EU CRYPTO REGISTER · AUTHORISED · LAST VERIFIED
Is Cryptonow licensed under MiCA in the European Union?
Cryptonow's European entity (Cryptonow GmbH) is recorded as an authorised Crypto-Asset Service Provider under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, with its authorisation issued by Austria on 15 October 2025.
Verdict: Cryptonow appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised CASPs.
| Legal entity | Cryptonow GmbH |
|---|---|
| Home Member State | Austria |
| National Competent Authority | Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) |
| Authorisation date | |
| Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) | 529900LZM6X3GBFNLG10 |
| Authorised services | Custody, Exchange for funds, Exchange for crypto, Transfer services |
Source: ESMA Register of Crypto-Asset Service Providers. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
About Cryptonow
Cryptonow is a consumer-facing crypto platform aimed at retail buyers in Austria. Its website lets users start buying crypto either online by SEPA bank transfer or card, or by picking up a voucher card (Gutscheinkarte) at one of many participating merchants in Austria - an offline-to-online network that distinguishes it from a pure online exchange. Customers can swap into Bitcoin, Ethereum and other crypto-assets, and a dashboard product marketed as Cryptonow Invest lets them hold and monitor their portfolio. According to research summarising third-party sources, the European operation traces back to a business active in crypto since 2017, with a Vienna, Austria headquarters and a related Swiss entity, Värdex Suisse AG, operating the brand in Switzerland. Sources: cryptonow.at, cryptonow.ch (availability)
On the regulatory question, the contracting legal entity for the European service is Cryptonow GmbH, established in Austria. It holds an authorisation under the EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) as a crypto-asset service provider (CASP), with the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) as its competent national regulator. Cryptonow itself states on its site that it is fully regulated under Austrian and EU MiCA law. As a MiCA CASP, an Austrian licence passports across the European Economic Area, so the same authorisation can be relied on to serve customers in other EEA member states. Sources: cryptonow.at, cryptonow.net profile
The MiCA authorisation covers a specific, defined set of services: custody and administration of crypto-assets, exchange of crypto-assets for funds, exchange of crypto-assets for other crypto-assets, and transfer services for crypto-assets. These map onto what the product actually does - holding crypto for users, converting EUR to crypto, swapping one crypto-asset for another, and moving crypto. The licence does not, on this evidence, cover MiCA services such as investment advice, portfolio management, placing of crypto-assets, reception and transmission of orders, or operating a trading platform. Research summarising third-party sources also indicates that Cryptonow does not offer staking, savings or DCA, or crypto card products. Sources: cryptonow.at, cryptonow.net profile
Which crypto services is Cryptonow authorised to offer in the EU?
Under its MiCA authorisation issued by Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA), Cryptonow (Cryptonow GmbH) 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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Exchange of crypto-assets for funds
The exchange offers crypto-to-fiat (e.g. BTC to EUR) and fiat-to-crypto conversion. Authorisation here implies MiCA's pricing transparency requirements.
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Exchange of crypto-assets for other crypto-assets
The exchange offers crypto-to-crypto trading (e.g. BTC to ETH). Required for most spot trading pairs not denominated in fiat.
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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 Cryptonow not authorised to offer?
Cryptonow's MiCA licence does not cover: Trading platform, Order execution, Placing, Order R&T, Advice, Portfolio mgmt. These services may still be offered by other authorised providers, or by Cryptonow 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 Cryptonow licensed in Austria?
Austria's FMA has been an active MiCA gatekeeper, authorising Bitpanda (a domestic champion), Bybit's EU entity and KuCoin EU. The FMA's known stance: tight scrutiny on AML compliance, with KuCoin EU subjected to a ban on new business in late 2025 before it staffed up its compliance function. Source: Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA).
| National Competent Authority | Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) |
|---|---|
| Investor compensation | Austrian compensation scheme; verify scope via FMA. |
| Regulatory context | Bitpanda's home jurisdiction; FMA scrutiny is comparatively heavy. |
What does this mean for users of Cryptonow in the EU?
If you transact through Cryptonow's EEA-authorised entity (Cryptonow GmbH), 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 Cryptonow's terms of service that your contracting entity is Cryptonow GmbH, not a non-EEA affiliate.
Which MiCA-authorised exchanges are alternatives to Cryptonow?
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 Cryptonow's entry on the register:
Frequently asked questions about Cryptonow and MiCA
Is Cryptonow licensed under MiCA?
Yes. Cryptonow appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised Crypto-Asset Service Providers, with its authorisation issued by the competent authority of Austria.
Which EU countries can Cryptonow 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 Cryptonow 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 Cryptonow'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 Cryptonow'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.