EU CRYPTO REGISTER · AUTHORISED · LAST VERIFIED
Is Strike licensed under MiCA in the European Union?
Strike's European entity (Zap (Strike) 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 25 June 2026.
Verdict: Strike appears in the ESMA Register of MiCA-Authorised CASPs.
| Legal entity | Zap (Strike) Europe Limited |
|---|---|
| Home Member State | Malta |
| National Competent Authority | Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) |
| Authorisation date | |
| Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) | 984500457TABOA3BZ224 |
| Authorised services | Custody, Exchange for funds, Order execution, Transfer services |
Source: ESMA Register of Crypto-Asset Service Providers. Retrieved 30 June 2026.
About Strike
Strike is a Bitcoin-focused consumer app for buying, holding and sending bitcoin. Its website markets bitcoin purchases with 'no deposit limits, instant settlement, and free on-chain withdrawals', payments over the Lightning Network, a Lightning address for receiving funds, and cross-border transfers where the sender pays from a fiat balance and the recipient receives local currency. Strike states that customer cash and bitcoin are held 1:1, that it does not lend out customer bitcoin, and that bitcoin is kept in 'encrypted multisig vaults with distributed keys'. These are the company's own product descriptions rather than independently verified claims. Source: Strike website
For its European operations the contracting legal entity is Zap (Strike) Europe Limited, established in Malta. Under the EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), the relevant national competent authority for a Malta-based entity is the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), which supervises crypto-asset service providers there. Sources: MFSA crypto-assets, ESMA MiCA
The MiCA authorisation recorded for this entity covers four crypto-asset services: custody and administration of crypto-assets on behalf of clients, exchange of crypto-assets for funds, execution of orders for crypto-assets, and transfer services for crypto-assets. It does not, on this record, extend to other MiCA-listed services such as operating a trading platform, placing crypto-assets, or providing advice or portfolio management on crypto-assets. A MiCA licence authorises specific named services only, so anything outside the four services above is not covered by this authorisation. Source: ESMA MiCA
Note on scope: the consumer-facing Strike app is a Bitcoin-only product (its site describes bitcoin buying, custody and Lightning payments, with no multi-asset trading, staking or savings yield shown). Independent research available here could not separately corroborate operational details of the Malta entity such as its founding year, headquarters or operating team, so those are not asserted. Prospective users should confirm the current authorisation status and the services offered to their country directly with Strike and the MFSA. Sources: Strike website, MFSA crypto-assets
Which crypto services is Strike authorised to offer in the EU?
Under its MiCA authorisation issued by Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), Strike (Zap (Strike) 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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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 Strike not authorised to offer?
Strike's MiCA licence does not cover: Trading platform, Exchange for crypto, Placing, Order R&T, Advice, Portfolio mgmt. These services may still be offered by other authorised providers, or by Strike 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 Strike 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 Strike in the EU?
If you transact through Strike's EEA-authorised entity (Zap (Strike) 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 Strike's terms of service that your contracting entity is Zap (Strike) Europe Limited, not a non-EEA affiliate.
Which MiCA-authorised exchanges are alternatives to Strike?
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 Strike's entry on the register:
Frequently asked questions about Strike and MiCA
Is Strike licensed under MiCA?
Yes. Strike 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 Strike 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 Strike 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 Strike'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 Strike'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.