EU CRYPTO REGISTER · AUTHORISED · LAST VERIFIED

Is Smartbroker AG licensed under MiCA in the European Union?

Smartbroker AG's European entity (Smartbroker AG) is recorded as an authorised Crypto-Asset Service Provider under the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, with its authorisation issued by Germany on 11 August 2025.

Verdict: Smartbroker AG appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised CASPs.

Legal entitySmartbroker AG
Home Member StateGermany
National Competent AuthorityFederal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin)
Authorisation date
Legal Entity Identifier (LEI)391200N0BYCZF2F43264
Authorised servicesOrder R&T

Source: ESMA Register of Crypto-Asset Service Providers. Retrieved 30 June 2026.

About Smartbroker AG

Smartbroker AG is a German online securities broker, not a consumer crypto-asset exchange. It operates the SMARTBROKER+ trading platform, which the company markets primarily for traditional securities - stocks, bonds, ETFs, funds, savings plans and derivatives - across roughly 30 German and international trading venues, with commission from 0 EUR on orders of 500 EUR or more via gettex. Research describes crypto trading as a recent addition to this securities-focused platform rather than its core business. Smartbroker AG forms part of the publicly listed Smartbroker Holding AG, which research describes as a Berlin-based brokerage and technology group founded in 2000. Sources: SMARTBROKER+ website, Smartbroker Holding AG

On the MiCA question: the contracting legal entity is Smartbroker AG, registered in Germany and supervised by the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin). Under MiCA, its authorisation covers a single crypto-asset service - reception and transmission of orders for crypto-assets on behalf of clients (Order R&T). That is a brokerage-style permission to route client orders, not a licence to custody crypto, operate a trading platform, run savings or staking products, issue a card, or hold client funds as a custodian. Those services are not part of its MiCA authorisation. Source: Smartbroker Holding AG

In short, anyone asking 'Is Smartbroker AG licensed under MiCA in the EU?' should read its authorisation narrowly: it is a BaFin-regulated German broker permitted to transmit crypto-asset orders for clients, with research describing crypto as a recent extension of a platform built mainly for conventional securities trading. Source: Smartbroker Holding AG

Which crypto services is Smartbroker AG authorised to offer in the EU?

Under its MiCA authorisation issued by Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin), Smartbroker AG (Smartbroker AG) is approved to provide the following services to EEA residents. Each service is defined in Article 3(1)(16) of Regulation (EU) 2023/1114.

  • 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 Smartbroker AG not authorised to offer?

Smartbroker AG'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 Smartbroker AG 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 Smartbroker AG licensed in Germany?

Germany's BaFin runs a strict, banking-style authorisation model. Trade Republic, which already held a German banking licence, was authorised in April 2025. BaFin previously refused Binance's German licence application in 2023, leading Binance to withdraw from the German market. Source: Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin).

National Competent AuthorityFederal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin)
Investor compensationEdW (compensation scheme for securities firms) plus bank-deposit cover where applicable.
Regulatory contextBaFin's banking-style scrutiny is the highest barrier among MiCA NCAs.

See all exchanges licensed in Germany

What does this mean for users of Smartbroker AG in the EU?

If you transact through Smartbroker AG's EEA-authorised entity (Smartbroker AG), 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 Smartbroker AG's terms of service that your contracting entity is Smartbroker AG, not a non-EEA affiliate.

Which MiCA-authorised exchanges are alternatives to Smartbroker AG?

Three MiCA-authorised providers to consider. Drawn from the ESMA register, never paid placement.

ProviderHome Member StateAuthorisedServices
Alaric Securities Bulgaria 9 services
OKX Malta 9 services
Kraken Ireland 8 services

Related reading

Understand the regulatory context behind Smartbroker AG's entry on the register:

Frequently asked questions about Smartbroker AG and MiCA

Is Smartbroker AG licensed under MiCA?

Yes. Smartbroker AG appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised Crypto-Asset Service Providers, with its authorisation issued by the competent authority of Germany.

Which EU countries can Smartbroker AG 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 Smartbroker AG 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 Smartbroker AG'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 Smartbroker AG's entry is on this page under 'Sources'.