On 17 April 2026, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) issued a statement to clarify supervisory expectations regarding the end of the transitional period(s) under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA).
The MiCA transitional period will officially expire across the EU on 1 July 2026. After this date, any entity providing crypto-asset services to EU clients without a MiCA licence will be in breach of EU law and must cease offering such services.
In its statement ESMA sets out its expectations for crypto-asset service providers on wind-down and client migration. It also sets out its expectations for Member State competent authorities and provides certain warnings to consumers.