Glossary · compliance and risk
What is a CASP?
A CASP is a crypto-asset service provider: the authorised status a firm needs under MiCA to hold or move crypto-assets on behalf of other people anywhere in the EU. It is the licence, not a description.
What the authorisation actually permits, and why you should ask for the number
A CASP authorisation is granted by a national regulator and passports across the EU, so a firm authorised in one member state can serve customers in all of them without twenty-seven separate approvals.
It is granted per service. Custody, exchange, transfer, order execution and placement are separate permissions, so two firms can both be CASPs and be allowed to do different things. Asking which services a licence covers is a sharper question than asking whether a firm is licensed.
The authorisation carries real obligations: capital, governance, complaint handling, custody segregation and ongoing supervision by the regulator that granted it.
CoinGate’s is LB002323, held by UAB Decentralized and supervised by the Bank of Lithuania. It sits alongside payment institution licence LB002324. Both are public record, which is the entire point of quoting a number rather than displaying a badge.
How to check one
Three steps, about five minutes in total.
Get the number and the entity name
Both. A number without the entity, or an entity that differs from the one holding your funds, is worth a follow-up.
Frequently asked questions
Is every crypto company a CASP?
No. Firms that hold or move crypto-assets for other people in the EU need the authorisation. A software vendor that never touches funds generally does not.
Does a CASP licence cover everything?
No. It is granted per service, so check that the specific activity you need is within the firm’s scope.
What is CoinGate’s CASP number?
LB002323, held by UAB Decentralized, alongside payment institution licence LB002324.
Is a transition period the same as being authorised?
No, and the difference is worth establishing. Ask whether the authorisation is granted or pending.