatu-crypto-license/)

Capital tiers under MiCA are EUR 50,000 / 125,000 / 150,000 depending on the services offered. Plan 4-9 months end to end including substance and the national competent authority's assessment.