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World Watch/Cyprus/Crypto & Digital Assets

Crypto & Digital Assets · Cyprus

Crypto license in Cyprus: MiCA CASP requirements (2026)

RegulatedEU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA, Regulation (EU) 2023/1114) directly applicable; national supervision by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) with the Central Bank of Cyprus competent for e-money tokens. Pre-existing CySEC CASP Register under the Prevention and Suppression of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Law of 2007 (as amended) remains in force through the MiCA transitional period.Country index 96 · A+

Cyprus shaded by its crypto & digital assets status

Crypto is regulated in Cyprus, primarily under EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA, Regulation (EU) 2023/1114) directly applicable; national supervision by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) with the Central Bank of Cyprus competent for e-money tokens. Pre-existing CySEC CASP Register under the Prevention and Suppression of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Law of 2007 (as amended) remains in force through the MiCA transitional period..

Crypto-assets are legal in Cyprus and comprehensively regulated under the directly-applicable EU MiCA Regulation, with CySEC as the primary national competent authority. MiCA's regime for asset-referenced and e-money tokens applies since 30 June 2024 and the full CASP authorisation regime since 30 December 2024; CySEC has set 27 February 2026 as the deadline for legacy CASPs to apply for a MiCA licence, with the national transitional regime ending 1 July 2026. A dedicated 8% flat tax on crypto-asset disposal profits took effect on 1 January 2026 as part of the 2026 tax reform.

How to get a crypto license in Cyprus

To provide crypto-asset services in Cyprus you need a MiCA CASP authorisation (Crypto-Asset Service Provider), supervised by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), under the EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), Title V.

Authority
the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC)
License required
a MiCA CASP authorisation (Crypto-Asset Service Provider)
Framework / law
the EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), Title V
Minimum capital
€50,000–€150,000 minimum, by service class (Class 1/2/3)
Timeline
about 40 working days of substantive review; 1–3 months for a well-prepared application
Cost
an application fee of roughly €5,000–€25,000, plus ongoing supervisory fees
Passporting
Yes — a single MiCA CASP licence passports across all 27 EU member states.

Crypto license in Cyprus: FAQ

Do you need a license to run a crypto business in Cyprus?

Yes. To provide crypto-asset services in Cyprus you need a MiCA CASP authorisation (Crypto-Asset Service Provider), supervised by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC), under the EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), Title V.

Which authority issues crypto licenses in Cyprus?

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC).

How much does a crypto license cost in Cyprus?

An application fee of roughly €5,000–€25,000, plus ongoing supervisory fees.

How long does it take to get a crypto license in Cyprus?

Typically about 40 working days of substantive review; 1–3 months for a well-prepared application.

Does a Cyprus crypto license work in other EU/EEA countries?

Yes — a single MiCA CASP licence passports across all 27 EU member states.

Key points

MiCA directly applicable; CySEC is competent authority

MiCA (Regulation (EU) 2023/1114) applies directly in Cyprus. CySEC is the designated competent authority for CASP authorisation, supervision, and enforcement; the Central Bank of Cyprus is competent for e-money token issuers.

MiCA CASP application deadline 27 February 2026

CySEC has formally set 27 February 2026 as the deadline for incumbent CASPs to file MiCA licence applications. Firms that miss the deadline must submit a wind-down plan; national-regime services may continue only until 1 July 2026 or earlier decision on the application.

Pre-MiCA national CASP Register under AML law

Since 2021, CASPs providing services in or from Cyprus must register on the CySEC CASP Register under the Prevention and Suppression of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Law of 2007 (as amended), requiring local substance, fit-and-proper directors and AML/CFT compliance.

2026 tax reform, flat 8% on crypto disposals

Effective 1 January 2026, profits from the disposal of crypto-assets (sale for fiat, crypto-to-crypto swaps, payments in crypto, NFT sales) are subject to a dedicated 8% flat income tax; mere holding is untaxed; mining is taxed under general income tax rules; no separate capital gains tax applies.

EU passporting and Cyprus as a MiCA hub

A MiCA authorisation granted by CySEC passports across the EEA. Several major firms (e.g. Revolut) have been authorised in Cyprus, and CySEC's chair has positioned the jurisdiction as an early leader in MiCA implementation.

Token offerings, MiCA white papers plus residual securities law

Non-financial-instrument crypto-assets fall under MiCA white-paper/disclosure rules; tokens qualifying as transferable securities fall under the EU Prospectus Regulation (national threshold for prospectus exemption raised to EUR 5,000,000). Cyprus has no separate dedicated ICO/STO statute beyond these regimes.

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