EU Crypto Company Formation — CASP Entity Setup 2026

EU Crypto Company Formation — CASP Entity Setup Guide 2026

A MiCA CASP authorization requires a legal entity incorporated in an EU member state. Without an EU company, no National Competent Authority can accept your CASP application. Our EU company formation service handles the complete incorporation process — from entity type selection and articles of incorporation through registered address provision, bank account introduction, and tax registration — so your business is ready to proceed directly to the CASP license application. We offer full incorporation support in Poland (sp. z o.o.), Estonia (OÜ), and Lithuania (UAB). Estonia and Lithuania are among the EU's most active crypto licensing jurisdictions; Poland's KNF cannot currently grant CASP authorizations directly, pending national implementing legislation, so Polish entities typically pursue CASP authorization via another EU member state and passport in. Setup is completed in 2–4 weeks from €3,000, fully remote.

Why You Need an EU Company for a CASP License

MiCA Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 establishes a clear jurisdictional requirement: any entity providing crypto-asset services professionally to clients in the European Union must hold a CASP authorization from a National Competent Authority (NCA) in an EU member state. To obtain that authorization, the applicant must be a legal entity with a registered office in the EU — a non-EU foreign company cannot apply directly for MiCA CASP status.

Beyond simple registration, MiCA regulators require genuine substance: a real business establishment, effective management located in the EU, and operational capacity in the jurisdiction of authorization. This means your EU entity must be more than a mailbox — it must have a genuine registered address, qualifying directors, and the operational infrastructure that the NCA expects to supervise.

The Local Presence Requirement in Practice

Each NCA interprets the local presence requirement slightly differently. The Bank of Lithuania, Estonia's Finantsinspektsioon, and (once operative) Poland's KNF all require at minimum:

A company incorporated under local law with a valid KRS, äriregister, or Registrų centras entry
A registered office address in the jurisdiction (virtual offices and business centers are accepted)
At least one qualifying director who passes fit and proper assessment
A locally appointed AML/Compliance Officer or MLRO for day-to-day regulatory contact
A bank account maintained with an EU-regulated financial institution

Our formation service is designed specifically to satisfy these requirements from day one — including registered address provision and guidance on director structuring that will pass regulatory scrutiny.

VASP→CASP Transition Deadlines Vary by Country

All crypto businesses currently operating in the EU under VASP registrations or national exemptions must hold a valid MiCA CASP authorization by their member state's transitional deadline. Estonia's window runs to the EU-wide maximum of 1 July 2026, but Lithuania's shorter 12-month window already closed on 30 December 2025 — Lithuanian VASPs need full CASP authorization now. If you are operating without an EU entity, the transition window may already be closing or closed. Contact us to assess your timeline.

What's Included in Our Formation Service

Our EU company formation package covers every step from initial structuring advice through to a fully operational, tax-registered entity ready for the CASP license application. The service includes:

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Entity Type Selection & Structuring Advice

Guidance on the optimal entity type and jurisdiction for your business model, ownership structure, and licensing timeline. We assess your specific situation before recommending Poland, Estonia, or Lithuania.

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Articles of Incorporation Drafting

Preparation of the constitutional documents in the local language and English, tailored for a regulated crypto-asset services business. Includes CASP-appropriate objects clause and governance provisions.

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Registered Address Provision

Provision of a registered office address at a reputable business center in Warsaw, Tallinn, or Vilnius — accepted by the local NCA for CASP authorization purposes.

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Director & Shareholder Structure Setup

Advice on director and shareholder arrangements that satisfy both local corporate law and MiCA fit and proper requirements. Includes preparation of director consent letters and shareholder resolutions.

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Bank Account Introduction

Introduction to crypto-friendly banking partners in each jurisdiction: PKO BP / mBank in Poland, LHV Pank / SEB in Estonia, Luminor / Swedbank in Lithuania. We facilitate the account opening process and prepare bank introduction documentation.

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Tax Registration (VAT, CIT)

Registration for corporate income tax (CIT) and, where applicable, VAT. Includes NIP/REGON in Poland, tax registration in Estonia and Lithuania. Sets up the company for proper regulatory and tax compliance from day one.

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Beneficial Ownership Registration

Registration of ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs) in the applicable national beneficial ownership register — a mandatory requirement in all three jurisdictions under EU AML directives.

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Initial Compliance Documentation

Preparation of initial corporate governance documents needed before the CASP license application: director CVs in regulatory format, beneficial ownership declarations, corporate structure chart, and initial AML policy outline.

EU Company Formation Process

Our formation process is designed to minimize your time and complexity while ensuring the resulting entity is fully prepared for the CASP license application that follows. From initial engagement to a fully operational, tax-registered company takes 2–4 weeks depending on jurisdiction.

Free Consultation & Jurisdiction Selection

We review your business model, ownership structure, licensing objectives, and budget. Based on this assessment we recommend the optimal EU jurisdiction and entity type. We explain the licensing pathway from formation through CASP authorization for your chosen jurisdiction. Timeline: same day — 48 hours.

KYC & Document Collection

We collect KYC documentation for all directors and beneficial owners (passports, proof of address, CVs, source of funds declarations). We prepare director consent letters, shareholder resolutions, and power of attorney where required for remote incorporation. Timeline: 3–5 business days (dependent on document availability).

Articles of Incorporation & Company Registration

We draft the articles of incorporation with appropriate objects and governance provisions, arrange notarization where required, and submit the registration application to the relevant business register (KRS in Poland, äriregister in Estonia, Registrų centras in Lithuania). Timeline: 1–2 weeks from submission.

Tax Registration & Registered Address

Upon registration confirmation, we complete tax number registration (NIP/REGON in Poland; tax code in Estonia and Lithuania), VAT registration where applicable, ZUS social security registration in Poland, and beneficial ownership register filing. We activate the registered address at our partner business centers. Timeline: 3–7 business days.

Bank Account Introduction

We prepare the bank introduction package — including company profile, business description, AML questionnaire responses, and director documentation — and introduce your entity to our banking partners. We support the account opening process through to successful activation. Timeline: 2–4 weeks (bank-dependent).

CASP License Application

With the EU entity fully operational, we proceed immediately to the CASP license application preparation. We prepare the complete regulatory submission — business plan, AML/KYC policy, DORA ICT framework, fit and proper materials, and MiCA-compliant documentation — for submission to the relevant MiCA CASP authority (the Bank of Lithuania, Estonia's Finantsinspektsioon, or, once operative, Poland's KNF). See our country license pages for jurisdiction-specific timelines.

EU Crypto Company Formation FAQ

Why do I need an EU company for a CASP license?

MiCA Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 requires that any entity providing crypto-asset services to EU clients on a professional basis must hold a CASP authorization from an EU NCA. The applicant must be a legal entity incorporated in an EU member state — a non-EU foreign company cannot apply. The entity must have a registered office, a genuine operational presence, and qualifying management in the jurisdiction of authorization. Without an EU entity, CASP authorization is not possible. See our MiCA CASP overview for the full requirements.

What entity type should I form for a crypto business?

The standard entity is a private limited company: sp. z o.o. in Poland, OÜ in Estonia, or UAB in Lithuania. These entities provide limited liability, are the accepted vehicle for regulated financial services in their jurisdictions, and have minimum share capital requirements of PLN 5,000 (~€1,200) in Poland and €2,500 in Estonia and Lithuania. Single-member variants are available in all three. We assess your specific situation to recommend the optimal jurisdiction and entity type during the free consultation.

How long does EU company formation take?

Formation timelines by jurisdiction: Estonia: 1–2 weeks (fully digital e-Business Register, e-Residency available); Lithuania: 1–3 weeks (digital Registrų centras); Poland: 2–3 weeks (KRS court register + NIP/REGON/ZUS registration). All three allow remote incorporation without traveling to the EU. The bank account introduction runs in parallel and typically takes an additional 2–4 weeks depending on the banking partner.

Do I need a local director for my EU crypto company?

None of the three primary jurisdictions require a locally resident director for incorporation. However, MiCA regulators require genuine substance — effective management in the EU and a real business establishment. In practice, this means at least one director available to the NCA, a locally appointed AML/Compliance Officer, and operational infrastructure in the jurisdiction. A non-resident director is legally permitted but substance requirements may necessitate additional local arrangements. We advise on the minimum compliant structure for each jurisdiction.

What bank account options are available for crypto companies?

Banking for EU crypto companies requires careful selection. In Poland: PKO BP, mBank, Santander (crypto-friendly options). In Estonia: LHV Pank, SEB Estonia. In Lithuania: Luminor, SEB, Swedbank Lithuania. EMIs including Revolut Business and local Lithuanian EMIs also provide payment accounts suitable for CASP applicants. We include bank introduction services in our formation package and manage the complete account opening process.

Can I form a company without traveling to the EU?

Yes. All three primary jurisdictions support fully remote incorporation. Estonia is the most digital-first — e-Residency allows complete remote company management. Lithuania and Poland allow incorporation via notarized power of attorney sent by courier or through our authorized local representative. You only need to provide identity documents, a brief form, and authorize constitutional documents. Our team handles all local registration steps on your behalf, including KRS, Registrų centras, and äriregister submissions.

From EU Company to CASP License

Company formation is step one of a two-step process. Once your EU entity is incorporated, tax-registered, and has an operational bank account, the CASP license application process begins immediately. Our team prepares the complete regulatory submission package for the NCA in your chosen jurisdiction.

CASP Application Documentation

The CASP authorization package we prepare includes: a detailed business plan with 3-year financial projections; AML/KYC policy aligned with ESMA guidance and local AML law; DORA ICT risk management framework; internal governance policies; fit and proper documentation for directors and key function holders; and, where applicable, MiCA-compliant crypto-asset whitepapers under Article 6.

Jurisdiction-Specific CASP Pathways

Poland — KNF: Poland's KNF is a large, experienced financial regulator, but it cannot currently grant CASP authorizations — its national Crypto-Assets Market Act has not been enacted. Following sp. z o.o. formation, businesses targeting Poland typically pursue CASP authorization via another EU member state's NCA and passport into Poland. See Poland CASP License.
Estonia — Finantsinspektsioon: Following OÜ formation, we prepare the CASP authorization application to Finantsinspektsioon (Estonia's FSA), the MiCA NCA — distinct from the FIU, which handled the earlier VASP registration regime. Timeline: 2–4 months. See Estonia CASP License.
Lithuania — Bank of Lithuania: Following UAB formation, we prepare the CASP authorization application to the Bank of Lithuania, the MiCA NCA — distinct from FCIS, which handled the earlier VASP registration regime. Lithuania has 1,000+ licensed VASPs and is the EU's most active crypto licensing jurisdiction. Timeline: 2–4 months. See Lithuania CASP License.

Contact us to discuss your formation and licensing timeline in detail. Our specialists will provide a jurisdiction-specific assessment within one business day.