Austria
Overview
The Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) is the sole CASP supervisor. MiCA is implemented through the MiCA Enforcement Act (MiCA-VVG), which gives the FMA authorisation, supervision and enforcement powers. Austria shortened the national transition: providers had to be authorised, or cease, by 31 December 2025 — six months earlier than the EU-wide outer limit.
The FMA publishes an application form, a CASP roadmap and explanatory material, and holds bilateral meetings with prospective applicants. The review is substantive on governance, AML/CFT, local decision-making and ICT resilience.
Regulatory framework
MiCA (Regulation (EU) 2023/1114) is directly applicable, supported by the MiCA-VVG. The FMA is the CASP authorisation and supervisory authority; financial instruments remain in the MiFID II perimeter. Austria’s national VASP registration regime has been replaced.
Certain financial entities can use the Article 60 notification route. Third-country firms can use the Article 60 own-initiative route only where the client approaches them; reverse solicitation is narrow. An Austrian authorisation passports across the EEA after the Article 62 notification.
Licensing & authorisation
Route and clock. Apply to the FMA (MiCA Arts 62–63). The authority acknowledges within 5 working days, assesses completeness within 25 working days and decides within 40 working days of a complete file; the clock stops for information requests. The FMA publishes a CASP application form and roadmap; the statutory clock is not an end-to-end promise.
Charges. The FMA charges a fee under the GebG/FMA-GebV for the authorisation procedure, irrespective of the outcome. At the 24 October 2026 check we found no single flat CASP tariff; confirm the current amount with the FMA before filing.
Own funds. MiCA Art 67 and Annex IV set the minimum at €50,000 (Class 1), €125,000 (Class 2) or €150,000 (Class 3), plus one quarter of the previous year’s fixed overheads, held continuously. The class follows the services authorised.
Substance and passport. MiCA Art 59 requires the registered office and head office in Austria. Plan for an Austrian entity (commonly a GmbH), Austrian-resident management, a local AML officer and outsourcing/ICT arrangements that meet FMA and DORA expectations. Once authorised, notify under Art 62 to passport into the EEA.
AML & Travel Rule
The EU Transfer of Funds Regulation (TFR, (EU) 2023/1113) has applied since 30 December 2024. CASP-to-CASP transfers must carry originator and beneficiary information from the first euro; transfers to or from self-hosted wallets above €1,000 require verification of the counterparty.
The FMA supervises AML/CFT; the Austrian financial intelligence unit (Geldwäschemeldestelle) receives suspicious transaction reports. DORA has applied since 17 January 2025, and the EU AML Regulation (AMLR) applies from 10 July 2027.
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