Lunar Becomes First Scandinavian Institution to Receive MiCA Crypto-Asset Service Provider Licence
Danish neobank Lunar received authorisation as a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) in October 2025, becoming the first financial institution in Scandinavia to hold this licence.
What the MiCA Licence Covers
The MiCA authorisation, granted by Denmark’s Finanstilsynet under the EU-wide framework, covers:
- Custody and administration of crypto-assets on behalf of clients
- Operation of a trading platform for crypto-assets
- Exchange of crypto-assets for fiat currency and other crypto-assets
The licence replaces Lunar’s prior national Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) registration — which was a Denmark-only authorisation — with a passportable EU licence valid across all 27 EU member states without additional country-by-country approval.
Lunar Block: The Product
Lunar’s crypto offering, Lunar Block, is integrated directly within the main Lunar app. It allows users in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway to:
- Buy and sell Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other major cryptocurrencies
- Hold crypto alongside their regular bank account balance
- Track portfolio performance in real time
Nordic First
The “first in Scandinavia” designation was notable given that several well-resourced Nordic financial institutions (Nordea, SEB, Danske Bank) had not yet pursued MiCA licences by October 2025 — highlighting how neobanks were moving faster than incumbents on the MiCA licensing timeline.