🇮🇪 Ireland vs 🇵🇹 Portugal: crypto licensing compared
Choosing between Ireland and Portugal for a crypto licence starts with who you will answer to: Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) - sole competent authority; runs an Innovation Hub. Known as a demanding, gatekeeper-style regulator. on one side, Twin-peaks: BANCO DE PORTUGAL is the CASP authorisation authority + prudential/AML supervisor (single application front door); CMVM is the conduct-of-business and market-abuse supervisor. (Corrects the seed - not CMVM-led.) on the other, via 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. and the MiCA CASP authorisation implemented by Lei n.o 69/2025 (22 Dec 2025). Replaces the legacy Banco de Portugal VASP (AML) registration. respectively. The two regimes differ on 6 of 9 tracked decision dimensions, including timeline to authorisation and local substance. Every figure behind the comparison carries a last-verified date and a primary source.
Ireland: verified 2026-07-03 · Portugal: verified 2026-07-01
| Dimension |
🇮🇪 Ireland
partly open
Verified 2026-07-03
|
🇵🇹 Portugal
partly open
Verified 2026-07-01
|
|---|---|---|
| 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 implemented by Lei n.o 69/2025 (22 Dec 2025). Replaces the legacy Banco de Portugal VASP (AML) registration. |
| Regulator | Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) - sole competent authority; runs an Innovation Hub. Known as a demanding, gatekeeper-style regulator. | Twin-peaks: BANCO DE PORTUGAL is the CASP authorisation authority + prudential/AML supervisor (single application front door); CMVM is the conduct-of-business and market-abuse supervisor. (Corrects the seed - not CMVM-led.) |
| Capital requirement | Ireland capital requirement is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Portugal capital requirement is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| Timeline to authorisation | Ireland timeline to authorisation is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Portugal timeline to authorisation is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| Local substance | Ireland local substance is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Portugal local substance is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| Application cost | Ireland application cost is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Portugal application cost is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| Ongoing cost | Ireland ongoing cost is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Portugal ongoing cost is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| Passporting | Ireland passporting is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Portugal passporting is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| MiCA CASPs approved | Ireland mica casps approved is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Portugal mica casps approved is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. |
| Key restrictions | Ireland key restrictions is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Portugal 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. | Lei 69/2025 (MiCA) + Lei 70/2025 (Travel Rule) published 22 Dec 2025 - ~1 year late. Legacy-VASP transitional window closes 1 Jul 2026 (today). Few Portugal-AUTHORISED CASPs so far. |
| Difficulty rating | Ireland difficulty rating is locked. Unlock with the £349 pass. | Portugal 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
🇮🇪 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.
🇵🇹 Portugal (verified 2026-07-01): Lei 69/2025 (MiCA) + Lei 70/2025 (Travel Rule) published 22 Dec 2025 - ~1 year late. Legacy-VASP transitional window closes 1 Jul 2026 (today). Few Portugal-AUTHORISED CASPs so far.
Quick answers
Who regulates crypto licensing in Ireland and Portugal?
Ireland: Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) - sole competent authority; runs an Innovation Hub. Known as a demanding, gatekeeper-style regulator.. Portugal: Twin-peaks: BANCO DE PORTUGAL is the CASP authorisation authority + prudential/AML supervisor (single application front door); CMVM is the conduct-of-business and market-abuse supervisor. (Corrects the seed - not CMVM-led.).
What licence do you need in Ireland compared with Portugal?
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 Portugal it is MiCA CASP authorisation implemented by Lei n.o 69/2025 (22 Dec 2025). Replaces the legacy Banco de Portugal VASP (AML) registration.. The comparison table on this page lines the two up dimension by dimension.
Where can I see the full Ireland vs Portugal 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-portugal.
Informational only, not legal advice. Every open figure carries its own verification date; verify with qualified counsel before acting.