MiCA CASP Licence in the Netherlands (AFM)

The Netherlands is the credibility play — and the jurisdiction that moved fastest. Crypto-asset service providers are authorised here by the Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM), with De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) alongside it under the Dutch "Twin Peaks" model: the AFM owns conduct, investor protection and authorisation; DNB owns prudential soundness, capital adequacy and AML/CFT integrity. For firms that need to be taken seriously by banks and institutional counterparties, a Dutch CASP licence carries weight.

One thing sets the Netherlands apart from most of the EU: it granted the shortest transitional period in the bloc — just six months, which closed on 30 June 2025. Since 1 July 2025, providing crypto-asset services in the Netherlands without a granted MiCAR licence has been prohibited. There is no grace window left to lean on — the AFM expects you to be authorised, not "transitioning." (Grandfathering never conferred an EU passport in any case; only a full MiCA authorisation does.)

The substance bar is correspondingly high. A genuine operating office in the Netherlands is mandatory — fully remote "mailbox" structures are not accepted. At least one director must be an EU resident, and the board must pass the AFM's Fit and Proper assessment. Once you file, the AFM has 25 working days to confirm your application is complete before the substantive review clock runs. A Dutch CASP authorisation then passports across the EU, with minimum capital following MiCA's Annex IV classes and the Article 67 own-funds floor — model it in the CASP Jurisdiction Selector & Cost Estimator.

Why operators choose the Netherlands: institutional-grade reputation, a respected regulator and strong banking relationships. What to weigh: no transitional cushion remains and the substance requirements are demanding — it suits firms ready to commit to a real Dutch base, or those licensing in another member state and passporting into the Dutch market. Not sure you're in scope at all? Run the MiCA Exposure Checker first.