🇩🇪 Germany vs 🇱🇹 Lithuania: crypto licensing compared
Germany and Lithuania take recognisably different routes to crypto authorisation. In Germany the route is the MiCA CASP authorisation granted by BaFin under national law FinmadiG/KMAG; replaces the legacy KWG crypto-custody business licence, with a simplified transition for existing KWG-licensed firms. overseen by BaFin (Bundesanstalt fur Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht) with Deutsche Bundesbank involvement; applications go to both. Widely regarded as the EU's most demanding CASP regulator.; in Lithuania it is the MiCA Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) authorisation under Title V of Reg (EU) 2023/1114; replaced the national VASP registration. Single passportable licence covering the services applied for. under Bank of Lithuania (Lietuvos bankas) - single competent authority. Publicly selective stance: wants few, solid firms rather than the ~370-strong legacy VASP pool.. The two regimes differ on 6 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.
Germany: verified 2026-07-03 · Lithuania: verified 2026-07-01
| Dimension |
🇩🇪 Germany
partly open
Verified 2026-07-03
|
🇱🇹 Lithuania
partly open
Verified 2026-07-01
|
|---|---|---|
| Licence type | MiCA CASP authorisation granted by BaFin under national law FinmadiG/KMAG; replaces the legacy KWG crypto-custody business licence, with a simplified transition for existing KWG-licensed firms. | MiCA Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) authorisation under Title V of Reg (EU) 2023/1114; replaced the national VASP registration. Single passportable licence covering the services applied for. |
| Regulator | BaFin (Bundesanstalt fur Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht) with Deutsche Bundesbank involvement; applications go to both. Widely regarded as the EU's most demanding CASP regulator. | Bank of Lithuania (Lietuvos bankas) - single competent authority. Publicly selective stance: wants few, solid firms rather than the ~370-strong legacy VASP pool. |
| Capital requirement | Germany capital requirement is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Lithuania capital requirement is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| Timeline to authorisation | Germany timeline to authorisation is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Lithuania timeline to authorisation is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| Local substance | Germany local substance is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Lithuania local substance is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| Application cost | Germany application cost is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Lithuania application cost is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| Ongoing cost | Germany ongoing cost is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Lithuania ongoing cost is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| Passporting | Germany passporting is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Lithuania passporting is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| MiCA CASPs approved | Germany mica casps approved is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Lithuania mica casps approved is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| Key restrictions | Germany key restrictions is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Lithuania key restrictions is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| Recent changes | FinmadiG + KMAG in force 27 Dec 2024; Germany used a 12-month grandfathering (apply before 8 Oct 2025; effective end-2025). By mid-2026 the EU's #1 hub - ~57 CASP authorisations (~23% of the EU's ~244), incl. Trade Republic, N26, Commerzbank, Bitpanda. | Lithuania used a shortened 12-month grandfathering - legacy VASP cover ended 1 Jan 2026 (vs the EU 1 Jul 2026 backstop). First CASP: Robinhood Europe (29 May 2025); only ~4 CASPs authorised by Mar 2026. |
| Difficulty rating | Germany difficulty rating is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Lithuania difficulty rating is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
The two regimes differ on 6 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
🇩🇪 Germany (verified 2026-07-01): FinmadiG + KMAG in force 27 Dec 2024; Germany used a 12-month grandfathering (apply before 8 Oct 2025; effective end-2025). By mid-2026 the EU's #1 hub - ~57 CASP authorisations (~23% of the EU's ~244), incl. Trade Republic, N26, Commerzbank, Bitpanda.
🇱🇹 Lithuania (verified 2026-07-01): Lithuania used a shortened 12-month grandfathering - legacy VASP cover ended 1 Jan 2026 (vs the EU 1 Jul 2026 backstop). First CASP: Robinhood Europe (29 May 2025); only ~4 CASPs authorised by Mar 2026.
Quick answers
Who regulates crypto licensing in Germany and Lithuania?
Germany: BaFin (Bundesanstalt fur Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht) with Deutsche Bundesbank involvement; applications go to both. Widely regarded as the EU's most demanding CASP regulator.. Lithuania: Bank of Lithuania (Lietuvos bankas) - single competent authority. Publicly selective stance: wants few, solid firms rather than the ~370-strong legacy VASP pool..
What licence do you need in Germany compared with Lithuania?
In Germany the authorisation route is MiCA CASP authorisation granted by BaFin under national law FinmadiG/KMAG; replaces the legacy KWG crypto-custody business licence, with a simplified transition for existing KWG-licensed firms.; in Lithuania it is MiCA Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) authorisation under Title V of Reg (EU) 2023/1114; replaced the national VASP registration. Single passportable licence covering the services applied for.. The comparison table on this page lines the two up dimension by dimension.
Where can I see the full Germany vs Lithuania 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/germany-vs-lithuania.
Informational only, not legal advice. Every open figure carries its own verification date; verify with qualified counsel before acting.