Compare Jurisdictions
Lithuania vs Ireland: Which MiCA CASP Licence?
Lithuania vs Ireland for a MiCA CASP licence: speed and cost versus credibility. Regulator, timeline, cost tier and passporting compared.
Both give you the same thing on paper — a MiCA CASP authorisation that passports across the EU — but they suit very different firms. Lithuania is the speed-and-cost route; Ireland is the credibility route. Here's the honest comparison.
| Lithuania | Ireland | |
|---|---|---|
| Regulator | Bank of Lithuania | Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) |
| Typical timeline | ~90–120 days (fastest in the EU) | Slower, rigorous review |
| Relative cost | Lower — talent ~30–40% cheaper than Berlin/Amsterdam | Higher |
| Language / law | English widely used; civil law | English-first, common law |
| Best for | Speed, cost-efficiency, pragmatic launch | Institutional credibility, common-law base |
| Transitional period | Closed 31 Dec 2025 | Closed 31 Dec 2025 |
| Capital (Annex IV) | €50k / €125k / €150k | €50k / €125k / €150k (identical, EU-wide) |
| EU passport | Yes | Yes |
The capital requirement is the same in both — that's set by MiCA, not the country. The real trade-off is speed and cost (Lithuania) versus standing and a common-law, English-first environment (Ireland). Note both transitional windows have already closed, so in either case you're applying for full authorisation now, not relying on grandfathering.
Choose Lithuania if you want the quickest, most cost-efficient passportable licence and the Bank of Lithuania's crypto experience. Choose Ireland if your counterparties and investors weigh CBI credibility and a common-law base above speed and cost.
Model the exact cost and timeline for your service class in the CASP Jurisdiction Selector & Cost Estimator, and read the deep-dives: Lithuania · Ireland.
See also: Cheapest EU MiCA jurisdiction · the 1 July 2026 deadline
Talk to HELMS about what this means for you →
Indicative guidance, not legal or financial advice. Capital and authorisation requirements are set by MiCA and the named national competent authority; transitional dates verified against ESMA's Article 143(3) list.