🇮🇪 Ireland vs 🇪🇸 Spain: crypto licensing compared
Decision context and regulator route
Ireland and Spain 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 Spain it is the MiCA CASP Authorisation granted by the Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV); Banco de España separately supervises stablecoin (ART/EMT) issuance under Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV) - lead CASP authority; Banco de España co-supervises stablecoin issuers. The public licence and regulator fields below are open to everyone; the complete sourced comparison is included with access.
Ireland: verified 2026-08-15 · Spain: verified 2026-08-15
| Dimension |
🇮🇪 Ireland
partly open
Verified 2026-08-15
|
🇪🇸 Spain
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 granted by the Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV); Banco de España separately supervises stablecoin (ART/EMT) issuance |
| Regulator | Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) - sole competent authority; runs an Innovation Hub. Known as a demanding, gatekeeper-style regulator. | Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV) - lead CASP authority; Banco de España co-supervises stablecoin issuers |
| Capital requirement | Ireland capital requirement is included in the £349 pass. | Spain capital requirement is included in the £349 pass. |
| Timeline to authorisation | Ireland timeline to authorisation is included in the £349 pass. | Spain timeline to authorisation is included in the £349 pass. |
| Local substance | Ireland local substance is included in the £349 pass. | Spain local substance is included in the £349 pass. |
| Application cost | Ireland application cost is included in the £349 pass. | Spain application cost is included in the £349 pass. |
| Ongoing cost | Ireland ongoing cost is included in the £349 pass. | Spain ongoing cost is included in the £349 pass. |
| Passporting | Ireland passporting is included in the £349 pass. | Spain passporting is included in the £349 pass. |
| MiCA CASPs approved | Ireland mica casps approved is included in the £349 pass. | Spain mica casps approved is included in the £349 pass. |
| Key restrictions | Ireland key restrictions is included in the £349 pass. | Spain 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. | The CNMV's own register shows a bank-led adoption pattern: home-authorised providers include BBVA, CaixaBank, Cecabank, Kutxabank, Open Bank and Renta 4 alongside fintechs such as Bit2Me, Criptan Trade and Crossmint Europe, 10 in total by late Jun 2026. CNMV published updated MiCA Q&A guidance in Dec 2025 ahead of full application from 1 Jul 2026. |
| Difficulty rating | Ireland difficulty rating is included in the £349 pass. | Spain difficulty rating is included in the £349 pass. |
Unlock the pass to see each gated 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.
🇪🇸 Spain (verified 2026-08-15): The CNMV's own register shows a bank-led adoption pattern: home-authorised providers include BBVA, CaixaBank, Cecabank, Kutxabank, Open Bank and Renta 4 alongside fintechs such as Bit2Me, Criptan Trade and Crossmint Europe, 10 in total by late Jun 2026. CNMV published updated MiCA Q&A guidance in Dec 2025 ahead of full application from 1 Jul 2026.
Quick answers
Who regulates crypto licensing in Ireland and Spain?
Ireland: Central Bank of Ireland (CBI) - sole competent authority; runs an Innovation Hub. Known as a demanding, gatekeeper-style regulator.. Spain: Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV) - lead CASP authority; Banco de España co-supervises stablecoin issuers.
What licence do you need in Ireland compared with Spain?
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 Spain it is MiCA CASP Authorisation granted by the Comisión Nacional del Mercado de Valores (CNMV); Banco de España separately supervises stablecoin (ART/EMT) issuance. The comparison table on this page lines the two up dimension by dimension.
Where can I see the full Ireland vs Spain 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-spain.
Informational only, not legal advice. Every open figure carries its own verification date; verify with qualified counsel before acting.