EU CRYPTO REGISTER · AUTHORISED · LAST VERIFIED
Is OKX licensed under MiCA in the European Union?
OKX's European entity (OKX Europe Limited) is recorded as an authorised Crypto-Asset Service Provider under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, with its authorisation issued by Malta on 27 January 2025.
Verdict: OKX appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised CASPs.
| Legal entity | OKX Europe Limited |
|---|---|
| Home Member State | Malta |
| National Competent Authority | Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) |
| Authorisation date | |
| Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) | 54930069NLWEIGLHXU42 |
| Authorised services | Custody, Operating a trading platform, 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 OKX
OKX is a multi-asset consumer cryptocurrency exchange. Its European service is operated by OKX Europe Limited, a dedicated Malta-based legal entity that serves users in the EEA under EU law, separate from the wider OKX global platform. According to the company's research record, the wider business was founded in 2013 (originally as OKEx, rebranded to OKX in 2022) by Star Xu, with a global headquarters in San Jose, California; the European arm is headquartered in Malta. OKX states it is a consumer crypto product rather than a bank, custodian, broker or asset manager. Sources: OKX MiCA disclosure, OKX company background
On its Dutch-language site OKX describes itself as a crypto app offering spot trading across Bitcoin, Ethereum and hundreds of other digital assets, with a euro-denominated account and SEPA-based EUR funding. The company's own materials also reference custody (including segregated off-exchange options), savings and automated investment plans, and staking for supported assets. A crypto card is not confirmed for the EU-facing service in the research and is therefore not asserted here. These descriptions of products, asset coverage and user benefits are OKX's own statements. Sources: OKX website, OKX EU services
On the regulatory point, the contracting entity for EU users is OKX Europe Limited, authorised in Malta by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA). Under MiCA its authorisation as a Crypto-Asset Service Provider covers the following ESMA-listed services: custody and administration of crypto-assets, operating a trading platform, 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 for crypto-assets. The licence does not list advice on crypto-assets, so it does not authorise OKX Europe Limited to provide crypto-asset advice. Confirm the current authorisation directly with the MFSA before relying on it. Sources: OKX Europe MFSA disclosure, OKX MiCA licence page
And what about derivatives?
OKX's MiCA authorisation above covers spot crypto services only. Crypto derivatives - perpetual futures, options, CFDs - fall under MiFID II, a separate EU regime. OKX's MiFID II status is tracked on a dedicated page.
OKX holds a MiFID II authorisation via a separate legal entity. See the full MiFID II profile for OKX →
Which crypto services is OKX authorised to offer in the EU?
Under its MiCA authorisation issued by Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), OKX (OKX Europe 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 OKX not authorised to offer?
OKX's MiCA licence does not cover: Trading platform, Advice, Portfolio mgmt. These services may still be offered by other authorised providers, or by OKX 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 OKX licensed in Malta?
Malta was an early MiCA mover, granting the first authorisations on 27 January 2025. The MFSA had pre-existing experience under Malta's Virtual Financial Assets Act (2018), which gave it institutional readiness most other national competent authorities lacked. Several global exchanges chose Malta for their EU passporting hub, including OKX, Crypto.com and Gemini. Source: Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA).
| National Competent Authority | Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) |
|---|---|
| Investor compensation | Malta Investor Compensation Scheme provides limited cover; check directly with MFSA for crypto-specific scope. |
| Regulatory context | Malta hosts the highest number of MiCA-authorised CASPs from major global brands. |
What does this mean for users of OKX in the EU?
If you transact through OKX's EEA-authorised entity (OKX Europe 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 OKX's terms of service that your contracting entity is OKX Europe Limited, not a non-EEA affiliate.
Which MiCA-authorised exchanges are alternatives to OKX?
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 | |
| Kraken | Ireland | 8 services | |
| ZBX | Malta | 8 services |
Related reading
Understand the regulatory context behind OKX's entry on the register:
Frequently asked questions about OKX and MiCA
Is OKX licensed under MiCA?
Yes. OKX appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised Crypto-Asset Service Providers, with its authorisation issued by the competent authority of Malta.
Which EU countries can OKX 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 OKX 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 OKX'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 OKX's entry is on this page under 'Sources'.
Sources
- ESMA Register of Crypto-Asset Service Providers
- Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA)
- GLEIF LEI Record - OKX Europe Limited (LEI 54930069NLWEIGLHXU42)
- AMF France white list - OKCoin Europe Limited (legacy name; MiCAR CASP passport from Malta)
- OKX regulated crypto exchange under MiCA (OKX learn page)
- OKX Europe Limited conflicts of interest / MFSA authorisation disclosure
- Asset Servicing Times - OKX MiCA licence announcement (MFSA)
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