MiCA Transition Period Ends July 1, 2026 for Estonian Crypto Firms
Summary
Finantsinspektsioon has reminded Estonian crypto asset service providers that the MiCA Regulation transition period ends on July 1, 2026. After this date, crypto asset services may only be provided in Estonia by companies with a licence from Finantsinspektsioon or the supervisory authority of another EU member state. The authority is currently processing 10 licence applications and advises that companies applying now or in coming months must include a wind-down plan with their application.
Crypto asset service providers in Estonia that have not yet submitted a licence application to Finantsinspektsioon face an effectively unachievable timeline for obtaining a licence before the July 1, 2026 deadline. The practical consequence is that these firms must prepare to wind down operations while protecting client assets, and should submit a wind-down plan alongside any late application as instructed by the regulator.
What changed
Finantsinspektsioon has issued a notice reminding providers of crypto asset services in Estonia that the transition period under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) Regulation ends on July 1, 2026. After this date, crypto asset services may only be provided in Estonia by companies with a licence from Finantsinspektsioon or the supervisory authority of another EU member state. The authority states that companies who have not yet submitted their licence application are unlikely to receive a decision before the transition period ends and will be required to submit a wind-down plan. Finantsinspektsioon is currently processing 10 applications.\n\nCrypto asset service providers in Estonia must act urgently to either obtain a Finantsinspektsioon licence or a licence from another EU member state's supervisory authority by July 1, 2026, or wind down their operations in a manner that protects client interests and avoids unjustifiable financial harm. Companies that have already applied may also be required to submit a wind-down plan. Firms still considering whether to apply should prioritise submission immediately given the tight timeline and current processing queue.
What to do next
- Submit licence application to Finantsinspektsioon by July 1, 2026
- Include a wind-down plan with licence applications submitted now or in coming months
- Transfer client assets to another licensed service provider if ceasing operations
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Apr 21, 2026GovPing captured this document from the original source. If the source has since changed or been removed, this is the text as it existed at that time.
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The transition period for crypto companies ends in summer
23/03/2026
Finantsinspektsioon has reminded providers of crypto asset services operating in Estonia that they will have to bring their activities into line with the terms of the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) Regulation by 1 July at the latest and get a licence from Finantsinspektsioon or cease their operations.
Companies providing crypto asset services can operate with a licence from the Financial Intelligence Unit as a provider of virtual currency services until 1 July this year. After that date, crypto asset services may only be provided in Estonia by companies with a licence from Finantsinspektsioon or the supervisory authority of another member state of the European Union. Member of the Finantsinspektsioon management board Gerd Laub said that the transition period has been long enough for everybody, and those who are interested in getting a licence have submitted their applications, but it will be difficult for new applicants to receive their licence by the deadline. “It is unlikely that the decision to issue or refuse the operating licence will be taken by the end of the transition period for those who have not yet submitted their licence application”, he said. He added that companies applying for a licence now or in the coming months will have to include with their application a plan for winding up their operations. Finantsinspektsioon can also require this if needed from companies whose applications are already being processed. Finantsinspektsioon is currently processing 10 applications for licences to provide crypto asset services.
If a company providing services in crypto assets wants to cease doing so, it must organise this in a way that protects the interests of clients and does not cause them unjustifiable financial harm. Providers of crypto asset services must think through how they will ensure that client assets are handled securely and if necessary must transfer them to another licensed service provider. Finantsinspektsioon has published a memo on this, which can be found here
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