Founded 1998
Licensed provider specialising in
fintech licensing and compliance
A MiCA licence from Finantsinspektsioon, the Estonian financial supervisor, lets your company provide crypto-asset services across the EU/EEA.The old FIU crypto licences have lapsed: crypto businesses in Estonia now need full MiCA authorisation.
Overview
Finantsinspektsioon, the Estonian Financial Supervision and Resolution Authority, authorises crypto-asset service providers under the EU MiCA Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 and the Estonian Crypto-asset Market Act (Krüptovaraturu seadus). The licences issued by the Financial Intelligence Unit under the old regime lapsed on 1 July 2026 at the latest, so crypto-asset services now require a MiCA licence.
An Estonian authorisation covers your crypto-asset services across the EU/EEA by notification
Finantsinspektsioon is the competent authority for MiCA and supervises licensed CASPs
Filed online through Finantsinspektsioon’s portal, with supporting documents in English
The licence is held by an Estonian OÜ or AS, which we can set up for you as part of the project
The licence has no end date; it stays valid as long as the company meets the requirements
Plan about 6 to 10 months from preparation to licence, depending on scope and readiness
Estonian law adds clear local rules to MiCA: a registered office in Estonia, a management board of at least two members and an AML compliance officer who works permanently in Estonia, approved by the Financial Intelligence Unit. Finantsinspektsioon also expects real local presence, with management board members in Estonia. We prepare the application, set up the company, its governance and AML framework, and file it with Finantsinspektsioon. Licence, company and compliance come from one team.
Coverage
Estonian crypto firms range from former FIU licence holders to new projects. Your services decide the MiCA class, and the class decides the capital your OÜ or AS keeps.
You need: a new legal basis after the FIU licences lapsed, with as short a break in operations as possible.
Estonia gives you: a Finantsinspektsioon licence matched to your current services, built on the AML set-up you already run.
You need: to move crypto-assets between addresses for clients, place them for issuers or pass on client orders.
Estonia gives you: a Class 1 authorisation backed by €50,000, covering these services for clients across the EU.
You need: to swap crypto against euro and hold your users’ private keys or assets for them.
Estonia gives you: a Class 2 authorisation backed by €125,000; as an OÜ you add a supervisory board of three for custody.
You need: a multilateral venue where users trade crypto-assets with each other.
Estonia gives you: a Class 3 authorisation backed by €150,000, with the governance expected of a trading venue.
Own funds for an Estonian CASP follow MiCA, with no local top-up. Keep the class minimum below, or a quarter of last year’s fixed overheads when that is more.
Estonia combines a fully online application with clear, written local rules. You know exactly which people and structures the supervisor expects before you file.
Applications go through Finantsinspektsioon’s online portal, and supporting documents can be in English if you declare it.
The Crypto-asset Market Act sets the company form, board size and governance, so the structure is clear from the start.
Receipt confirmed within 5 working days, completeness checked within 25 and a decision within 40 working days of a complete file.
Finantsinspektsioon forwards your passport notification to the host states, with no state fee for the notification.
Pricing
Three ways to work with us on an Estonian licence. Gold confirms Estonia and your class, Platinum delivers the filed application, and Custom adds the people and office Finantsinspektsioon expects to see in Tallinn.
Gold
€15,000fixed fee, credited towards Platinum
We review your plans against MiCA and the Crypto-asset Market Act and tell you which class, board and AML officer set-up Finantsinspektsioon will expect.
Platinum
From €80,000
Your Estonian file, written in Estonian on the ESMA templates with Finantsinspektsioon’s fit-and-proper forms, and filed through its online portal.
Custom
From €150,000
Everything to run the CASP in Tallinn: the AML compliance officer and board members, an office, bank introductions and AML outsourcing after the licence.
* Indicative prices, excluding VAT and subject to final confirmation; the Platinum and Custom quote follows your class and the services in scope. Not included: own funds, registering the Estonian company, the €3,000 state fee for the application and the annual supervision fee set by Finantsinspektsioon.
Timeline
Most Estonian projects need 6 to 10 months from the first workshop to the licence. Finantsinspektsioon works to the MiCA deadlines; each round of questions adds time, so the quality of the first filing matters most.
Put the people and documents in place.
Choose the class, register the OÜ or AS, appoint the board and AML officer, fund the company and write the business, AML, IT and wind‑down documents.
~2 to 4months
Estonian law: The AML compliance officer must work permanently in Estonia, and the FIU must agree to the appointment.
Key documents
Written for how you will operate.
The file goes in through the portal.
The Estonian application goes in through the FI portal with the €3,000 state fee; receipt is confirmed in 5 working days and completeness checked within 25.
~1 to 2months
Language: The application is in Estonian; supporting documents can be in English if the application says so.
Checked first
Completeness comes before content.
Finantsinspektsioon looks at the substance.
The people, owners, own funds, governance, AML controls, IT security and custody are reviewed, with a decision within 40 working days of a complete file.
~2 to 4months
In practice: Requests for information stop the clock for up to 20 working days, so most decisions take longer than the legal minimum.
Typical questions
Where reviews usually focus.
Operate from Estonia, serve the EU.
Start services in Estonia and send Finantsinspektsioon the list of EU/EEA host countries you will serve.
~6 to 10months total
Passporting note: Services in a host state can start by the 15th calendar day after notifying; there is no state fee for the notification.
Ongoing duties
Supervision continues after the licence.
* Our estimate from the first workshop to the licence. The legal deadlines start once the file is complete, and each information request adds time.
Process
Step 1
We sort your services into the MiCA classes and check whether your OÜ will need a supervisory board.
Step 2
We register the company in Estonia, appoint a board of at least two and line up the AML compliance officer.
Step 3
We file the Estonian application and annexes through Finantsinspektsioon’s portal and pay the state fee.
Step 4
After the decision we notify your host countries and keep AML, the Travel Rule and reporting running.
Requirements
Finantsinspektsioon applies MiCA plus Estonia’s own company and AML rules. It looks at who runs the company, where it is run from and how money laundering risks are controlled.
The CASP is an Estonian OÜ or AS with its registered office in Estonia, effective management in the EU and at least one director resident in the EU.
Filed online on the ESMA templates, with Finantsinspektsioon’s fit-and-proper form for each manager:
The application is in Estonian; supporting documents can be in English if declared.
The MiCA minimum for the class, or a quarter of last year’s fixed overheads if higher:
CASPs are obliged entities under the Estonian Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Prevention Act.
FAQ
Finantsinspektsioon, the Estonian Financial Supervision and Resolution Authority, under the Crypto-asset Market Act. It also supervises licensed CASPs.
No. Licences issued by the Financial Intelligence Unit lapsed when Finantsinspektsioon granted a MiCA licence, or on 1 July 2026 at the latest. Crypto-asset services in Estonia now need a MiCA licence.
A full application with us starts from €80,000 (Platinum), and a Gold readiness audit from €15,000. Not included: the €3,000 state fee, your own funds (€50,000 to €150,000), the Estonian company and the annual supervision fee. Contact us for a detailed estimate.
Count on roughly 6 to 10 months from the start of preparation. Once filed, Finantsinspektsioon has 5 working days to confirm receipt, 25 to check completeness and 40 to decide on a complete file; its questions pause the count.
From €50,000 (Class 1) through €125,000 (Class 2) to €150,000 (Class 3), or a quarter of the previous year’s fixed overheads where that is more. Estonia adds nothing on top of MiCA.
The application itself is in Estonian, and supporting documents can be in English if the application says so. We prepare the Estonian text with you.
Yes. Finantsinspektsioon expects real local presence, with management board members in Estonia. By law the AML compliance officer must work permanently in Estonia and be approved by the Financial Intelligence Unit, and the registered office must be in Estonia. We can set up the Estonian company and source the people.
An Estonian private limited company (OÜ) or public limited company (AS), with a management board of at least two. An OÜ that provides custody or runs a trading platform also needs a supervisory board of at least three.
The licence has no end date, but it cannot be transferred to another company. If the business is sold, the shares change hands and qualifying holdings need Finantsinspektsioon’s approval under MiCA.
Yes. Notify Finantsinspektsioon of the EU/EEA countries where you plan to operate; it forwards the notification, and you may start there no later than the 15th calendar day after you notified. There is no state fee for the notification.
Yes, but an Estonian CASP needs a separate permission from Finantsinspektsioon to provide crypto-asset services outside the European Economic Area.
Yes. Your Estonian CASP stays responsible, and we support it with an outsourced compliance officer or MLRO, an AML team for KYC and monitoring, reporting to Finantsinspektsioon and DORA work on IT risk. See all compliance services.
Contact
Tell us about your project and receive a tailored proposal with indicative timelines and a budget from our legal and compliance team.
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