Italy Sets Hard MiCA Deadline for Crypto Platforms to Comply

This strict deadline affects all crypto platforms currently working in Italy under the old system. The move shows how serious Italy is about following the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA).

The December Deadline Explained

Under Italy’s current system, crypto companies only need to register with OAM, the national agents and brokers registry. But this simple registration will stop working on December 30, 2025.

Companies have two choices. They can apply to become licensed Crypto Asset Service Providers (CASPs) under MiCA rules, or they must close down and return all customer money and crypto.

CONSOB made it clear that Virtual Asset Service Providers can only keep operating until the deadline if they stay registered with OAM. After that date, only companies with proper MiCA licenses can serve Italian customers.

Source: consob.it

Companies that apply for licenses by the deadline get some extra time. They can keep running their business while regulators review their applications. But this grace period ends by June 30, 2026, no matter what happens with their application.

What Happens to Non-Compliant Companies

Companies that don’t want to get MiCA licenses face strict rules. They must stop all activities in Italy by December 30, 2025. This includes:

• Ending all customer contracts

• Returning crypto assets and money to customers

• Stopping custody and management services

• Posting clear notices on their websites about their plans

CONSOB wants these companies to tell customers directly about what they plan to do. They must explain if they’re getting a license or closing down completely.

The regulator has been preparing companies for this change. They sent out guidance in September 2024 and updated it in July 2025. They even sent special warnings in October 2025 to companies that hadn’t started the licensing process.

Why Italy Is Taking This Approach

Italy is using flexibility built into MiCA rules to create its own timeline. The European regulation normally gives countries up to 18 months for the transition. But Italy decided to make the process shorter and clearer.

This approach aims to clean up Italy’s crypto market faster. Instead of having a messy transition period, Italy wants to know quickly which companies will stay and which will leave.

The country’s financial authorities will split supervision duties under the new system. CONSOB will handle market conduct and integrity issues. The Bank of Italy will manage money laundering prevention and financial stability concerns.

Impact Across the EU

Italy’s strict approach stands out across Europe. Different EU countries have chosen different transition periods, ranging from five to 18 months. This creates confusion for crypto companies working in multiple countries.

For example, a company might get 12 months to comply in one country but only six months in another. This forces companies to follow the strictest timeline if they want to serve customers across Europe.

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has warned about these timing differences. They told companies to plan carefully and apply for licenses as early as possible to avoid service disruptions.

Some major crypto exchanges have already started adapting. Companies like Binance and others face similar deadlines across different European countries.

Market Pressure and Company Response

The deadline puts different types of companies under different amounts of pressure. Large global exchanges that already serve Italy through EU licenses from other countries are better prepared.

Smaller and medium-sized companies face harder choices. Many used Italy’s simple registration system as an easy way to enter the European market. Now they must invest heavily in compliance systems or leave the market entirely.

The new rules require much more than basic registration. Companies need proper authorization from regulators, ongoing supervision, detailed compliance programs, and significant capital requirements.

Industry experts expect some companies will choose to exit rather than spend money on compliance. This could lead to market consolidation, with only well-funded companies surviving the transition.

What Investors Need to Know

CONSOB has given clear advice to crypto investors in Italy. They should check if their chosen platforms have shared plans for MiCA compliance. If a platform hasn’t communicated its plans, investors should ask for clarification or consider moving their funds.

After December 30, 2025, investors can verify a company’s status in two ways. They can check the OAM list for companies still in transition or look at ESMA’s register of fully licensed providers.

Companies without proper authorization cannot legally offer crypto services to Italian customers. Investors have the right to get their money and crypto back from unlicensed companies.

The Road to Regulatory Clarity

Italy’s firm timeline reflects broader European efforts to create clear crypto rules. The EU designed MiCA to replace the current patchwork of different national regulations with unified standards across all 27 member countries.

The regulation covers many aspects of crypto business, including trading platforms, wallet services, and stablecoin issuers. It aims to protect consumers while providing legal certainty for legitimate businesses.

This transition represents one of the biggest changes in European crypto regulation. Companies that survive the process will operate in a clearer regulatory environment with consistent rules across Europe.

Italy’s December 2025 deadline marks a turning point for European crypto regulation. The country has chosen clarity over flexibility, forcing immediate decisions rather than prolonged uncertainty. This approach will likely determine the shape of Italy’s crypto market for years to come, with only the most committed and well-resourced companies making the transition to full MiCA compliance.