🇮🇪 Ireland vs 🇱🇹 Lithuania: crypto licensing compared
Decision context and regulator route
Ireland and Lithuania are commonly considered side by side for crypto authorisation. In Ireland the route 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. overseen by Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) - sole competent authority; runs an Innovation Hub. Known as a demanding, gatekeeper-style 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 public licence and regulator fields below are open to everyone; the complete sourced comparison is included with access.
Ireland: verified 2026-08-15 · Lithuania: verified 2026-08-15
| Dimension |
🇮🇪 Ireland
partly open
Verified 2026-08-15
|
🇱🇹 Lithuania
partly open
Verified 2026-08-15
|
|---|---|---|
| Licence type | 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. | 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 | Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) - sole competent authority; runs an Innovation Hub. Known as a demanding, gatekeeper-style 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 | Ireland capital requirement is included in the £349 pass. | Lithuania capital requirement is included in the £349 pass. |
| Timeline to authorisation | Ireland timeline to authorisation is included in the £349 pass. | Lithuania timeline to authorisation is included in the £349 pass. |
| Local substance | Ireland local substance is included in the £349 pass. | Lithuania local substance is included in the £349 pass. |
| Application cost | Ireland application cost is included in the £349 pass. | Lithuania application cost is included in the £349 pass. |
| Ongoing cost | Ireland ongoing cost is included in the £349 pass. | Lithuania ongoing cost is included in the £349 pass. |
| Passporting | Ireland passporting is included in the £349 pass. | Lithuania passporting is included in the £349 pass. |
| MiCA CASPs approved | Ireland mica casps approved is included in the £349 pass. | Lithuania mica casps approved is included in the £349 pass. |
| Key restrictions | Ireland key restrictions is included in the £349 pass. | Lithuania key restrictions is included in the £349 pass. |
| Recent changes | 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. | 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 | Ireland difficulty rating is included in the £349 pass. | Lithuania difficulty rating is included in the £349 pass. |
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What changed recently
🇮🇪 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.
🇱🇹 Lithuania (verified 2026-08-15): 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 Ireland and Lithuania?
Ireland: Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) - sole competent authority; runs an Innovation Hub. Known as a demanding, gatekeeper-style 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 Ireland compared with Lithuania?
In Ireland the authorisation route 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.; 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 Ireland 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/ireland-vs-lithuania.
Informational only, not legal advice. Every open figure carries its own verification date; verify with qualified counsel before acting.