EU CRYPTO REGISTER · AUTHORISED · LAST VERIFIED
Is CAIXABANK licensed under MiCA in the European Union?
CAIXABANK's European entity (CAIXABANK S.A.) is recorded as an authorised Crypto-Asset Service Provider under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, with its authorisation issued by Spain on 27 March 2026.
Verdict: CAIXABANK appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised CASPs.
| Legal entity | CAIXABANK S.A. |
|---|---|
| Home Member State | Spain |
| National Competent Authority | |
| Authorisation date | |
| Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) | 7CUNS533WID6K7DGFI87 |
| Authorised services | Custody, Order execution, Order R&T, Transfer services |
Source: ESMA Register of Crypto-Asset Service Providers. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
About CAIXABANK
CaixaBank, S.A. is a Spanish credit institution (a traditional retail and commercial bank), not a consumer crypto exchange, custodian or standalone broker. Research describes it as a bank that offers crypto-asset services under its existing banking authorisation rather than as a newly registered crypto-asset service provider, and its public website is a conventional Spanish retail-banking portal with no consumer crypto trading, custody, staking or card product on display. According to the research summary, the bank is headquartered in Spain and its crypto offering is limited to regulated Bitcoin-linked exchange-traded products (ETPs) rather than direct spot trading, wallet custody, savings or EUR/SEPA crypto transfers for retail users. Source: caixabank.es
On the licensing question: the contracting legal entity is CaixaBank, S.A., and its national competent authority is Spain's Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV). Under the EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), the CNMV register records CaixaBank, S.A. as authorised to provide a defined set of crypto-asset services. The research notes this authorisation flows from the entity's status as a credit institution rather than from a separate stand-alone crypto-asset service provider licence; the practical effect is the same - the services below are the regulated scope. Source: CNMV crypto-asset service providers register
The MiCA authorisation covers four ESMA-classified crypto-asset services: custody and administration of crypto-assets on behalf of clients, execution of orders, reception and transmission of orders, and transfer services for crypto-assets. It does not, on this record, extend to other MiCA services such as operating a trading platform, exchanging crypto-assets for funds or for other crypto-assets, placing crypto-assets, providing advice, or portfolio management. Anyone treating CaixaBank as a retail crypto exchange should note that the research indicates its crypto exposure for clients is delivered through Bitcoin ETPs, and that the scope of any service should always be confirmed against the live CNMV entry. Sources: CNMV register, FTF News
Which crypto services is CAIXABANK authorised to offer in the EU?
Under its MiCA authorisation issued by Spain, CAIXABANK (CAIXABANK S.A.) is approved to provide the following services to EEA residents. Each service is defined in Article 3(1)(16) of Regulation (EU) 2023/1114.
-
Providing custody and administration of crypto-assets on behalf of clients
The exchange holds your crypto in its own wallets. Authorisation here means MiCA's segregation and insurance rules apply: client crypto-assets must be ring-fenced from the exchange's own funds.
-
Execution of orders for crypto-assets on behalf of clients
The exchange can place orders for you on third-party venues (smart-routing). Less common in retail crypto; relevant for brokerage-style services.
-
Reception and transmission of orders for crypto-assets on behalf of clients
The exchange can receive your order and pass it to another venue for execution. Brokerage-pattern service, often paired with order execution.
-
Providing transfer services for crypto-assets on behalf of clients
The exchange can move crypto between addresses on your behalf, including off-platform withdrawals. The Travel Rule applies to these transfers.
Which services is CAIXABANK not authorised to offer?
CAIXABANK's MiCA licence does not cover: Trading platform, Exchange for funds, Exchange for crypto, Placing, Advice, Portfolio mgmt. These services may still be offered by other authorised providers, or by CAIXABANK under a different regulatory framework (for example, derivatives may fall under MiFID II rather than MiCA). Source: ESMA Register, retrieved 30 June 2026.
See other MiCA-authorised exchanges by service:
What does this mean for users of CAIXABANK in the EU?
If you transact through CAIXABANK's EEA-authorised entity (CAIXABANK S.A.), the protections introduced by MiCA apply to your relationship from onwards. In practical terms this means: client crypto-assets are ring-fenced from the exchange's own funds (Article 70 MiCA), the authorised entity holds prudential capital, has formal complaint-handling procedures, and is subject to transparency obligations on fees and order execution. Source: Regulation (EU) 2023/1114.
One thing to verify yourself: the legal entity you contract with day-to-day must match the entity in the ESMA register. Some global exchanges operate multiple legal entities under one brand. Confirm in CAIXABANK's terms of service that your contracting entity is CAIXABANK S.A., not a non-EEA affiliate.
Which MiCA-authorised exchanges are alternatives to CAIXABANK?
Three MiCA-authorised providers to consider. Drawn from the ESMA register, never paid placement.
| Provider | Home Member State | Authorised | Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaric Securities | Bulgaria | 9 services | |
| OKX | Malta | 9 services | |
| Kraken | Ireland | 8 services |
Related reading
Understand the regulatory context behind CAIXABANK's entry on the register:
Frequently asked questions about CAIXABANK and MiCA
Is CAIXABANK licensed under MiCA?
Yes. CAIXABANK appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised Crypto-Asset Service Providers, with its authorisation issued by the competent authority of Spain.
Which EU countries can CAIXABANK serve under this licence?
A MiCA authorisation in one EEA member state permits passporting across all EEA member states, subject to a notification process to each host-state regulator.
Are my crypto-assets on CAIXABANK protected under MiCA?
MiCA introduces ring-fencing of client crypto-assets, prudential capital requirements for the authorised entity, complaint-handling obligations, and conduct rules. It does not provide a deposit-guarantee scheme equivalent to bank deposit insurance.
What's the difference between the authorised entity and the global brand?
Some global exchanges operate multiple legal entities. The MiCA authorisation applies only to the specific legal entity in the ESMA register, not to the global brand. Verify the contracting entity in CAIXABANK's terms of service.
Where can I check the official record?
The ESMA register publishes the authoritative list and updates it weekly. The direct link to CAIXABANK's entry is on this page under 'Sources'.
Sources
This page is updated weekly. Last verified . If you believe any information on this page is inaccurate, write to our contact page.