EU CRYPTO REGISTER · AUTHORISED · LAST VERIFIED
Is HEXARQ licensed under MiCA in the European Union?
HEXARQ's European entity (HEXARQ 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 5 February 2026.
Verdict: HEXARQ appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised CASPs.
| Legal entity | HEXARQ SAS |
|---|---|
| Home Member State | France |
| National Competent Authority | Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) |
| Authorisation date | |
| Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) | 969500TD4VXAOPXPVW02 |
| Authorised services | Custody, Exchange for funds, Exchange for crypto, Order execution, Transfer services |
Source: ESMA Register of Crypto-Asset Service Providers. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
About HEXARQ
HEXARQ is the crypto-asset arm of French banking group BPCE. On its own website, Hexarq describes itself as a subsidiary of BPCE SA - the central body of the Banque Populaire and Caisse d'Epargne networks - and says the service lets customers open a crypto trading and custody account directly from their online banking space. It is therefore not a standalone consumer exchange but a bank-operated offering distributed inside the Banque Populaire and Caisse d'Epargne mobile and web banking apps. Source: hexarq.com
Hexarq states it was founded in 2024 and is based in Paris, and that it acts as a PSCA (Prestataire de Services sur Crypto-Actifs, the French term for a crypto-asset service provider). Through the service, customers can buy, sell and exchange crypto-assets and follow their portfolio from within their banking space; the research indicates coverage of major assets such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana and USDC traded against EUR with SEPA settlement through the BPCE banking network. According to the same research, Hexarq does not offer staking, savings or recurring-buy plans, or a crypto card. Sources: hexarq.com, Groupe BPCE directory
On the legal point, the contracting entity is HEXARQ SAS, established in France and authorised by the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF). Under MiCA, the AMF record lists Hexarq as authorised for custody and administration of crypto-assets, exchange of crypto-assets for funds, exchange of crypto-assets for other crypto-assets, execution of orders, and transfer services. The licence does not, on that record, cover other MiCA services such as operating a trading platform, placing of crypto-assets, providing advice, or portfolio management. Sources: AMF white list, hexarq.com
Which crypto services is HEXARQ authorised to offer in the EU?
Under its MiCA authorisation issued by Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), HEXARQ (HEXARQ 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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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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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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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 HEXARQ not authorised to offer?
HEXARQ's MiCA licence does not cover: Trading platform, Placing, Order R&T, Advice, Portfolio mgmt. These services may still be offered by other authorised providers, or by HEXARQ 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 HEXARQ 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 HEXARQ in the EU?
If you transact through HEXARQ's EEA-authorised entity (HEXARQ 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 HEXARQ's terms of service that your contracting entity is HEXARQ SAS, not a non-EEA affiliate.
Which MiCA-authorised exchanges are alternatives to HEXARQ?
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 HEXARQ's entry on the register:
Frequently asked questions about HEXARQ and MiCA
Is HEXARQ licensed under MiCA?
Yes. HEXARQ 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 HEXARQ 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 HEXARQ 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 HEXARQ'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 HEXARQ'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.