EU CRYPTO REGISTER · AUTHORISED · LAST VERIFIED
Is Finst licensed under MiCA in the European Union?
Finst's European entity (Finst B.V.) is recorded as an authorised Crypto-Asset Service Provider under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, with its authorisation issued by Netherlands on 24 July 2025.
Verdict: Finst appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised CASPs.
| Legal entity | Finst B.V. |
|---|---|
| Home Member State | Netherlands |
| National Competent Authority | Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) and De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) |
| Authorisation date | |
| Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) | 724500UI8UD7HKGVJX65 |
| Authorised services | Custody, Order execution, Order R&T, Transfer services |
Source: ESMA Register of Crypto-Asset Service Providers. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
About Finst
Finst is a consumer crypto-asset platform operated by Finst B.V., a company headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands. According to research summarised from its own materials, it was founded in 2023 by a team that previously worked at the brokerage DEGIRO. Finst lets retail customers buy, sell and hold crypto-assets directly, advertising access to more than 340 cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin and Ethereum, a flat 0.15% per-transaction fee with no spread, staking rewards, and EUR funding. It is a crypto exchange rather than a bank, custodian-for-hire, or asset manager. Source: finst.com
On the regulatory point, the contracting legal entity is Finst B.V., and its national regulator is the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM). Finst states on its site that its head office is in the Netherlands and that it is authorised as a crypto-asset service provider by the AFM. Because authorisation is granted under the EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), a MiCA CASP licence can be passported to other EU and EEA member states. Sources: Finst company page, AMF France CASP white list
The MiCA authorisation covers a defined set of crypto-asset services: custody and administration of crypto-assets on behalf of clients, execution of orders for crypto-assets, reception and transmission of orders, and transfer services. It does not, on the basis of this services list, extend to operating a trading platform, exchanging crypto-assets, portfolio management, or providing investment advice. As with any MiCA authorisation, the licence governs the crypto-asset services themselves and does not remove the market and loss risk of holding crypto-assets. Source: AMF France CASP white list
Finst reports figures including more than 100,000 users and describes itself as the first Dutch exchange to publish a Proof of Reserves; these are the company's own statements rather than independently verified facts. It also states it was named best crypto platform at the IEX Gouden Stier 2025 awards. Source: finst.com
Which crypto services is Finst authorised to offer in the EU?
Under its MiCA authorisation issued by Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) and De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB), Finst (Finst B.V.) 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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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.
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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.
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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 Finst not authorised to offer?
Finst'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 Finst 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 Finst licensed in Netherlands?
The Netherlands historically had one of the strictest pre-MiCA crypto frameworks, with DNB running a stand-alone Wwft register. AFM is the MiCA-designated competent authority. Bitvavo is the dominant Dutch-licensed CASP; many global exchanges previously withdrew from the Dutch market under pre-MiCA pressure. Source: Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) and De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB).
| National Competent Authority | Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) and De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) |
|---|---|
| Investor compensation | DSI (Dutch investor compensation scheme) cover is limited. |
| Regulatory context | Marketing rules around crypto are particularly strict; AFM has fined non-compliant promotional activity. |
What does this mean for users of Finst in the EU?
If you transact through Finst's EEA-authorised entity (Finst B.V.), 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 Finst's terms of service that your contracting entity is Finst B.V., not a non-EEA affiliate.
Which MiCA-authorised exchanges are alternatives to Finst?
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 Finst's entry on the register:
Frequently asked questions about Finst and MiCA
Is Finst licensed under MiCA?
Yes. Finst appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised Crypto-Asset Service Providers, with its authorisation issued by the competent authority of Netherlands.
Which EU countries can Finst 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 Finst 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 Finst'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 Finst's entry is on this page under 'Sources'.
Sources
- ESMA Register of Crypto-Asset Service Providers
- Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) and De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB)
- AMF France white list - Finst B.V. (Article 65 MiCAR passport)
- Finst - Finst secures its MiCA license (issuer-published, 24 July 2025)
- GLEIF LEI Record - Finst B.V. (LEI 724500UI8UD7HKGVJX65)
- Finst company page (AFM authorisation disclosure)
- Finst homepage
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