EU CRYPTO REGISTER · AUTHORISED · LAST VERIFIED
Is Firefish licensed under MiCA in the European Union?
Firefish's European entity (Firefish Europe s.r.o) is recorded as an authorised Crypto-Asset Service Provider under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, with its authorisation issued by Slovakia on 2 January 2026.
Verdict: Firefish appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised CASPs.
| Legal entity | Firefish Europe s.r.o |
|---|---|
| Home Member State | Slovakia |
| National Competent Authority | |
| Authorisation date | |
| Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) | 9845004E55FCFA069549 |
| Authorised services | Custody, Exchange for funds, Exchange for crypto, Transfer services |
Source: ESMA Register of Crypto-Asset Service Providers. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
About Firefish
Firefish is not a consumer crypto exchange but a non-custodial, peer-to-peer marketplace for Bitcoin-backed loans. On its website Firefish describes itself as 'the open market for Bitcoin-backed loans', where borrowers lock Bitcoin as collateral to access fiat or stablecoin liquidity without selling their coins, and lenders fund those loans to earn interest. Firefish states the collateral is secured by multisig escrow on Bitcoin mainnet rather than held by a custodian, and that payouts can be made by bank wire or to a stablecoin wallet. Source: firefish.io
The product is Bitcoin-only on the collateral side, with loan durations Firefish lists as 3 to 24 months and a single repayment at the end of the term. According to a company press release, Firefish was founded by Martin Matejka and Igor Neumann and has expanded globally by tapping stablecoins to offer instant non-custodial loans; the same release frames the platform around fiat and stablecoin settlement rather than a savings, staking or card product. These operational claims are Firefish's own statements about its service. Sources: firefish.io, GlobeNewswire press release
On the legal point, the contracting entity is Firefish Europe s.r.o, established in Slovakia and supervised by the National Bank of Slovakia (NBS). Under the EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), this entity is authorised as a crypto-asset service provider for the following 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. The MiCA authorisation therefore covers those four activities and does not, on its own, cover services outside that list. It is the specific NBS-authorised entity, not the brand or the wider group, that holds the licence. Sources: firefish.io, Firefish terms of service
Which crypto services is Firefish authorised to offer in the EU?
Under its MiCA authorisation issued by Slovakia, Firefish (Firefish Europe s.r.o) 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 Firefish not authorised to offer?
Firefish'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 Firefish 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 Firefish in the EU?
If you transact through Firefish's EEA-authorised entity (Firefish Europe s.r.o), 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 Firefish's terms of service that your contracting entity is Firefish Europe s.r.o, not a non-EEA affiliate.
Which MiCA-authorised exchanges are alternatives to Firefish?
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 Firefish's entry on the register:
Frequently asked questions about Firefish and MiCA
Is Firefish licensed under MiCA?
Yes. Firefish appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised Crypto-Asset Service Providers, with its authorisation issued by the competent authority of Slovakia.
Which EU countries can Firefish 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 Firefish 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 Firefish'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 Firefish'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.