🇮🇪 Ireland vs 🇱🇺 Luxembourg: crypto licensing compared
Ireland and Luxembourg take recognisably different routes to 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 Luxembourg it is the MiCA CASP Authorisation granted by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) under Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF). 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.
Ireland: verified 2026-07-03 · Luxembourg: verified 2026-07-02
| Dimension |
🇮🇪 Ireland
partly open
Verified 2026-07-03
|
🇱🇺 Luxembourg
partly open
Verified 2026-07-02
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 CASP Authorisation granted by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) |
| Regulator | Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) - sole competent authority; runs an Innovation Hub. Known as a demanding, gatekeeper-style regulator. | Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) |
| Capital requirement | Ireland capital requirement is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Luxembourg capital requirement is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| Timeline to authorisation | Ireland timeline to authorisation is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Luxembourg timeline to authorisation is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| Local substance | Ireland local substance is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Luxembourg local substance is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| Application cost | Ireland application cost is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Luxembourg application cost is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| Ongoing cost | Ireland ongoing cost is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Luxembourg ongoing cost is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| Passporting | Ireland passporting is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Luxembourg passporting is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| MiCA CASPs approved | Ireland mica casps approved is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Luxembourg mica casps approved is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| Key restrictions | Ireland key restrictions is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Luxembourg key restrictions is locked. Unlock with 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. | Rapid growth in H1 2026: as of 30 June 2026, 11 active CASPs including B2C2 Europe, Banking Circle, Bitstamp Europe, Bridge Building, Clearstream Banking, Coinbase Luxembourg, Stokr, Standard Chartered Luxembourg, Swissquote Bank Europe, Zodia Custody Europe and BitFlyer; BitFlyer authorised 26 June 2026, Stokr 22 June 2026, Bridge Building 29 June 2026, all just before the transitional deadline expired on 1 July 2026 |
| Difficulty rating | Ireland difficulty rating is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Luxembourg 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
🇮🇪 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.
🇱🇺 Luxembourg (verified 2026-07-02): Rapid growth in H1 2026: as of 30 June 2026, 11 active CASPs including B2C2 Europe, Banking Circle, Bitstamp Europe, Bridge Building, Clearstream Banking, Coinbase Luxembourg, Stokr, Standard Chartered Luxembourg, Swissquote Bank Europe, Zodia Custody Europe and BitFlyer; BitFlyer authorised 26 June 2026, Stokr 22 June 2026, Bridge Building 29 June 2026, all just before the transitional deadline expired on 1 July 2026
Quick answers
Who regulates crypto licensing in Ireland and Luxembourg?
Ireland: Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) - sole competent authority; runs an Innovation Hub. Known as a demanding, gatekeeper-style regulator.. Luxembourg: Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF).
What licence do you need in Ireland compared with Luxembourg?
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 Luxembourg it is MiCA CASP Authorisation granted by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF). The comparison table on this page lines the two up dimension by dimension.
Where can I see the full Ireland vs Luxembourg 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-luxembourg.
Informational only, not legal advice. Every open figure carries its own verification date; verify with qualified counsel before acting.