🇮🇪 Ireland vs 🇳🇱 Netherlands: crypto licensing compared
Decision context and regulator route
Ireland and Netherlands 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 Netherlands it is the MiCA CASP Authorisation (Crypto-Asset Service Provider), granted by AFM; DNB co-assesses fitness/propriety and AML for licence holders under Autoriteit Financiële Markten (AFM) - lead conduct regulator and licensing authority; De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) supports with prudential/AML input. The public licence and regulator fields below are open to everyone; the complete sourced comparison is included with access.
Ireland: verified 2026-08-15 · Netherlands: verified 2026-08-15
| Dimension |
🇮🇪 Ireland
partly open
Verified 2026-08-15
|
🇳🇱 Netherlands
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 CASP Authorisation (Crypto-Asset Service Provider), granted by AFM; DNB co-assesses fitness/propriety and AML for licence holders |
| Regulator | Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) - sole competent authority; runs an Innovation Hub. Known as a demanding, gatekeeper-style regulator. | Autoriteit Financiële Markten (AFM) - lead conduct regulator and licensing authority; De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) supports with prudential/AML input |
| Capital requirement | Ireland capital requirement is included in the £349 pass. | Netherlands capital requirement is included in the £349 pass. |
| Timeline to authorisation | Ireland timeline to authorisation is included in the £349 pass. | Netherlands timeline to authorisation is included in the £349 pass. |
| Local substance | Ireland local substance is included in the £349 pass. | Netherlands local substance is included in the £349 pass. |
| Application cost | Ireland application cost is included in the £349 pass. | Netherlands application cost is included in the £349 pass. |
| Ongoing cost | Ireland ongoing cost is included in the £349 pass. | Netherlands ongoing cost is included in the £349 pass. |
| Passporting | Ireland passporting is included in the £349 pass. | Netherlands passporting is included in the £349 pass. |
| MiCA CASPs approved | Ireland mica casps approved is included in the £349 pass. | Netherlands mica casps approved is included in the £349 pass. |
| Key restrictions | Ireland key restrictions is included in the £349 pass. | Netherlands 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. | Netherlands became one of the highest-volume MiCA jurisdictions through H1 2026 as the 1 July 2026 EU-wide transitional deadline approached; notable authorisations include Bitvavo, Amdax, MoonPay, Finst, Fiat Republic, and Banxa (Oct 2025); dedicated 'ARI10' authorisation added Feb 2026 per one tracker |
| Difficulty rating | Ireland difficulty rating is included in the £349 pass. | Netherlands 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.
🇳🇱 Netherlands (verified 2026-07-02): Netherlands became one of the highest-volume MiCA jurisdictions through H1 2026 as the 1 July 2026 EU-wide transitional deadline approached; notable authorisations include Bitvavo, Amdax, MoonPay, Finst, Fiat Republic, and Banxa (Oct 2025); dedicated 'ARI10' authorisation added Feb 2026 per one tracker
Quick answers
Who regulates crypto licensing in Ireland and Netherlands?
Ireland: Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) - sole competent authority; runs an Innovation Hub. Known as a demanding, gatekeeper-style regulator.. Netherlands: Autoriteit Financiële Markten (AFM) - lead conduct regulator and licensing authority; De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) supports with prudential/AML input.
What licence do you need in Ireland compared with Netherlands?
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 Netherlands it is MiCA CASP Authorisation (Crypto-Asset Service Provider), granted by AFM; DNB co-assesses fitness/propriety and AML for licence holders. The comparison table on this page lines the two up dimension by dimension.
Where can I see the full Ireland vs Netherlands 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-netherlands.
Informational only, not legal advice. Every open figure carries its own verification date; verify with qualified counsel before acting.