EU CRYPTO REGISTER · AUTHORISED · LAST VERIFIED
Is CIRCLE licensed under MiCA in the European Union?
CIRCLE's European entity (CIRCLE INTERNET FINANCIAL EUROPE SAS) is recorded as an authorised Crypto-Asset Service Provider under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, with its authorisation issued by France on 23 April 2026.
Verdict: CIRCLE appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised CASPs.
| Legal entity | CIRCLE INTERNET FINANCIAL EUROPE SAS |
|---|---|
| Home Member State | France |
| National Competent Authority | Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) |
| Authorisation date | |
| Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) | 969500OYUDADGZKCR583 |
| Authorised services | Custody, Transfer services |
Source: ESMA Register of Crypto-Asset Service Providers. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
About CIRCLE
Circle is the brand of Circle Internet Group, Inc. (NYSE: CRCL), a United States payments-technology company that issues and manages the USDC (US dollar-pegged) and EURC (euro-pegged) stablecoins rather than running a consumer crypto exchange. Circle reports that its platform reaches hundreds of millions of users and supports trillions in economic activity, and lists firms such as Stripe, Coinbase, Nubank and MoneyGram among the innovators building on its infrastructure. Per the research, the parent was founded in 2013 in Boston and is now headquartered in New York City. Source: Circle
In the EU, the contracting legal entity is Circle Internet Financial Europe SAS (Circle France), founded in 2023 as the French subsidiary and supervised by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF). According to the research, the AMF granted Circle France full CASP authorisation under MiCA, building on an earlier DASP registration; Circle is also described as the largest regulated issuer of e-money tokens in the EU under MiCA. This is an institutional stablecoin and infrastructure provider, not a retail spot-trading venue. Sources: Crowdfund Insider, Circle Internet Group
The MiCA licence held by Circle Internet Financial Europe SAS covers Custody and Transfer services, and the research indicates these are provided only for Circle's own stablecoins (USDC and EURC), not for Bitcoin or arbitrary crypto-assets. EURC is euro-denominated, with minting and redemption supported via SEPA for European users. The licence does not cover spot trading, savings or DCA, staking, or card products - those services are not offered. Sources: Circle EEA Terms, Crowdfund Insider
Which crypto services is CIRCLE authorised to offer in the EU?
Under its MiCA authorisation issued by Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), CIRCLE (CIRCLE INTERNET FINANCIAL EUROPE SAS) is approved to provide the following services to EEA residents. Each service is defined in Article 3(1)(16) of Regulation (EU) 2023/1114.
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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.
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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 CIRCLE not authorised to offer?
CIRCLE's MiCA licence does not cover: Trading platform, Exchange for funds, Exchange for crypto, Order execution, Placing, Order R&T, Advice, Portfolio mgmt. These services may still be offered by other authorised providers, or by CIRCLE 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:
Why is CIRCLE licensed in France?
France ran one of the EU's earliest national crypto regimes, the PACTE Law DASP (Digital Asset Service Provider) registration, which gave the AMF years of pre-MiCA supervisory experience. The AMF began granting MiCA CASP authorisations in 2025-2026 and also maintains a public white list of CASPs passporting into France from other EEA states. BlockNodes SAS, the French entity behind the SwissBorg consumer brand, received its direct MiCA authorisation from the AMF in March 2026. Source: Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF).
| National Competent Authority | Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) |
|---|---|
| Investor compensation | Fonds de Garantie des Dépôts et de Résolution (FGDR); check directly with the AMF for crypto-asset-specific compensation scope. |
| Regulatory context | Early mover on national crypto licensing (PACTE Law) ahead of MiCA; the AMF also publishes a white list of EEA-passported CASPs. |
What does this mean for users of CIRCLE in the EU?
If you transact through CIRCLE's EEA-authorised entity (CIRCLE INTERNET FINANCIAL EUROPE SAS), 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 CIRCLE's terms of service that your contracting entity is CIRCLE INTERNET FINANCIAL EUROPE SAS, not a non-EEA affiliate.
Which MiCA-authorised exchanges are alternatives to CIRCLE?
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 CIRCLE's entry on the register:
Frequently asked questions about CIRCLE and MiCA
Is CIRCLE licensed under MiCA?
Yes. CIRCLE appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised Crypto-Asset Service Providers, with its authorisation issued by the competent authority of France.
Which EU countries can CIRCLE 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 CIRCLE 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 CIRCLE'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 CIRCLE's entry is on this page under 'Sources'.
Sources
- ESMA Register of Crypto-Asset Service Providers
- Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF)
- ESMA MiCA Register - CIRCLE (CIRCLE INTERNET FINANCIAL EUROPE SAS)
- CIRCLE official website
- Circle France secures regulatory approval for expanded crypto services across Europe under MiCA (Crowdfund Insider)
- Circle EEA Terms
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