🇪🇪 Estonia vs 🇮🇪 Ireland: crypto licensing compared
Decision context and regulator route
Estonia and Ireland are commonly considered side by side for crypto authorisation. In Estonia the route is the MiCA CASP authorisation; implemented via the Crypto-Assets Market Act (Kruptovarade turu seadus, KrüTS), in force 1 July 2024. overseen by Finantsinspektsioon (Estonian Financial Supervision and Resolution Authority); 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 public licence and regulator fields below are open to everyone; the complete sourced comparison is included with access.
Estonia: verified 2026-08-15 · Ireland: verified 2026-08-15
| Dimension |
🇪🇪 Estonia
partly open
Verified 2026-08-15
|
🇮🇪 Ireland
partly open
Verified 2026-08-15
|
|---|---|---|
| Licence type | MiCA CASP authorisation; implemented via the Crypto-Assets Market Act (Kruptovarade turu seadus, KrüTS), in force 1 July 2024. | 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 | Finantsinspektsioon (Estonian Financial Supervision and Resolution Authority) | Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) - sole competent authority; runs an Innovation Hub. Known as a demanding, gatekeeper-style regulator. |
| Capital requirement | Estonia capital requirement is included in the £349 pass. | Ireland capital requirement is included in the £349 pass. |
| Timeline to authorisation | Estonia timeline to authorisation is included in the £349 pass. | Ireland timeline to authorisation is included in the £349 pass. |
| Local substance | Estonia local substance is included in the £349 pass. | Ireland local substance is included in the £349 pass. |
| Application cost | Estonia application cost is included in the £349 pass. | Ireland application cost is included in the £349 pass. |
| Ongoing cost | Estonia ongoing cost is included in the £349 pass. | Ireland ongoing cost is included in the £349 pass. |
| Passporting | Estonia passporting is included in the £349 pass. | Ireland passporting is included in the £349 pass. |
| MiCA CASPs approved | Estonia mica casps approved is included in the £349 pass. | Ireland mica casps approved is included in the £349 pass. |
| Key restrictions | Estonia key restrictions is included in the £349 pass. | Ireland key restrictions is included in the £349 pass. |
| Recent changes | Estonia's VASP population collapsed from 641 valid licences (mid-2021 peak) to 36 remaining by early 2026; as of recent reporting only one entity (Lightspark Payments Europe AS) had received full MiCA CASP authorisation. From 18 March 2026, CASP applications must go through FI's new application portal. | 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 | Estonia difficulty rating is included in the £349 pass. | Ireland difficulty rating is included in the £349 pass. |
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What changed recently
🇪🇪 Estonia (verified 2026-07-15): Estonia's VASP population collapsed from 641 valid licences (mid-2021 peak) to 36 remaining by early 2026; as of recent reporting only one entity (Lightspark Payments Europe AS) had received full MiCA CASP authorisation. From 18 March 2026, CASP applications must go through FI's new application portal.
🇮🇪 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 Estonia and Ireland?
Estonia: Finantsinspektsioon (Estonian Financial Supervision and Resolution Authority). 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 Estonia compared with Ireland?
In Estonia the authorisation route is MiCA CASP authorisation; implemented via the Crypto-Assets Market Act (Kruptovarade turu seadus, KrüTS), in force 1 July 2024.; 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 Estonia 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/estonia-vs-ireland.
Informational only, not legal advice. Every open figure carries its own verification date; verify with qualified counsel before acting.