EU CRYPTO REGISTER · AUTHORISED · LAST VERIFIED
Is Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited licensed under MiCA in the European Union?
Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited's European entity (Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited) is recorded as an authorised Crypto-Asset Service Provider under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, with its authorisation issued by Ireland on 22 January 2026.
Verdict: Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised CASPs.
| Legal entity | Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited |
|---|---|
| Home Member State | Ireland |
| National Competent Authority | Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) |
| Authorisation date | |
| Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) | 5493001B9LDFCQUY9273 |
| Authorised services | Order R&T |
Source: ESMA Register of Crypto-Asset Service Providers. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
About Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited
Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited is the European Economic Area entity of Interactive Brokers, an automated global electronic broker operated by Interactive Brokers Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: IBKR). It is a brokerage rather than a consumer crypto exchange, bank or custodian: alongside crypto-assets it offers stocks, ETFs, options, futures, bonds and other instruments. According to the company, the parent group was founded in 1977 and is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, USA. Sources: interactivebrokers.ie, Business Wire announcement
On its crypto-asset offering, Interactive Brokers states that it provides multi-asset spot trading covering roughly 11 crypto-assets, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, Chainlink, Avalanche, Sui and Dogecoin. The firm reports that it does not custody digital assets itself: crypto transactions are executed via third parties such as Paxos Trust Company or Zero Hash LLC, with positions held at those entities. There is no indication in the research of custody, savings, staking, recurring-buy (DCA) or card products, nor of dedicated EUR/SEPA crypto rails. Sources: IBKR crypto products, IBKR trading lessons
On the legal question: the contracting entity for EEA crypto-asset services is Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited, whose national competent authority is the Central Bank of Ireland. Under the EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), the entity is recorded in the ESMA data as authorised for the reception and transmission of orders for crypto-assets on behalf of third parties ('Order R&T'). That single service is what the MiCA authorisation covers; it does not, on this record, extend to other MiCA services such as custody and administration, operating a trading platform, exchange of crypto-assets for funds, or portfolio management. Sources: IBKR Ireland crypto pricing, Business Wire announcement
Which crypto services is Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited authorised to offer in the EU?
Under its MiCA authorisation issued by Central Bank of Ireland (CBI), Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited (Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited) 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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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.
Which services is Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited not authorised to offer?
Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited's MiCA licence does not cover: Custody, Trading platform, Exchange for funds, Exchange for crypto, Order execution, Placing, Advice, Portfolio mgmt, Transfer services. These services may still be offered by other authorised providers, or by Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited 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 Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited licensed in Ireland?
The CBI's MiCA approach mirrors its strict banking-supervision posture. Kraken's Payward entities chose Ireland for their MiCA authorisation in June 2025. Source: Central Bank of Ireland (CBI).
| National Competent Authority | Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) |
|---|---|
| Investor compensation | Irish Investor Compensation Scheme up to €20,000. |
| Regulatory context | English-speaking, regulator-respected; expensive to establish. |
What does this mean for users of Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited in the EU?
If you transact through Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited's EEA-authorised entity (Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited), 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 Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited's terms of service that your contracting entity is Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited, not a non-EEA affiliate.
Which MiCA-authorised exchanges are alternatives to Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited?
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 Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited's entry on the register:
Frequently asked questions about Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited and MiCA
Is Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited licensed under MiCA?
Yes. Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised Crypto-Asset Service Providers, with its authorisation issued by the competent authority of Ireland.
Which EU countries can Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited 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 Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited 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 Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited'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 Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited's entry is on this page under 'Sources'.
Sources
- ESMA Register of Crypto-Asset Service Providers
- Central Bank of Ireland (CBI)
- ESMA MiCA Register - Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited (Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited)
- Interactive Brokers Ireland Limited official website
- Interactive Brokers Launches Crypto-Asset Trading for Individual Investors in the EEA (Business Wire)
- Interactive Brokers crypto-asset products page
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