ESMA Adds 37 MiCA-Licensed Crypto Firms After Deadline

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has expanded its official crypto-asset service provider register to 280 firms following the conclusion of the MiCA transitional period. This update adds 37 newly licensed entities, including major financial institutions like Standard Chartered, FalconX, and Sygnum Europe. The inclusion of CACEIS, the asset-servicing arm of Crédit Agricole, into the electronic money token register highlights the growing integration of traditional banking with digital asset infrastructure. While service provider licensing is accelerating across jurisdictions like Cyprus, France, and Italy, the register currently shows zero approved issuers for asset-referenced tokens. This disparity indicates that while institutional market access is maturing, the regulatory path for token issuers remains more complex and slower. By centralizing these approvals, ESMA is transitioning from a rulemaking body to a direct supervisor of the European digital asset market. This shift provides institutional investors with a standardized framework for counterparty due diligence and risk management. Ultimately, the register serves as a critical filter that legitimizes the RWA and crypto ecosystem within the European Union.