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Is crypto legal in Romania? Rules & regulation (2026)

Crypto is regulated in Romania.

Crypto is legal in Romania and is now regulated under the EU's MiCA regulation, which became fully applicable on 30 December 2024 and was transposed via OUG 10/2025 in March 2025, designating ASF as the lead supervisor and BNR as the competent authority for banks and EMT issuers. Romania is in MiCA's transitional period: AML-registered VASPs may continue operating until 1 July 2026, by which date a MiCA CASP authorisation is required; from 1 January 2026 capital gains on crypto are taxed at 16% (raised from 10%).

Last verified Official sources first · MethodologyCompare Romania with other countries

Legal framework

EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA, Regulation (EU) 2023/1114), transposed/enabled domestically by Government Emergency Ordinance (OUG) 10/2025 (in force 13 March 2025). Competent authorities: Autoritatea de Supraveghere Financiară (ASF) for non-bank CASPs and ART issuers; Banca Națională a României (BNR) for credit institutions and e-money token (EMT) issuers; AML/CFT under Law 129/2019. Tax administered by ANAF.

Status by sub-area

  • Stablecoins

    In force

    MiCA's stablecoin rules (Titles III/IV on ARTs and EMTs) apply directly and are operationalised through OUG 10/2025: BNR authorises and supervises EMT issuers (including credit institutions); ASF supervises non-bank ART issuers. Reserves, redemption-at-par, white paper and own-funds requirements are set by MiCA.

  • Exchanges / VASP

    In force

    Exchanges and other VASPs are regulated as CASPs under MiCA, with ASF as the licensing authority through OUG 10/2025. AML/CFT obligations under Law 129/2019 continue to apply. Existing AML-registered providers benefit from a transitional regime that ends on 1 July 2026.

  • Token Offerings

    In force

    Public offers of crypto-assets other than ARTs/EMTs fall under MiCA Title II white-paper rules (notification to ASF, mandatory disclosures, marketing restrictions, withdrawal right). Tokens that qualify as financial instruments remain under Romania's MiFID II/securities regime and can only trade on regulated markets, MTFs, OTFs or DLT infrastructures supervised by ASF.

  • Custody

    In force

    Custody and administration of crypto-assets on behalf of clients is a regulated CASP service under MiCA Article 3(1)(17) and Article 75, supervised by ASF in Romania. Providers must segregate client assets from their own, maintain detailed positions, implement custody policies and accept civil liability for loss.

  • DeFi

    Partial

    Romania has no dedicated DeFi regime. Under MiCA Article 2/recital 22, fully decentralised services without an identifiable issuer or intermediary are excluded; in practice protocols with centralised governance, front-ends or upgrade keys can still be pulled into MiCA's scope, leaving a grey zone. AML/CFT and tax obligations of users continue to apply.

    Still pending: No dedicated DeFi regime; MiCA scope for protocols with governance/upgrade keys remains unclear

  • Tax

    In force

    Crypto gains realised by individuals are taxed as 'income from other sources' under Romania's Fiscal Code (Codul Fiscal). The rate is 10% for 2025 gains and rises to 16% from 1 January 2026; reporting is via the annual Declarația Unică to ANAF, with platforms also required to report user transactions.

How to get a crypto license in Romania

To provide crypto-asset services in Romania you need a MiCA CASP authorisation (Crypto-Asset Service Provider), supervised by the Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF), under the EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), Title V.

Authority
the Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF)
License required
a MiCA CASP authorisation (Crypto-Asset Service Provider)
Framework / law
the EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), Title V
Minimum capital
€50,000–€150,000 minimum, by service class (Class 1/2/3)
Timeline
about 40 working days of substantive review; 1–3 months for a well-prepared application
Cost
an application fee of roughly €5,000–€25,000, plus ongoing supervisory fees
Passporting
Yes: a single MiCA CASP licence passports across all 27 EU member states.

What a crypto license in Romania covers

  • Custody and administration of crypto-assets for clients
  • Operating a trading platform for crypto-assets
  • Exchanging crypto-assets for funds, or for other crypto-assets
  • Executing orders for crypto-assets on behalf of clients
  • Reception and transmission of orders, and placing of crypto-assets
  • Advice and portfolio management on crypto-assets
  • Transfer services for crypto-assets on behalf of clients

Step by step: getting a crypto license in Romania

  1. Incorporate a legal entity with a registered office in the member state, with at least one director resident in the EU.

  2. Build the application file: programme of operations, business plan, governance, AML/CFT, ICT resilience and client-asset segregation.

  3. Submit the application to the national competent authority.

  4. Completeness check: the authority has 25 working days to confirm the file is complete and request anything missing.

  5. Substantive assessment: the authority has 40 working days to grant or refuse the authorisation.

  6. Once authorised, notify the passport to the host member states you intend to serve, then begin operating across the EU.

Documents required in Romania

  • Programme of operations describing each crypto-asset service you will provide
  • Business plan with three-year financial projections
  • Evidence of prudential safeguards (own funds or qualifying insurance)
  • Governance arrangements, organisational chart and internal-control description
  • AML/CFT policies and the appointment of a compliance officer
  • ICT security, business-continuity and DORA-aligned resilience policies
  • Custody and client-asset segregation arrangements
  • Complaints-handling procedure and conflict-of-interest policy
  • Fit-and-proper evidence for directors and qualifying shareholders (CVs, criminal-record certificates)

Ongoing obligations in Romania

  • Maintain prudential safeguards and own funds at or above the class minimum
  • Keep client crypto-assets segregated from the firm's own assets
  • Run continuous AML/CFT monitoring, screening and suspicious-activity reporting
  • Keep marketing communications fair, clear and not misleading
  • Operate complaints handling and manage conflicts of interest
  • Meet ICT resilience and incident-reporting duties under DORA
  • File periodic reports to the national competent authority

Key points: crypto & digital assets in Romania

  1. MiCA transposition in force (OUG 10/2025)

    Government Emergency Ordinance 10/2025, in force since 13 March 2025, designates ASF as the primary supervisor of crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) and issuers of asset-referenced tokens, with BNR taking over for credit institutions and electronic-money token issuers.

    bmalegal.ro bursa.ro

  2. 1 July 2026 transitional cliff

    Entities registered under Romania's AML regime by 30 December 2024 enjoy a grandfather window until 1 July 2026, but must file an ASF MiCA dossier by 31 December 2025; after 1 July 2026 no crypto firm may operate in Romania without a MiCA CASP licence.

    studiifinanciare.ro bmalegal.ro

  3. Dual supervision: ASF and BNR

    ASF authorises and supervises non-bank CASPs and ART issuers (including crypto ATMs); BNR supervises credit institutions providing crypto services and EMT issuers, ensuring prudential stability. ANPC and ADR provide support on consumer protection and digitalisation.

    practiceguides.chambers.com copla.com

  4. Tax: 16% rate from 2026

    Romania's 2026 fiscal package raises tax on crypto gains from 10% to 16% effective 1 January 2026 (gains realised in 2025 are still filed at 10%); crypto-to-crypto trades, staking and mining are taxable; declarations are made via Declarația Unică, and platforms must report transactions to ANAF.

    koinly.io ainvest.com

  5. CASP fast-track licensing

    OUG 10/2025 replaces the previous fragmented permission model with a compliance-driven CASP authorisation under MiCA. Minimum initial capital starts at EUR 25,000 (depending on services), with full EU passporting; typical authorisation timeline is reported at 3-4 months.

    legalbison.com complyfactor.com

  6. DeFi treated under MiCA Article 2 exclusion

    Fully decentralised protocols and DAOs without an identifiable issuer/intermediary are outside MiCA's scope (Article 2/recitals); Romania does not impose a domestic blockchain licence on such entities, but partly-centralised front-ends or governance can pull them back into scope.

    practiceguides.chambers.com merklescience.com

Crypto license in Romania: FAQ

Do you need a license to run a crypto business in Romania?

Yes. To provide crypto-asset services in Romania you need a MiCA CASP authorisation (Crypto-Asset Service Provider), supervised by the Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF), under the EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), Title V.

Which authority issues crypto licenses in Romania?

The Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF).

How much does a crypto license cost in Romania?

An application fee of roughly €5,000–€25,000, plus ongoing supervisory fees.

How long does it take to get a crypto license in Romania?

Typically about 40 working days of substantive review; 1–3 months for a well-prepared application.

What documents do you need for a crypto license in Romania?

The application file centres on programme of operations describing each crypto-asset service you will provide; business plan with three-year financial projections; evidence of prudential safeguards (own funds or qualifying insurance); governance arrangements, organisational chart and internal-control description; plus fit-and-proper evidence for directors and qualifying shareholders.

What is the application process for a crypto license in Romania?

Incorporate a legal entity with a registered office in the member state, with at least one director resident in the EU. Build the application file: programme of operations, business plan, governance, AML/CFT, ICT resilience and client-asset segregation. The authority then assesses the file and, once authorised, you can begin operating.

Does a Romania crypto license work in other EU/EEA countries?

Yes: a single MiCA CASP licence passports across all 27 EU member states.

Sources

  1. bmalegal.ro/romanias-new-crypto-regulation-under-mica-compliance-licensing/
  2. bursa.ro/criptoactivitatea-in-romania-sub-reglementare-stricta-prin-oug-102025
  3. studiifinanciare.ro/de-la-1-iulie-2026-nicio-firma-crypto-fara-licenta-mica-nu-mai-poate-
  4. practiceguides.chambers.com/practice-guides/blockchain-2025/romania/trends-and-developments
  5. legal500.com/developments/thought-leadership/the-regulation-of-crypto-assets-in-ro
  6. copla.com/blog/compliance-regulations/mica-regulation-in-romania-licensing-impl
  7. koinly.io/guides/crypto-tax-romania/
  8. ainvest.com/news/assessing-impact-romania-2026-crypto-dividend-tax-hikes-investme
  9. legalbison.com/casp-license/romania/
  10. complyfactor.com/romania-mica-implementation-eus-fastest-crypto-market-entry-2025/
  11. merklescience.com/blog/is-defi-truly-exempt-from-mica-regulations

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Orientation, not legal advice: verify against the primary sources linked above. Last verified 17 Jun 2026. Methodology & how to cite · State of Technology Regulation 2026