🇲🇹 Malta vs 🇳🇱 Netherlands: crypto licensing compared
Decision context and regulator route
Malta's public MiCA CASP authorisation under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Act (Cap. 647); replaces the legacy VFA licence (VFA Act 2018) via a fast-track conversion. Malta granted one of the EU's first full CASP licences (Jan 2025). and Netherlands's public MiCA CASP Authorisation (Crypto-Asset Service Provider), granted by AFM; DNB co-assesses fitness/propriety and AML for licence holders are set out side by side. Licence type, regulator and public recent-change notes are open; the full dated and sourced comparison is included with access.
Malta: verified 2026-08-15 · Netherlands: verified 2026-08-15
| Dimension |
🇲🇹 Malta
partly open
Verified 2026-08-15
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🇳🇱 Netherlands
partly open
Verified 2026-08-15
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|---|---|---|
| Licence type | MiCA CASP authorisation under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Act (Cap. 647); replaces the legacy VFA licence (VFA Act 2018) via a fast-track conversion. Malta granted one of the EU's first full CASP licences (Jan 2025). | MiCA CASP Authorisation (Crypto-Asset Service Provider), granted by AFM; DNB co-assesses fitness/propriety and AML for licence holders |
| Regulator | Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) - single competent authority; a long-standing crypto supervisor since the 2018 VFA regime. | Autoriteit Financiële Markten (AFM) - lead conduct regulator and licensing authority; De Nederlandsche Bank (DNB) supports with prudential/AML input |
| Capital requirement | Malta capital requirement is included in the £349 pass. | Netherlands capital requirement is included in the £349 pass. |
| Timeline to authorisation | Malta timeline to authorisation is included in the £349 pass. | Netherlands timeline to authorisation is included in the £349 pass. |
| Local substance | Malta local substance is included in the £349 pass. | Netherlands local substance is included in the £349 pass. |
| Application cost | Malta application cost is included in the £349 pass. | Netherlands application cost is included in the £349 pass. |
| Ongoing cost | Malta ongoing cost is included in the £349 pass. | Netherlands ongoing cost is included in the £349 pass. |
| Passporting | Malta passporting is included in the £349 pass. | Netherlands passporting is included in the £349 pass. |
| MiCA CASPs approved | Malta mica casps approved is included in the £349 pass. | Netherlands mica casps approved is included in the £349 pass. |
| Key restrictions | Malta key restrictions is included in the £349 pass. | Netherlands key restrictions is included in the £349 pass. |
| Recent changes | First-mover: Crypto.com licensed 27 Jan 2025; ~13 CASPs now authorised (OKX, Gemini, Gate, Blockchain.com). ESMA's 10 Jul 2025 peer review criticised the MFSA's authorisation of one CASP, tightening scrutiny. Transition ends 1 Jul 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 | Malta difficulty rating is included in the £349 pass. | Netherlands difficulty rating is included in the £349 pass. |
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What changed recently
🇲🇹 Malta (verified 2026-08-15): First-mover: Crypto.com licensed 27 Jan 2025; ~13 CASPs now authorised (OKX, Gemini, Gate, Blockchain.com). ESMA's 10 Jul 2025 peer review criticised the MFSA's authorisation of one CASP, tightening scrutiny. Transition ends 1 Jul 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 Malta and Netherlands?
Malta: Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) - single competent authority; a long-standing crypto supervisor since the 2018 VFA regime.. 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 Malta compared with Netherlands?
In Malta the authorisation route is MiCA CASP authorisation under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Act (Cap. 647); replaces the legacy VFA licence (VFA Act 2018) via a fast-track conversion. Malta granted one of the EU's first full CASP licences (Jan 2025).; 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 Malta 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/malta-vs-netherlands.
Informational only, not legal advice. Every open figure carries its own verification date; verify with qualified counsel before acting.