EU Crypto License Roll Tops 375 as BingX, YouHodler Win MiCA Entry

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has expanded its Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) register by adding nine new crypto-asset service providers, bringing the total to 375 firms. Notable additions include the Austrian entity of exchange BingX, the Italian subsidiary of lender YouHodler, and several traditional banking institutions like Openbank Deutschland. This expansion highlights the ongoing transition of both crypto-native platforms and traditional banks toward a unified regulatory framework across the European Economic Area. By obtaining these authorizations, firms gain the ability to passport services across member states, significantly reducing the legal friction associated with cross-border operations. The inclusion of traditional cooperative lenders alongside crypto-native firms signals a broader integration of digital asset services into the established financial sector. Simultaneously, ESMA increased its list of non-compliant providers to 178, emphasizing the dual focus on licensing and enforcement. This regulatory consolidation is critical for the RWA market as it establishes a standardized compliance baseline for firms handling tokenized assets and digital securities. The stability of the e-money token register at 50 entries suggests that while service provider adoption is growing, the issuance of specific regulated token types remains in a steady state.