Authorised crypto platform or not? The 5 statuses to know in Europe

“MiCA authorised”, “application pending”, “winding down”. Behind these labels lie very different situations for your crypto. Since 1 July 2026, only platforms authorised under the MiCA regulation may serve clients in the European Union. You still need to know how to read a platform's status, and what it means for you.

This guide presents the five statuses a crypto platform can have in Europe, what each one means and how to check it yourself. It applies in every country of the European Union and is not investment advice.

In short, the 5 statuses:

MiCA authorised. The platform can serve you, for the services covered by its authorisation.
Application pending. It has filed an application but is not yet authorised.
Winding down. It is not authorised and is closing its European activities.
Authorisation withdrawn. The authority has withdrawn its right to operate.
Not authorised or flagged. It is absent from the register, or even the subject of an official warning.

01Status 1: MiCA authorised

An authorised platform has obtained a crypto-asset service provider (CASP) authorisation from the authority of its country. It appears in the MiCA register published by ESMA, the European Securities and Markets Authority.

What it means for you. The platform is subject to the regulation's common rules, notably the segregation of your assets when it holds them, conduct rules and a complaints procedure. Two points are worth knowing.

The authorisation covers specific services. A platform may be authorised to exchange crypto-assets but not to hold them in custody. The register lists the authorised services.
The authorisation covers an entity, not a brand. It is granted to a company identified by its name and LEI code. That entity, named in the legal notice, is the one to look up in the register.

A platform authorised in one country can serve the other countries of the Union through the European passport, if it has notified them. Our article on MiCA regulatory authorities details who supervises what, country by country.

02Status 2: application pending

The platform has filed an authorisation application with a national authority but has not yet received a decision. Article 63 of MiCA governs this process, with 25 working days to check that the file is complete, then 40 working days to decide. In practice, with requests for additional information, the process often takes several months.

What it means for you. A pending application is not an authorisation. Since the end of the transitional period on 1 July 2026, a platform with only a pending application has no right to serve European clients. A “MiCA ready” or “authorisation pending” label on a website is not an authorisation.

03Status 3: winding down

A platform that is winding down has not obtained a MiCA authorisation, or has given up on it, and is closing its European activities. This is the case of operators that traded during the transitional period without being authorised by its end.

What it means for you. The platform must notify you and give you time to sell or transfer your crypto. ESMA expects the platforms concerned to communicate a clear timetable, with a date after which remaining positions may be closed automatically. The right reflex is to act within the announced deadline, always through the official app or website, never through a link received by email.

04Status 4: authorisation withdrawn

A platform can lose its authorisation after obtaining it. Article 64 of MiCA requires the authority to withdraw it in several cases, notably if the platform is in one of these situations.

It has not used the authorisation within 12 months of obtaining it.
It has expressly renounced it.
It has provided no services for 9 consecutive months.
It obtained the authorisation by irregular means, such as false statements.
It no longer meets the conditions of the authorisation, or has seriously infringed the regulation.

The withdrawal may be limited to a single service. It is entered in ESMA's register, with the end date of the authorisation.

What it means for you. The platform can no longer provide the services concerned. If it held your assets, it must arrange for their return or transfer.

05Status 5: not authorised or flagged

A platform that is not authorised is simply absent from the MiCA register. Some are also flagged, in two ways.

ESMA keeps a register of non-compliant entities, which provide crypto-asset services without authorisation.
National authorities publish warning lists or blacklists of unauthorised websites and operators.

What it means for you. A platform that is not authorised gives you none of the protections of MiCA. If an authority has flagged it, that is a strong warning sign and no funds should be entrusted to it.

06The 5 statuses of a crypto platform: summary

Status	Can it serve you?	What it implies	The reflex
MiCA authorised	Yes, for the services of its authorisation	MiCA rules apply	Check the covered services and your country
Application pending	No	Not yet authorised	Wait for the authorisation before depositing
Winding down	No, closure under way	Exit timetable to respect	Sell or transfer within the deadline
Authorisation withdrawn	No, for the withdrawn services	Return or transfer of assets	Follow the official instructions
Not authorised or flagged	No	No MiCA protection	Deposit nothing

07How to check a crypto platform's status

Find the legal entity. In the legal notice or the terms and conditions, find the exact name of the company providing the service, not just the brand.
Look it up in the MiCA register. The register published by ESMA shows whether the entity is authorised, by which authority, for which services, and whether the authorisation has ended.
Check your country. If the entity is authorised in another country of the Union, make sure it has notified yours in its European passport.
Consult the official warnings. ESMA's register of non-compliant entities and the warning lists of your national authority flag the operators to avoid.

Uncrypt Check carries out this check for you. It shows whether a platform is MiCA authorised, winding down, not found in the register or flagged on a blacklist, with a link to the official source.

08Frequently asked questions

How do I know whether a crypto platform is authorised?

Find the name of its legal entity in its legal notice, then look it up in the MiCA register published by ESMA. The register shows the authority that granted the authorisation and the services covered. Uncrypt Check carries out this check for you.

Can a platform with a pending application serve me?

No. Since 1 July 2026, the end of the MiCA transitional period, only an authorised platform may provide crypto-asset services to European clients. A filed application is not enough.

What happens if a platform loses its authorisation?

It can no longer provide the services concerned, and the withdrawal is entered in ESMA's register. If it held your crypto, it must arrange for its return or transfer. Follow its instructions, using only its official channels.

Is a platform authorised in another country legal in mine?

Yes, if it has notified your country in its European passport. A MiCA authorisation obtained in one Member State allows it to serve the others after notification.

Where can I find the list of unauthorised crypto platforms?

ESMA publishes a register of non-compliant entities, and each national authority keeps its own warning lists. A platform absent from the register of authorised providers has no right to serve you, even if it appears on no list.

09Check your platform's status with Uncrypt

Before depositing a single euro, one question matters. What is the platform's status?

Uncrypt Check shows a platform's status at a glance, with a link to the register or the official warning.
The Uncrypt comparator puts platforms side by side, with their MiCA status, their type of operator and the authority that authorised them. No ranking and no “best platform”, only verifiable facts.