CASP License in Lithuania

The Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) introduces a unified regulatory framework for crypto-assets across the European Union (EU), promoting legal certainty, investor protection, and market stability.

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In Lithuania, the Bank of Lithuania is responsible for supervising the issuance of CASP licenses under MiCA. This ensures full compliance with EU regulatory requirements. A CASP license obtained in Lithuania provides a solid legal foundation for conducting business throughout the European Union. In addition, it helps strengthen trust among banks and business partners.

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About the Service

One of the core requirements under MiCA is obtaining a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) license, mandatory for businesses offering crypto asset services. This licensing ensures compliance with strict standards on governance, security, and anti-money laundering (AML), enabling licensed CASPs to operate seamlessly across all EU member states. Whether you are an emerging startup or an established operator, obtaining a CASP license is essential to access the EU’s vast and dynamic market for digital assets.

In Lithuania, the Bank of Lithuania is the competent authority responsible for supervising CASP licensing under MiCA. Companies that already provide or intend to provide crypto-asset services in Lithuania must comply with both local implementation requirements and the EU-wide provisions of MiCA.Our company possesses in-depth knowledge of Lithuanian legislation, ensuring that your compliance efforts are both efficient and effective.We will help your business meet regulatory requirements and unlock the potential of the EU crypto-asset market.

Key Numbers about a CASP License in Lithuania

3-4 months Statutory review

Average term of obtaining CASP license after application submission

Minimum Number of Directors

Minimum number of directors for a compliant CASP structure.

Up to €150k Share capital

Capital requirements depend on the business model.

From 20 to 32% Personal tax

Applicable personal income tax range in Lithuania.

16% Corporate tax

Standard corporate income tax rate.

15% Capital gains tax

Tax rate applied to investment income.

by notification date:

Robinhood Europe UAB — May 29, 2025
(the first Lithuanian CASP licence; the Bank of Lithuania confirms it became valid from 2025-05-29 on its market participant card)
UAB BLUE EMI LT — May 13, 2025
(an e-money institution notifying under Article 60 MiCA)
Newrails, UAB — November 14, 2025
UAB Decentralized (Coingate) — December 16, 2025
Nuvei Liquidity UAB (Simplex) — December 16, 2025
UAB Micar assets (Myriad Capital) — February 26, 2026

Compare that with the pre-MiCA market. Lithuania had 324 registered crypto companies in 2024, down from roughly 850 at the 2022 peak, yet only 102 MiCA licence applications were filed in 2025, submitted by 55 companies, and 30% of those applications arrived in the last-minute rush of October and November (Fintech Baltic on the post-MiCA contraction).

At the time of the first licence, 29 firms had applications in and only 10 were under active review (The Paypers on the Robinhood licence). The Bank of Lithuania has not published an official count of VASPs that failed to transition, but the gap between 324 registered companies in 2024 and 6 authorizations by August 2026 speaks for itself.

What this means for applicants is that the regulator reads files closely and incomplete applications stall. A well-prepared dossier is the difference between the statutory timeline and an open-ended back-and-forth.

Legal Opinion about a CASP License in Lithuania

“Obtaining a CASP license in Lithuania is essential for businesses offering crypto-asset services. Applicants must meet requirements, including robust AML/CFT compliance, a formal governance structure, and sufficient operational capital. Once licensed, CASPs must adhere to ongoing reporting obligations and maintain compliance with Lithuanian and EU regulations. A CASP license enhances credibility and provides access to the EU market under a clear regulatory framework”.

Types of Activities with a CASP License in Lithuania

Providing custody and administration of crypto-assets on behalf of clients
This service means safekeeping or controlling, on behalf of third parties, crypto-assets or the means of access to such crypto-assets, where applicable in the form of private cryptographic keys. Holdings of crypto-assets on behalf of the clients shall be segregated from CASP’s holdings.
Operation of a trading platform for crypto-assets
This service contains of the management of one or more multilateral systems, which brings together or facilitates the bringing together of multiple third-party buying and selling interests for crypto-assets – in the system and in accordance with its rules – in a way that results in a contract, either by exchanging one crypto-asset for another, or a crypto-asset for funds.
Exchange of crypto-assets for funds
This service means the conclusion of purchase or sale contracts concerning crypto-assets with clients for funds by using proprietary capital.
Exchange of crypto-assets for other crypto-assets
This service means the conclusion of purchase or sale contracts concerning crypto-assets with clients for other crypto-assets by using proprietary capital.
Execution of orders for crypto-assets on behalf of clients
This service means concluding agreements to buy or to sell one or more crypto-assets or to subscribe for one or more crypto-assets on behalf of third parties and includes the conclusion of agreements to sell crypto-assets at the moment of their issuance.
Placing of crypto-assets
This service includes the marketing, on behalf of or for the account of the offeror or of a party related to the offeror, of crypto-assets to purchasers. Before placing the crypto-assets a CASP shall obtain the agreement of the issuers or any third party acting on their behalf.
Reception and transmission of orders for crypto-assets on behalf of clients
This service means the reception from a person of an order to buy or to sell one or more crypto-assets or to subscribe for one or more crypto-assets and the transmission of that order to a third party for execution.
Providing advice on crypto-assets
This service means offering, giving or agreeing to give personalized recommendations to a third party, either at the third party’s request or on the initiative of the a CASP providing the advice, in respect of one or more transactions relating to crypto-assets, or the use of crypto-asset services.
Providing portfolio management on crypto-assets
This service includes managing portfolios in accordance with mandates given by clients on a discretionary client-by-client basis where such portfolios include one or more crypto-assets.
Providing transfer services for crypto-assets on behalf of clients
This service means transfer, on behalf of a natural or legal person, crypto-assets from one distributed ledger address or account to another. Such service may be provided without virtual currency wallet opened for a CASP’s client.

Benefits of Obtaining a CASP License in Lithuania

Seamless cross-border operations within the EU
- A CASP license in Lithuania provides a strong foundation for passporting services across the European Economic Area (EEA).
- Adherence to EU compliance standards simplifies regulatory approvals in other member states.
Improved customer acquisition and retention
- A licensed status reassures clients about security, AML compliance, and fraud prevention.
- Investors and users prefer platforms that operate within a regulated framework, leading to higher conversion rates.
Access to a regulated and transparent market
- Compliance with Lithuanian and European financial regulations helps build investor confidence.
- Compliance with Bank of Lithuania requirements ensures the transparency and security of operational activities.
Enhanced institutional trust and banking access
- Legitimacy under Lithuanian and EU financial regulations enhances trust among investors.
- Compliance with Bank of Lithuania requirements ensures operational transparency and security.
Opportunities for institutional funding and partnerships
- Licensed companies find it easier to open and maintain bank accounts in Lithuania and across Europe.
- Regulatory recognition reduces the likelihood of banks classifying transactions as high-risk, improving financial operations.
Legal protection against regulatory uncertainty
- A clear regulatory framework protects businesses from abrupt legal changes and market restrictions.
- Companies with a CASP license face lower risks of operational shutdowns due to non-compliance.

Step by Step Description

We support crypto businesses at every stage of obtaining a CASP license in Lithuania — from incorporation and documentation to regulatory submission and licensing assistance.

Step 1

Incorporation stage

Company formation in Lithuania
Provision of a registered address for 1 year
Opening corporate bank account and transferring the share capital
Appointment and employment of a local director
Detailed company structure documentation

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Step 2

Pre-licensing stage

Preparation and submission legal and financial documents (non-exhaustive list) according to MiCA
Review of existing policies and procedures, if the company already has them

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Step 3

Licensing stage

CASP license application assistance
Conducting communication with the BoL during the license process

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Our Experts in This Area

Yuliia Kravchenko

Head of Licensing & Advisory

Timeline description

The statutory review clock is defined by MiCA and applied by the Bank of Lithuania as follows (Bank of Lithuania, CASP authorisation page):

Preparation and incorporation

Lithuanian UAB set-up or adaptation, capital placement, governance, AML/CTF framework, policies, and the application pack under the Bank of Lithuania licensing rules (published in English with 7 annexes on the same page). This phase depends on you, not the regulator. In our practice it is where most of the calendar time is won or lost.

Substantive assessment, 40 working days

From the date the application is deemed complete, the Bank of Lithuania has 40 working days to assess compliance with Title V of MiCA.

Decision and passporting

Once authorized, the CASP is notified to ESMA, appears in the EU-wide register, and can passport services across all member states.

Completeness check, 25 working days

The regulator assesses within 25 working days of receipt whether the application is complete. Missing documents restart this stage.

Possible clock-stop, up to 20 working days

The regulator may request additional information no later than the 20th working day of the assessment period, and the resulting suspension may not exceed 20 working days.

Licensing, Tax Setup, and Compliance

Completion of all required approvals, tax registration setup, and establishment of a compliance framework to support ongoing operations, reporting, and long-term stability.

Adding the statutory periods together, a clean application faces 65 to 85 working days of regulatory review, roughly 3 to 4 months, on top of your own preparation time. That is why quoted end-to-end timelines of 3 to 6 months are realistic, while «3 months total» is only achievable with a fully prepared file and no clock-stops. The state application fee is set by Bank of Lithuania Resolution No 1458 (published in Lithuanian only, referenced on the authorisation page); confirm the current amount with us before budgeting.

Regulation

MiCA applies directly in Lithuania and is supplemented by regulatory provisions adopted by the Bank of Lithuania.It defines the supervisory powers of the Bank of Lithuania, including the authority to issue directives, suspend the provision of services, and enforce compliance with CASP requirements. In addition, the legislation establishes administrative sanctions, reporting obligations, and procedural rules aimed at ensuring compliance with supervisory standards and EU regulatory requirements.

Licensing Authority

The Bank of Lithuania is the competent authority responsible for the supervision and licensing of Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs) in Lithuania. The Bank of Lithuania ensures that entities comply with the requirements of both MiCA and the applicable national legislation. It provides regulatory guidance, monitors compliance with regulatory requirements, and is empowered to grant or revoke licenses for crypto-asset service providers operating in Lithuania.

Procedure, timelines, fees:

Following the full application of MiCA after 30 December 2024, the Bank of Lithuania assesses within 25 working days whether the application includes all required information, without evaluating its quality at this stage. If information is missing, the applicant may be asked to supplement it within a set deadline. Once the missing information, if any, is provided, the Bank of Lithuania then has 40 working days to conduct a qualitative assessment. During the qualitative assessment period, the Bank of Lithuania may request additional clarifications; however, only the first such request can suspend the 40 working day period for up to 20 working days. Finally, the authorisation procedure is subject to a fee under the applicable Lithuanian administrative fees, and if the application is approved, additional fees imposed by the Lithuanian competent authorities may apply.

Transition Period

Is the VASP transition period in Lithuania still open?
No. The transition period for Lithuanian VASPs ended on January 1, 2026. The Lithuanian Parliament (Seimas) extended the original five-month window, which had required companies to file by June 1, 2025, and set the final adaptation deadline at January 1, 2026 (Adam Smith Baltic on the Seimas extension). That deadline has passed. A legacy VASP registration no longer permits crypto-asset services in Lithuania, and the Financial Crime Investigation Service (FNTT) has published wind-down guidance for VASPs that did not obtain authorization (Bank of Lithuania, CASP authorisation page). The only route into the market that a **crypto license Lithuania** framework offers today is full CASP authorization under MiCA, whether you are a new entrant or a former VASP re-entering the market.
The practical consequence is simple. There is no grace period left to rely on. If your company served Lithuanian or EU clients under a VASP registration and did not complete authorization, continuing to operate is a compliance breach, not a grey area.

Requirements for key persons

Capital Requirements

Documentation Requirements

Corporate Income Tax (CIT)

The standard corporate income tax rate in Lithuania is 16%.As a general rule, companies in Lithuania are subject to corporate income tax on their worldwide income if they are tax residents of Lithuania.Corporate income tax returns are generally filed electronically through the Lithuanian tax authorities' online system.In Lithuania, the taxation of crypto-assets depends on the nature of the activity and the applicable Lithuanian tax rules.

Capital Gains Tax (CGT)

Capital gains derived from crypto-assets by individuals in Lithuania are generally taxed at a rate of 15%.Taxation typically applies when crypto-assets are converted into fiat currency or used in transactions subject to taxation.

Personal Income Tax (PIT)

All individuals who are tax residents of Lithuania are generally subject to Lithuanian personal income tax on their worldwide income. Non-residents may also be subject to tax on certain income derived from sources in Lithuania.In Lithuania, personal income tax rates generally range from 20% to 32%, depending on the type and amount of income.Depending on the taxpayer's status, additional social security contributions may also apply.

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Clients Confirm Our Quality

“Thank you for your expertise and patience!”

Before signing the contract, we made six rounds of negotiations, because my client had a lot of questions that concerned the technical infrastructure, the board creation, and the formation of the authorized capital. We got the most complete picture, which allowed us to choose this provider. Thank you for your expertise and patience!

“It is the comprehensive approach that they use and the willingness to help with any issue”

During the preparation of documents for MiCA, Manimama advised us on labor, administrative, and corporate law. Usually, providers do not do this, strictly limiting the list of works that they do under the contract. It is the comprehensive approach that they use and the willingness to help with any issue that arises along the way that attracts us as a client.

How does Lithuania compare with other CASP hubs?

Lithuania is a deliberately selective jurisdiction: 6 CASP authorizations against Germany's 73, France's 35, the Netherlands' 29, Cyprus's 26 and Malta's 22 (ESMA MiCA register). That scarcity cuts both ways, tougher scrutiny at the gate but a licence that carries weight across the EU once granted. If you are weighing Lithuania against Poland or another entry point, see our full comparison of crypto license jurisdictions and the MiCA hub.

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FAQ

Mandatory authorization by Bank of Lithuania enabling EU-wide services

Bank of Lithuania (Lietuvos bankas)

Custody, exchange, trading, execution, placement, advice, portfolio management, transfers

Local UAB, €50k–€150k capital, physical office, AML officer, fit & proper, compliance framework

Yes, physical office required

€50k–€150k depending on class

Preparation, incorporation, documentation, submission, review, approval

3–6 months

~€2.4k application, €50k–€150k capital, €8.5k–€25k services, ongoing costs

Management ensures fit & proper, governance, AML/CFT, EU residency

Limited to legal entities

No. The transitional period ended on January 1, 2026, after the Seimas extended the original deadline (Adam Smith Baltic). Any firm providing crypto-asset services in Lithuania today needs full CASP authorization under MiCA. Former VASPs that missed the window must either wind down under FNTT guidance or apply for the licence from scratch

Six, according to the ESMA interim MiCA register updated August 12, 2026: Robinhood Europe, BLUE EMI LT, Newrails, Coingate, Nuvei Liquidity (Simplex) and Micar assets (ESMA register). That is 6 out of 329 CASP authorizations EU-wide, which makes Lithuania one of the most selective MiCA jurisdictions by volume.

The statutory review is 25 working days for the completeness check plus 40 working days of assessment, with a possible clock-stop of up to 20 working days for additional information (Bank of Lithuania). That is roughly 3 to 4 months of regulatory time. Add your own preparation phase and 3 to 6 months end to end is a realistic plan.

It depends on the service class under Article 67 and Annex IV of MiCA: €50,000 for Class 1, €125,000 for Class 2 (custody and exchange), and €150,000 for Class 3 (trading platform operation) (Regulation (EU) 2023/1114). The requirement is the higher of the fixed minimum or a quarter of the previous year's fixed overheads.

An address alone will not pass. MiCA, as applied by the Bank of Lithuania, requires a registered office in the member state where part of the services are carried out, effective management located in the EU, and at least one EU-resident director (Bank of Lithuania). Staff must also meet the qualification requirements of Resolution No 2025/03-162.