🇨🇾 Cyprus vs 🇮🇪 Ireland: crypto licensing compared
Cyprus and Ireland take recognisably different routes to crypto authorisation. In Cyprus the route is the MiCA CASP Authorisation granted by CySEC; existing Cyprus Investment Firms (CIFs) can extend their licence to cover crypto-asset services under a simplified process overseen by Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) - sole National Competent Authority for MiCA in Cyprus; in Ireland it is the MiCA CASP authorisation granted by the Central Bank of Ireland; replaces the legacy VASP registration (CJA 2010, AML). No simplified VASP->CASP conversion - all applicants face the full process. under Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) - sole competent authority; runs an Innovation Hub. Known as a demanding, gatekeeper-style regulator.. The two regimes differ on 7 of 9 tracked decision dimensions, including timeline to authorisation and local substance. The free columns below are open to everyone; the decision figures unlock with a pass, each one dated and sourced.
Cyprus: verified 2026-07-03 · Ireland: verified 2026-07-03
| Dimension |
🇨🇾 Cyprus
partly open
Verified 2026-07-03
|
🇮🇪 Ireland
partly open
Verified 2026-07-03
|
|---|---|---|
| Licence type | MiCA CASP Authorisation granted by CySEC; existing Cyprus Investment Firms (CIFs) can extend their licence to cover crypto-asset services under a simplified process | MiCA CASP authorisation granted by the Central Bank of Ireland; replaces the legacy VASP registration (CJA 2010, AML). No simplified VASP->CASP conversion - all applicants face the full process. |
| Regulator | Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) - sole National Competent Authority for MiCA in Cyprus | Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) - sole competent authority; runs an Innovation Hub. Known as a demanding, gatekeeper-style regulator. |
| Capital requirement | Cyprus capital requirement is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Ireland capital requirement is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| Timeline to authorisation | Cyprus timeline to authorisation is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Ireland timeline to authorisation is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| Local substance | Cyprus local substance is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Ireland local substance is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| Application cost | Cyprus application cost is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Ireland application cost is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| Ongoing cost | Cyprus ongoing cost is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Ireland ongoing cost is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| Passporting | Cyprus passporting is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Ireland passporting is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| MiCA CASPs approved | Cyprus mica casps approved is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Ireland mica casps approved is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| Key restrictions | Cyprus key restrictions is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Ireland key restrictions is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| Recent changes | CySEC set a hard 27 February 2026 deadline for existing national-regime CASPs to submit MiCA applications; preliminary assessment phase opened 13 Nov 2024, formal applications from 1 Jan 2025; national transitional regime and full MiCA regime now running in parallel toward the 1 July 2026 EU-wide cutover | Transitional period ended 30 Dec 2025 (12 months; simplified route declined). ~10 CASPs authorised by late 2025 (Kraken Jun 2025, Coinbase, StoneX 10th). Revised Consumer Protection Code from 24 Mar 2026. |
| Difficulty rating | Cyprus difficulty rating is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Ireland difficulty rating is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
The two regimes differ on 7 of 9 tracked decision dimensions, including timeline to authorisation and local substance. Unlock the pass to see each figure with its source and verification date.
What changed recently
🇨🇾 Cyprus (verified 2026-07-02): CySEC set a hard 27 February 2026 deadline for existing national-regime CASPs to submit MiCA applications; preliminary assessment phase opened 13 Nov 2024, formal applications from 1 Jan 2025; national transitional regime and full MiCA regime now running in parallel toward the 1 July 2026 EU-wide cutover
🇮🇪 Ireland (verified 2026-07-01): Transitional period ended 30 Dec 2025 (12 months; simplified route declined). ~10 CASPs authorised by late 2025 (Kraken Jun 2025, Coinbase, StoneX 10th). Revised Consumer Protection Code from 24 Mar 2026.
Quick answers
Who regulates crypto licensing in Cyprus and Ireland?
Cyprus: Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) - sole National Competent Authority for MiCA in Cyprus. Ireland: Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) - sole competent authority; runs an Innovation Hub. Known as a demanding, gatekeeper-style regulator..
What licence do you need in Cyprus compared with Ireland?
In Cyprus the authorisation route is MiCA CASP Authorisation granted by CySEC; existing Cyprus Investment Firms (CIFs) can extend their licence to cover crypto-asset services under a simplified process; in Ireland it is MiCA CASP authorisation granted by the Central Bank of Ireland; replaces the legacy VASP registration (CJA 2010, AML). No simplified VASP->CASP conversion - all applicants face the full process.. The comparison table on this page lines the two up dimension by dimension.
Where can I see the full Cyprus vs Ireland comparison?
The interactive benchmark lets you pin either jurisdiction and add up to five peers; a Founder Pass or Pro subscription unlocks every gated figure with its source and verification date. This page stays free at /crypto/compare/cyprus-vs-ireland.
Informational only, not legal advice. Every open figure carries its own verification date; verify with qualified counsel before acting.