EU CRYPTO REGISTER · AUTHORISED · LAST VERIFIED
Is Kraken licensed under MiCA in the European Union?
Kraken's European entity (Payward Europe Solutions 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 25 June 2025.
Verdict: Kraken appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised CASPs.
| Legal entity | Payward Europe Solutions Limited |
|---|---|
| Home Member State | Ireland |
| National Competent Authority | Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) |
| Authorisation date | |
| Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) | 254900641D8KNHUZYX24 |
| Authorised services | Custody, Exchange for funds, Exchange for crypto, Order execution, Placing, Order R&T, Portfolio management on crypto-assets, Transfer services |
Source: ESMA Register of Crypto-Asset Service Providers. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
About Kraken
Kraken is a consumer crypto-asset exchange operated by Payward Inc. (doing business as Kraken), a United States company founded in 2011 by Jesse Powell and headquartered in San Francisco, California. Its own website describes the platform as 'wereldwijd vertrouwd door miljoenen' (trusted worldwide by millions) and offers buying, selling and trading of crypto-assets alongside stocks, ETFs and futures. Research summaries describe coverage of more than 190 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum and stablecoins, with EUR funding via SEPA, plus staking, yield and recurring-buy (DCA) features. Note that staking and yield are product features and are not, in themselves, among the MiCA crypto-asset services listed below. Sources: Kraken, Wikipedia
For the European Union, Kraken's regulated activity is contracted through Payward Europe Solutions Limited (PESL), an Irish subsidiary. PESL is authorised as a crypto-asset service provider (CASP) under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), with the Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) acting as the competent authority. A MiCA authorisation granted in one member state can be passported to provide services across the EU. Sources: AMF France white list, Kraken
Under that MiCA authorisation, the entity is registered for the following crypto-asset services: custody and administration of crypto-assets, exchange of crypto-assets for funds, exchange of crypto-assets for other crypto-assets, execution of orders, placing of crypto-assets, reception and transmission of orders, portfolio management on crypto-assets, and transfer services. Activities that fall outside this list - for example, any service not enumerated here - are not covered by the MiCA CASP authorisation. Investors verifying licence status should confirm the entry directly in the relevant national or ESMA register. Sources: AMF France white list, Kraken
And what about derivatives?
Kraken's MiCA authorisation above covers spot crypto services only. Crypto derivatives - perpetual futures, options, CFDs - fall under MiFID II, a separate EU regime. Kraken's MiFID II status is tracked on a dedicated page.
Kraken holds a MiFID II authorisation via a separate legal entity. See the full MiFID II profile for Kraken →
Which crypto services is Kraken authorised to offer in the EU?
Under its MiCA authorisation issued by Central Bank of Ireland (CBI), Kraken (Payward Europe Solutions 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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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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Placing of crypto-assets
The exchange can underwrite or distribute new crypto-asset issuances. Relevant for primary offerings and structured token launches.
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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 Kraken not authorised to offer?
Kraken's MiCA licence does not cover: Trading platform, Advice, Portfolio mgmt. These services may still be offered by other authorised providers, or by Kraken 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 Kraken 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 Kraken in the EU?
If you transact through Kraken's EEA-authorised entity (Payward Europe Solutions 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 Kraken's terms of service that your contracting entity is Payward Europe Solutions Limited, not a non-EEA affiliate.
Which MiCA-authorised exchanges are alternatives to Kraken?
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 | |
| ZBX | Malta | 8 services |
Related reading
Understand the regulatory context behind Kraken's entry on the register:
Frequently asked questions about Kraken and MiCA
Is Kraken licensed under MiCA?
Yes. Kraken 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 Kraken 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 Kraken 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 Kraken'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 Kraken's entry is on this page under 'Sources'.
Sources
- ESMA Register of Crypto-Asset Service Providers
- Central Bank of Ireland (CBI)
- Kraken Support - Where is Kraken licensed or regulated? (issuer-published)
- GLEIF LEI Record - Payward Europe Solutions Limited (LEI 254900641D8KNHUZYX24)
- Kraken official website
- AMF France white list - Payward Europe Solutions Limited (Kraken)
- Wikipedia - Kraken (cryptocurrency exchange)
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