Using crypto-asset services in the EU: what MiCA means for you

If you live in the European Union or the wider European Economic Area, buying, holding, exchanging or transferring crypto-assets now happens under one set of EU rules: the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, or MiCA. This guide explains what that means for you.

What MiCA does

MiCA sets EU-wide rules for crypto-assets that are not already covered by other financial legislation, and for the companies that provide services with them. It covers:

• issuers of stablecoins, including e-money tokens, which reference one official currency such as the euro, and asset-referenced tokens, which reference other assets or a basket;
• crypto-asset service providers (CASPs), such as platforms that hold crypto-assets for you, exchange them or transfer them on your behalf.

CASPs need an authorisation from a national authority. MiCA has applied to them since 30 December 2024. Some EU countries let existing providers keep operating under national rules for a transitional period. According to the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), that period lasted until 1 July 2026 at the latest. Today, a provider offering these services to EU customers needs MiCA authorisation.

Crypto transfers in the EU also come with the "Travel Rule", which applies from 30 December 2024. Providers must collect and pass on information about the sender and the recipient of a transfer. That is why you may be asked about the wallet you are sending to.

What it does not do

MiCA improves transparency and supervision. It does not make crypto-assets safe, and a crypto-asset balance is not a bank deposit. In their joint warning of October 2025, the European Banking Authority, the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority and ESMA reminded consumers that:

• crypto-assets can be risky, and not all crypto-assets are the same;
• legal protection, if any, may be limited depending on the asset and the service you use;
• you should learn about a product and its risks before investing, check that the provider is authorised in the EU, and make sure your wallets are secure;
• you should be careful with aggressive promotion on social media, including by "finfluencers".

How to check a provider

1. Find out which company provides the service. A brand or app name may differ from the name of the authorised company. The provider's terms should name it.
2. Look it up. ESMA publishes an interim register of authorised CASPs, updated weekly, and national authorities keep their own registers.
3. Read what you are signing. The provider's customer agreement sets out which services you get, the fees and how complaints are handled.
4. Be wary of providers that contact you first, especially through social media or messaging apps.

Why some stablecoins are not available in the EU

Under MiCA, a stablecoin offered to the public in the EU must meet the requirements for its type, including authorisation of its issuer. A provider authorised in the EU can only offer the assets it is allowed to offer. As a result, some stablecoins that are widely used elsewhere are not available to EU customers, and the list of assets you see may differ from what a customer in another region sees.

How NovaPayx serves EU/EEA customers

Crypto-asset services for EU/EEA customers can only be provided through a separately authorised EU provider, under that provider's own customer agreement and checks.

The services actually available to you are shown when you apply. Some stablecoins are not available to EU customers. Collecting payments from third parties and paying them is not available to EU/EEA business customers yet.

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