BNY Mellon's Belgian Unit, BitPay Join 15 New CASPs on ESMA MiCA Register

BNY Mellon's Belgian unit and crypto payments firm BitPay were among 15 new crypto-asset service providers added to the European Securities and Markets Authority's MiCA register, extending the roster of firms authorised to operate under the EU's crypto framework.

TLDR KEYPOINTS

• ESMA added 15 new CASPs to its MiCA register in the latest update.
• BNY Mellon's Belgian unit and BitPay are the standout names in the batch.
• The mix of a major bank and a crypto-native payments firm signals broadening MiCA participation.

Fifteen New CASPs Join ESMA's MiCA Register

The additions were reflected in the ESMA MiCA register, the EU-wide list of firms authorised to provide crypto-asset services under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation. For related coverage, see Bitcoin ETFs See 3,824 BTC 1-Day Net Outflow Worth $246.68M.

The batch of 15 new entries was reported by FinanceFeeds, which identified BNY Mellon's Belgian unit and BitPay among the newly listed providers. For related coverage, see Strategy Sold 5.43M MSTR Shares for $544.5M.

BitPay confirmed its own authorisation in a company post stating it is MiCA authorised in Europe, aligning its payments business with the bloc's licensing regime. For related coverage, see BitMart Shutdown: Exchange Says Withdrawals Will Remain Available.

Why These MiCA Register Additions Matter

Inclusion on the register is the market-access signal industry watchers track, because it marks the point at which a firm can passport crypto services across EU member states under a single authorisation.

The presence of BNY Mellon's Belgian operation is notable because it places a large traditional custody bank alongside crypto-native firms on the same register, rather than a routine refresh of smaller providers.

BitPay's entry broadens that picture from the payments side, pairing an established crypto processor with an institutional name in a single update. That combination is why this batch reads as more than list maintenance.

The regulated buildout also runs parallel to institutional flows elsewhere in the market, such as the recent movement of $271 million by BlackRock ETF wallets to Coinbase Prime, underscoring how established finance is deepening its crypto footprint.

What to Watch After the Latest ESMA Register Update

The register functions as a recurring signal, so future additions are the clearest place to gauge how quickly firms clear MiCA authorisation. Watch points include:

• Subsequent batches of CASP additions and how large institutions feature in them.
• Competitive positioning between traditional finance entrants and crypto-native providers.
• The pace of institutional participation as more banks pursue passportable authorisations.

That institutional angle mirrors moves on trading venues too, including exchange listings such as Upbit's plan to list GEOD across KRW, BTC and USDT markets, where market structure keeps shifting alongside the regulatory one.

For now, the update stands as a concrete data point: 15 more names, two of them prominent, are cleared to operate under MiCA.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making decisions.