# Only 16 of Top 100 Crypto Exchanges Hold EU MiCA Licenses By Riza Dagoc Canonical URL: https://www.tokenpost.com/news/regulation/44947 Published: 2026-10-30T17:29:23.000Z Updated: 2026-10-30T17:29:23.000Z Section: Regulation > The EU had about 213 licensed crypto-asset service providers when its transition period ended July 1, 2026. UK firms face an application deadline in 2027. Only 16 of the 100 largest exchanges by trading volume hold licenses under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), as UK firms prepare for a separate authorization regime in 2027. The EU had about 213 licensed crypto-asset service providers across the bloc when its MiCA transition period ended July 1, 2026. The count of 16 refers specifically to exchanges ranked by trading volume. The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) opened its application window Sept. 30, 2026. Applications close Feb. 28, 2027, ahead of the new regime’s Oct. 25, 2027, start. Firms can continue operating while applications are reviewed during the window. The FCA’s [finalized crypto rules]() set the authorization requirements. Existing registrations under the UK’s Money Laundering Regulations will not convert automatically. Firms must apply or change their existing permissions. The new framework broadens the previous regime’s focus on financial crime to include consumer protection and market integrity. Capital requirements range from £75,000 to £750,000, depending on a firm’s activities. Stablecoin issuers face a £350,000 minimum. The FCA also secured a court order on Thursday, Oct. 29, barring crypto exchange HTX from making unauthorized promotions to UK customers under existing rules. ## Links in this article - [finalized crypto rules](https://www.tokenpost.com/news/regulation/39548)