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Czech Republic Crypto License
Serve the EU from a Czech CASP
The Czech Republic licenses crypto businesses as Crypto Asset Service Providers (CASPs) under the Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (MiCA) and the national Act on the Digitalisation of the Financial Market. The Czech National Bank (CNB) is the sole licensing authority and has held that competence since 15 February 2025.
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Contact Our ExpertsKirill Gussev advises crypto and digital asset companies on VASP and CASP licensing, MiCA authorization, and international corporate structuring at LegalBison.
Kirill Gussev
MiCA Licensing Expert at LegalBison
They made it work with LegalBison
Very proactive. Very proactive, responsive, and able to provide solutions and advice. The firm is familiar with the new industry of blockchain and cryptocurrency
Reliable Partner. We are happy to cooperate with LegalBison for more than 2 years and during this time they definitely secured a reputation of very professional and reliable partner. Great knowledge, competence and good attitude. Keep up the good work!
Best for Crypto Licenses. Best company for Crypto Licenses! Kudos to the team for making the incorporation of our company really smooth
Highly recommended! The team of LegalBison was very helpful and fast in supporting my company’s structural set up. They are undoubtedly top-level experts when it comes to licensing and registrations in the crypto and web3 industry. Highly recommend!
A perfect fit for our business. I highly recommend Legal Bison to any entrepreneur or business seeking top-notch services for their company formation. Their commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction is truly commendable.
We felt genuinely supported. LegalBison helped us navigate a space that’s often uncertain and complex, which gave us the confidence to move forward with our project.
Excels at adapting to challenges. LegalBison excels at adapting to challenges and demonstrates a perfect understanding of our business needs.
A fruitful cooperation. As a result of the fruitful cooperation with LegalBison, Yellow Card obtained a VASP registration, fast and without any legal complications.
Czech Republic crypto license at a glance
A crypto license in the Czech Republic means a CASP authorization from the CNB, and it passports into all 27 EU member states after home notification under MiCA Article 65. The CNB works in English, assesses complex models including DeFi and Web3 structures on substance, and runs one of the most active CASP queues in the Union.
The old trade-license regime ended on the same date. The transitional period closed on 1 July 2026, by which point the CNB had granted 11 authorizations from 251 assessed filings.
| Item | Status in the Czech Republic, September 2026 |
|---|---|
| Regulator for CASP | Czech National Bank (CNB), competent since 15 February 2025 |
| Governing law | Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 (MiCA), directly applicable; Act on the Digitalisation of the Financial Market (Act No. 31/2025) |
| CASP applications | Open. Filed with the CNB under MiCA Article 62 |
| Legacy trade regime | Unqualified trade, field 81 for virtual asset services. Closed to new entrants since 15 February 2025 |
| Transitional cover | Trade holders registered by 29 December 2024 who applied by 31 July 2025 could operate until the CNB decision, max 1 July 2026 |
| Queue numbers | 248 applications by February 2026 with 6 first grants on 11 February 2026; 11 authorized from 251 assessed filings by 1 July 2026 |
| Capital | EUR 50,000 to EUR 150,000 under MiCA Article 67, by service class, as an ongoing duty |
| Corporate tax | 21 percent standard CIT |
| Passporting | Out of Czechia under Article 65; into Czechia from any EU authorization |
MiCA and CASP in the Czech Republic
MiCA and CASP in the Czech Republic
The CNB became the competent authority for MiCA through the Digitalisation Act, approved by the Chamber of Deputies in December 2024 and effective in February 2025. Until that act took effect, the CNB states plainly that it was not the authority to receive MiCA applications. From 15 February 2025 it receives CASP applications under Article 62, notifications from already authorized financial institutions under Article 60, and qualifying-holding notices under Articles 83 and 84.
The transitional terms were strict and are now closed. Only traders holding the free trade in field 81 on 29 December 2024 who filed for CASP authorization by 31 July 2025 could operate until the CNB decision, and never past 1 July 2026. From August 2025, natural persons were excluded: the applicant must be a legal entity. The CNB disclosed in July 2025 that it had received 13 filings at that point with 2 discontinued. The queue then surged to 248, almost entirely at the end of July 2025, just before the cut-off.
Enforcement now bites. The CNB warned before the deadline that operating without a CASP authorization or an Article 60 notification breaches MiCA. Administrative penalties follow, with upper limits above CZK 100 million. Clients are advised to verify providers in the ESMA register and the three CNB lists: Article 62 authorized CASPs, Article 60 notified institutions, and foreign providers passporting in.
External sources: CNB competence under MiCA, CNB first six authorizations of 11 February 2026, CNB 11 authorizations by 1 July 2026, CNB authorization proceedings for crypto markets.
EU crypto market entry under MiCA
MiCA sets one Union standard for crypto market entry. Title II covers offerors of crypto assets other than asset referenced tokens (ARTs) and e-money tokens (EMTs) through notified white papers. Title III covers ART issuers. Title IV covers EMT issuers. Title V covers CASPs. That means custody, trading platform operation, exchange of crypto assets for funds or for other crypto assets, order execution, order reception and transmission, portfolio management, placement, transfer services, and advice.
Czechia adds two local nuances. Banks, investment firms, e-money institutions, and similar institutions serve as CASPs by notifying the CNB under Article 60 at least 40 working days before starting, without a full Article 62 authorization. And prudential safeguards under Article 67 are an ongoing duty, met with Common Equity Tier 1 capital or an insurance policy or comparable guarantee, with CNB-published guidance on proof, currency conversion, and maintenance.
The MiCA license overview explains the Union framework, the CASP license guide details the service classes, and the MiCA regulation tracker follows national implementation across member states.
What happened to the Czech VASP regime
The Czech Republic never ran a dedicated VASP license. Crypto activity operated as an unqualified free trade, field 81 for services connected with virtual assets, with AML duties to the Financial Analytical Office (FAU). Entry was fast and light: a trade notification, low governance, remote setup. That lightness ended on 15 February 2025, when the Digitalisation Act moved the activity into CNB authorization.
The market still searches for this history as the VASP license in the Czech Republic, the VASP license in the Czechia-adjacent queries, and the Czech Republic VASP license of the trade era. Founders using those terms should know the trade route is closed to new entrants. Only CASP authorization or Article 60 notification opens today.
The VASP license guide covers the EU-wide shift from national registers to MiCA authorization.
The CNB became the competent authority for MiCA through the Digitalisation Act, approved by the Chamber of Deputies in December 2024 and effective in February 2025. Until that act took effect, the CNB states plainly that it was not the authority to receive MiCA applications. From 15 February 2025 it receives CASP applications under Article 62, notifications from already authorized financial institutions under Article 60, and qualifying-holding notices under Articles 83 and 84.
The transitional terms were strict and are now closed. Only traders holding the free trade in field 81 on 29 December 2024 who filed for CASP authorization by 31 July 2025 could operate until the CNB decision, and never past 1 July 2026. From August 2025, natural persons were excluded: the applicant must be a legal entity. The CNB disclosed in July 2025 that it had received 13 filings at that point with 2 discontinued. The queue then surged to 248, almost entirely at the end of July 2025, just before the cut-off.
Enforcement now bites. The CNB warned before the deadline that operating without a CASP authorization or an Article 60 notification breaches MiCA. Administrative penalties follow, with upper limits above CZK 100 million. Clients are advised to verify providers in the ESMA register and the three CNB lists: Article 62 authorized CASPs, Article 60 notified institutions, and foreign providers passporting in.
External sources: CNB competence under MiCA, CNB first six authorizations of 11 February 2026, CNB 11 authorizations by 1 July 2026, CNB authorization proceedings for crypto markets.
MiCA sets one Union standard for crypto market entry. Title II covers offerors of crypto assets other than asset referenced tokens (ARTs) and e-money tokens (EMTs) through notified white papers. Title III covers ART issuers. Title IV covers EMT issuers. Title V covers CASPs. That means custody, trading platform operation, exchange of crypto assets for funds or for other crypto assets, order execution, order reception and transmission, portfolio management, placement, transfer services, and advice.
Czechia adds two local nuances. Banks, investment firms, e-money institutions, and similar institutions serve as CASPs by notifying the CNB under Article 60 at least 40 working days before starting, without a full Article 62 authorization. And prudential safeguards under Article 67 are an ongoing duty, met with Common Equity Tier 1 capital or an insurance policy or comparable guarantee, with CNB-published guidance on proof, currency conversion, and maintenance.
The MiCA license overview explains the Union framework, the CASP license guide details the service classes, and the MiCA regulation tracker follows national implementation across member states.
The Czech Republic never ran a dedicated VASP license. Crypto activity operated as an unqualified free trade, field 81 for services connected with virtual assets, with AML duties to the Financial Analytical Office (FAU). Entry was fast and light: a trade notification, low governance, remote setup. That lightness ended on 15 February 2025, when the Digitalisation Act moved the activity into CNB authorization.
The market still searches for this history as the VASP license in the Czech Republic, the VASP license in the Czechia-adjacent queries, and the Czech Republic VASP license of the trade era. Founders using those terms should know the trade route is closed to new entrants. Only CASP authorization or Article 60 notification opens today.
The VASP license guide covers the EU-wide shift from national registers to MiCA authorization.
Timeline and process
The table below shows the current CNB procedure. Clocks are statutory and can recommence when the applicant supplements the file.
End to end, instruction to grant typically runs 4 to 6 months for a complete file and 5 to 9 months where information requests stack. A pending new application gives no right to operate in the meantime.
STEP 1 OF 7
Estimated time1 to 2 weeks
Company formation
Incorporate the s.r.o. in the Commercial Register, set the legal address, prepare shareholder and director packs.
STEP 2 OF 7
Estimated time1 to 2 weeks
Substance and governance
Constitute the board, run fit-and-proper packs, secure the physical office, appoint the AML officer.
STEP 3 OF 7
Estimated time4 to 8 weeks
File preparation
Draft the program of activities, three-year projections, AML and KYC policies, DORA-mapped IT security, segregation and outsourcing procedures.
STEP 4 OF 7
Estimated time5 days
CNB acceptance and fee
The CNB confirms receipt and the administrative fee falls due.
STEP 5 OF 7
Estimated time25 working days
CNB completeness check
The CNB confirms whether the file is complete.
STEP 6 OF 7
Estimated time40 working days
CNB assessment
Substantive review with mandatory foreign-authority consultation; the clock can pause up to 20 working days for supplements.
STEP 7 OF 7
Estimated timeDays after finality
Decision and listing
Grant or refusal, applicant notice, ESMA register entry, CNB list publication.
Czech crypto license requirements
The list below follows the CNB proceedings page and MiCA Title V. It describes the live regime for a crypto license in Czechia. For the Union-level breakdown of CASP types and capital, see the MiCA license list.
| Requirement Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Legal Form | A Czech limited liability company (s.r.o.) with its registered office in Czechia. From the 1st August 2025, the applicant must be a legal entity; natural persons cannot hold the authorization. |
| Seat and Management | The seat sits in the member state where at least part of the service activity runs, effective management sits in the Union, and at least one manager resides in the Union. |
| Capital by Service Class | EUR 50,000 for advice, portfolio management, order execution, order transmission, and transfer services. EUR 125,000 for exchange and placing. EUR 150,000 for custody and administration and for operation of a trading platform. Prudential safeguards at least equal the higher of the applicable amounts at all times, proven already at filing with capital evidence or insurance documentation. |
| Fit and Proper | Suitability checks for the management body and qualifying holders of 10 percent or more, including origin of funds, under the joint EBA and ESMA guidelines. |
| Dossier | General applicant information, program of activities, governance and internal controls, and business continuity. AML and counter terrorist financing program, ICT and DORA-mapped security, client asset and fund segregation, complaints handling, and service-specific policies. All on the mandatory ESMA standard forms. |
| Language and Channel | Proceedings run under the harmonized EU forms; the CNB accepts English-language engagement, which matters for international founders. Pre-licensing consultations are no longer offered. |
| Fee | An administrative fee applies on acceptance of the filing. Legal, setup, and capital costs sit on top; prepared projects typically reach low six figures all in. |
Tax and banking in Czechia
Czech companies pay 21 percent corporate income tax as the standard rate. Confirm distribution treatment, participation relief, and any time-test relief for individual holdings with a Czech tax adviser before moving profits; rates and reliefs change by tax year.
Banking improves with authorization. Licensed CASPs sit under CNB supervision, which banks read as diligence quality. Open operating and safeguarding accounts early so capital deposit and client asset segregation never block the filing.
Your options now
Three paths cover most founders who ask about Czechia. LegalBison prepares the full Article 62 file, from s.r.o. formation through the CNB submission, and coordinates passport notifications for the markets you serve next.
| Option | Best For | Action / Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1. File for a Czech CASP | When Czechia is the long-term home | Respected supervisor, English-language process, cost base below Western Europe, and full passporting out. Budget for substance, not just paperwork. |
| 2. Passport into Czechia from another EU authorization | When speed matters or the model already fits a live regime elsewhere | Notify cross-border or branch under Article 65 and serve Czech users lawfully. |
| 3. Regularize a legacy position | If you held field 81 trade rights with no MiCA authorization | Stop new regulated activity, protect existing clients, and do not market until authorization lands. |
LegalBison runs all three from company registration in the Czech Republic through the CASP file and passport notifications. Scope the trading venue under crypto exchange licensing, or talk through the full mandate in legal services before you contact us.
Packages for the CASP License in the Czech Republic
Discover our packages to structure your CASP company in the Czech Republic:
MOST POPULAR
| Compare plans | ||
|---|---|---|
| Initial consultation with our experts | Included | Included |
| Formation of a company in the Czech Republic | Not included | Included |
| Legal address in the Czech Republic | Not included | Included |
| AML-KYC policies and procedures in-line with the CNB expectations | Not included | Included |
| Necessary legal & compliance documents | Not included | Included |
| Full legal support after licensing | Not included | Included |
| Assistance in opening a bank account | Not included | Included |
| Assistance in scoping security tokens and adjacent licenses | Not included | Included |
WHICH JURISDICTION AND LICENSE TO CHOOSE FOR YOUR PROJECT
Alternatives to a crypto license in the Czech Republic
Our team has curated the following jurisdictions as being worthy alternatives to a crypto licensed company in the Czech Republic:
SlovakiaCrypto License in Slovakia
on request
- Among the cheapest in EU
- VASP license
- Crypto-friendly country
PolandCrypto License in Poland
on request
- Top EU country for crypto
- Business friendly jurisdiction
- Formerly most popular license
AustriaCrypto License in Austria
on request
- Prestigious financial center
- Recommended for Security Tokens
- Smooth transition to MiCA
BulgariaCrypto License in Bulgaria
on request
- Low tax EU country
- Comprehensive framework
- High skilled IT workforce
GeorgiaCrypto License in Tbilisi Free Zone Georgia
on request
- Fastest crypto license in Asia
- Free Zone setup with no taxes
- Very simple requirements
British Virgin IslandsCrypto License in the British Virgin Islands
on request
- 0% Taxes
- Fast set-up
- Easy to start
BahrainCrypto License in Bahrain
on request
- MENA jurisdiction
- Business friendly
- Straightforward rulebook
Cayman IslandsCrypto License in the Cayman Islands
on request
- 0% Taxes
- Crypto-Friendly
- Minimal requirements
DubaiCrypto License in Dubai VARA
on request
- One of the best reputed license
- High range of crypto activities
- Dedicated regulator
No offers are listed for this selection.
FAQ about crypto licensing in Czech Republic
The right path forward, regardless of project stage
A MiCA license in the Czech Republic means a CASP authorization granted by the CNB under Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 and the Digitalisation Act. It allows EU-wide service through passporting under Article 65.
To obtain a CASP license in the Czech Republic, incorporate an s.r.o. with its seat and effective management in Czechia, build the MiCA Article 62 dossier with EUR 50,000 to EUR 150,000 in prudential safeguards by service class, pay the administrative fee, and file with the CNB. Expect a 25-working-day completeness check and a 40-working-day assessment. Do not operate until the grant is final.
The VASP license in the Czech Republic was the free trade in field 81 for virtual asset services, not a dedicated crypto license. That route closed to new entrants on 15 February 2025. Only CASP authorization or Article 60 notification opens today.
No. Running an exchange is a CASP service, not a separate license. Exchange of crypto assets for funds or for other crypto assets sits in Class 2 at EUR 125,000 with custody; operating the matching venue itself is a trading platform in Class 3 at EUR 150,000. Scope the venue under crypto exchange licensing.
Check the ESMA interim register of authorized CASPs, then the three CNB lists: Article 62 authorized CASPs, Article 60 notified institutions, and passported foreign providers. If the firm appears in none, it holds no Czech Republic crypto license. Treat any Czech Republic crypto license register outside the CNB or ESMA as background only.
The CNB charges an administrative fee on filing. Capital of EUR 50,000 to EUR 150,000 stays in the company as an ongoing safeguard. Legal preparation, office, staffing, audit, and systems bring the full price of a prepared project into low six figures. Contact us for a fixed quote on your service classes.
No live shortcut exists. The trade-license route is closed, and a CASP authorization is granted to an assessed legal entity after a full Article 62 review. Shells advertised with a crypto license in the Czech Republic carry no licensing rights; the buyer files and qualifies from scratch.
Separate supervisors, separate queues, separate filings. Czechia offers the CNB track with 11 grants by July 2026 and English-language process. Slovakia runs its own national track. We file in both; contact us for a fit call.
Contact Us for a Consultation about the Crypto License in the Czech Republic
Interested in registering a crypto firm in the Czech Republic? Request more information about the CASP route, the capital class that fits your model, and the timeline to a CNB grant. Our experts will guide you into designing the best possible solution for your project, with tailored advice and a quotation for your business. Contact our team to receive a free invitation to a video call, in order to assess your project and design the most efficient solution around it.