Lithuania Tightens Crypto Regulations: Unlicensed Firms Face Blocking After 2025
Lithuania’s financial regulator is drawing a hard line on crypto compliance. Starting January 1, 2026, any crypto-asset service provider operating without a MiCA license will face website blocks, fines, or criminal prosecution. The Bank of Lithuania’s ultimatum leaves no room for ambiguity: apply now or wind down by December 31, 2025.
Of the 370 registered crypto firms in Lithuania, only 30 have applied for licenses under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework. This regulatory squeeze mirrors broader European efforts to rein in an industry that has thrived in regulatory gray zones. The clock is ticking for the remaining 120 active firms—noncompliance isn’t an option.