Nikolai Timofejev
15 years in FinTech and payments. Maps your business model to the right CASP class - 1, 2 or 3 - and leads the file all the way to the ČNB decision, including banking and payment rails.
Get a crypto license in the Czech Republic.
One authorisation, 27 markets. The Czech Republic pairs MiCA's EU passport with a technical regulator and one of the cleanest tax wrappers in the Union, and our team sits in Prague, next door to the process.
27 yrs
on the international marketon the market
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
400+
Crypto licenses obtainedlicenses obtained
Updated
Czech Republic in brief
The EU's pragmatic MiCA hub.
An EU member at the centre of Europe, the Czech Republic was among the first countries to fully adapt MiCA: the Digital Finance Act (No. 31/2025 Coll.) took effect on 15 February 2025 and made the Czech National Bank the single regulator for crypto-asset service providers. The old trade-licence era is closed - what remains is one clear, EU-wide rulebook.
For founders that means one authorisation instead of twenty-seven, fixed capital tiers of €50,000-€150,000, a statutory review clock, and a tax wrapper that is hard to beat in the EU: 21% corporate tax, VAT-exempt exchange operations and a three-year exemption for individual holders. Prifinance runs the whole process from its own office in Prague.
Among the first EU states to fully adapt MiCA - Act No. 31/2025, in force since 15 February 2025, with the ČNB as the single crypto regulator.
One authorisation for all 27 EU states, capital €50k-€150k by class, 21% corporate tax and a 3-year exemption for individuals. We run it from our Prague office.
Licence classes
One CASP authorisation - three service classes.
MiCA replaced the old national VASP regimes with a single authorisation issued by the ČNB. The class, and the minimum capital, follow from the services you plan to provide; most projects combine Class 1 and Class 2 services under one licence.
One ČNB authorisation; the class and the capital follow from your services.
01 - CASP · CLASS 1-2
Core crypto services
For brokers, exchangers and custodians. Execution, exchange and safekeeping of client crypto-assets under one authorisation. Minimum capital €50,000-€125,000 depending on scope.
For brokers, exchangers and custodians. Execution, exchange and safekeeping of client crypto-assets under one authorisation. Minimum capital €50,000-€125,000 depending on scope.
- ✓Exchange of crypto ↔ fiat and crypto ↔ crypto
- ✓Execution, reception and transmission of orders
- ✓Custody and administration of client crypto-assets
- ✓Transfer services for crypto-assets
- ✓Advice and portfolio management on crypto-assets
- ✓Placing of crypto-assets
02 - CASP · CLASS 3
EU-wide passportTrading platform
The highest MiCA tier. Operation of a crypto trading venue with €150,000 minimum capital, listing rules and market-abuse controls, passportable across the EU.
The trading-venue tier - €150,000 capital, listing rules, EU-wide passport.
- ✓Operation of a crypto-asset trading platform
- ✓Matching of buyers and sellers in the venue
- ✓Admission-to-trading (listing) framework
- ✓Market-abuse monitoring under MiCA Title VI
- ✓Combines with custody and exchange services
- ✓One home regulator - the ČNB - for all 27 states
Costs and timelines are confirmed for your case before any work begins. Minimum capital depends on the CASP class - €50,000, €125,000 or €150,000 (MiCA Annex IV), and government and third-party fees are itemised in your quote.
Why the Czech Republic
A first-mover MiCA jurisdiction with a clean tax wrapper.
The framework rests on two acts: MiCA (Regulation (EU) 2023/1114), which applies directly, and the Czech Digital Finance Act (No. 31/2025 Coll.), which made the Czech National Bank the single competent authority. Together they replace the licence patchwork of the VASP era with one EU-wide rulebook.
✓
One EU rulebook (MiCA)
Crypto services are governed by Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 directly, adapted by Act No. 31/2025 Coll. - no local by-law maze. What the ČNB authorises in Prague is valid law in Paris, Madrid and Milan.Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 + Act No. 31/2025 - no local by-law maze.
✓
Passport to 27 markets
A Czech CASP authorisation passports across the entire EU under Article 65 of MiCA. A notification, not a new licence, opens each additional member state, with the ČNB remaining your single home regulator.Article 65 notifications open every EU state; the ČNB stays your home regulator.
✓
A technical, predictable regulator
The Czech National Bank supervises the whole financial market and works on a statutory clock: 25 working days for completeness and 40 working days for assessment under Article 63 of MiCA.Statutory clock: 25 + 40 working days under Article 63 of MiCA.
✓
Fixed capital tiers
Minimum capital is set by MiCA Annex IV, not by regulator discretion: €50,000 for Class 1, €125,000 for Class 2, €150,000 for Class 3. With an own-funds alternative under Article 67.€50k / €125k / €150k by class. Set by MiCA Annex IV, not discretion.
✓
Taxes written for business
21% corporate tax, VAT-exempt exchange operations under the ECJ's Hedqvist ruling, and. Since February 2025. A statutory three-year exemption for individual holders. No special crypto levy exists.21% CIT, VAT-exempt exchange, 3-year exemption for individuals.
✓
Substance is easy to build
Prague offers EU-grade banking, DORA-ready infrastructure and deep fintech talent. Our own office in Žižkov handles incorporation, staffing and the ČNB dialogue on the ground.EU-grade banking and talent in Prague; our Žižkov office builds the presence.
How it compares
How the Czech Republic differs from its neighbours.
Under MiCA the rulebook is the same across the EU. What differs is the regulator's practice, the speed and the tax wrapper around it. The Czech Republic combines a technical regulator with one of the cleanest tax regimes in the Union.
Czech Republic vs other jurisdictions
| Feature |  Czech Republic | Other jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory regime | MiCA CASP - Act No. 31/2025 Coll. | National regimes or late MiCA starts |
| EU market access | Passport to all 27 EU states | Often none without a local licence |
| Licensing speed | 4-6 months in practice | Often 6-12+ months |
| Taxes on the company | 21% CIT, VAT-exempt exchange | Varies, often higher or unclear |
Regulatory regime
Czech RepublicMiCA CASP - Act No. 31/2025 Coll.
Other jurisdictionsNational regimes or late MiCA starts
EU market access
Czech RepublicPassport to all 27 EU states
Other jurisdictionsOften none without a local licence
Licensing speed
Czech Republic4-6 months in practice
Other jurisdictionsOften 6-12+ months
Taxes on the company
Czech Republic21% CIT, VAT-exempt exchange
Other jurisdictionsVaries, often higher or unclear
Country by country
| Country | License type | Taxation | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Czech Republic | MiCA CASP (ČNB) | 21% CIT, 3-year exemption for individuals | Clear, technical, predictable |
 Lithuania | MiCA CASP (Bank of Lithuania) | 17% CIT (2026) | Fast, but strict AML practice |
 Poland | MiCA CASP (KNF) | 19% CIT | Late MiCA start, practice still forming |
 Estonia | MiCA CASP (Finantsinspektsioon) | 0% retained / 22% on payout | Experienced, demanding supervisor |
Czech RepublicLicense typeMiCA CASP (ČNB)
Taxation21% CIT, 3-year exemption for individuals
RequirementsClear, technical, predictable
LithuaniaLicense typeMiCA CASP (Bank of Lithuania)
Taxation17% CIT (2026)
RequirementsFast, but strict AML practice
PolandLicense typeMiCA CASP (KNF)
Taxation19% CIT
RequirementsLate MiCA start, practice still forming
EstoniaLicense typeMiCA CASP (Finantsinspektsioon)
Taxation0% retained / 22% on payout
RequirementsExperienced, demanding supervisor
Before you apply
Requirements for a Czech CASP authorisation.Requirements for a Czech CASP.
The ČNB assesses a CASP file against MiCA and the Digital Finance Act. The checklist below is what a complete application actually contains. Most refusals trace back to gaps here, not to the business model.
01
Czech legal entity. An s.r.o. or a.s. with its registered office in the Czech Republic.
02
Real substance. An office and part of management and the compliance function physically in the country; letterbox setups fail the assessment.
03
Fit & proper management. Clean records and demonstrated competence for directors and qualifying shareholders.
04
Share capital - €50,000 / €125,000 / €150,000 by CASP class under MiCA Annex IV, or the own-funds alternative of Article 67.
05
Programme of operations. A three-year business plan describing each crypto-asset service you will provide.
06
AML/CFT framework. Policies under the Czech AML Act (No. 253/2008 Coll.), an appointed MLRO and reporting lines to the FAÚ.
07
ICT resilience (DORA). Security and continuity arrangements under Regulation (EU) 2022/2554, which applies to CASPs.
08
Safeguarding of client assets. Segregation of client crypto-assets and funds, custody and wallet-management policy.
09
Governance & internal controls. Risk management, conflicts-of-interest rules and complaints handling.
10
Disclosure duties. White-paper and market-abuse obligations under MiCA Titles II and VI where relevant.
11
Application to the ČNB. A complete file starts the statutory clock: 25 working days for completeness, 40 for assessment.
01
Czech legal entity. S.r.o. or a.s. with a registered office.
02
Real substance. Office, management and compliance in the country.
03
Fit & proper management. Clean records, competence checks.
04
Share capital - €50k / €125k / €150k by CASP class.
05
Programme of operations. Three-year, service-by-service plan.
06
AML/CFT framework. MLRO, policies, FAÚ reporting.
07
ICT resilience. DORA security and continuity arrangements.
08
Safeguarding. Segregation of client assets, custody policy.
09
Governance. Risk, conflicts and complaints frameworks.
10
Application to the ČNB. Starts the 25 + 40 working-day clock.
The list reflects MiCA Articles 59-68 and ČNB practice as of 2026. The exact scope depends on your service mix. A Class 1 broker file is materially lighter than a Class 3 trading-venue file.Reflects MiCA Arts. 59-68 and ČNB practice, 2026. Scope depends on your service mix.
How it works
From first call to an authorised CASP.
01
Structure and scoping
We map your services to the right CASP class, fix the capital tier and set up the Czech s.r.o. with the governance MiCA expects.Right CASP class, capital tier and a Czech s.r.o. with proper governance.
02
The application file
Three-year business plan, AML/CFT and DORA packs, safeguarding and conflicts policies. Drafted service by service against Articles 59-62 of MiCA.Business plan, AML, DORA and safeguarding packs. Service by service.
03
ČNB review
Filing starts the statutory clock: 25 working days for completeness, 40 working days for assessment. We answer every regulator query on your behalf.25 + 40 working days; we answer every regulator query.
04
Authorisation and passporting
The decision lands, the company enters ESMA's register, and Article 65 notifications open every additional EU market you need.ESMA register entry, Article 65 notifications to the EU.
05
Launch and ongoing compliance
Reporting calendars, audits, DAC8 and travel-rule flows. We keep the licence healthy while you run the business.Reporting, audits, DAC8 and travel-rule flows.
Quick facts
RegimeMiCA · Act No. 31/2025
RegulatorČNB
Statutory review25 + 40 working days
In practice4-6 months
Capital€50k / €125k / €150k
EU passportAll 27 member states
Local substanceOffice + management
Language of fileCzech · English accepted
Timeframes assume a complete file; every gap the ČNB finds stops the clock until it is cured.
On the ground in Prague
Local expertise, not a faceless agency.
Prifinance - Czech Republic
Prague · Žižkov
Vlkova 532/8, 130 00 Prague 3
01
Czech company formation
We incorporate the s.r.o., contribute the class-appropriate capital and prepare the corporate documents the ČNB expects to see.s.r.o., capital and corporate documents. Done for you.
02
The application file and the ČNB dialogue
Business plan, policies, DORA and AML packs. Drafted by us, defended by us in the regulator's Q&A rounds until the decision.We draft the packs and defend them in every Q&A round.
03
Substance and staffing
Registered office, local directors and MLRO recruitment, payroll. The presence the assessment requires, built to fit your budget.Office, local directors and MLRO. Built to fit your budget.
04
Banking and payment rails
Accounts with Czech and EU banks and EMIs that actually onboard CASPs. Opened in parallel so you launch the day the licence lands.CASP-friendly banks and EMIs, opened in parallel.
We also have offices in
Tallinn
Estonia
Roseni 13
Dubai
UAE
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower
London
United Kingdom
7 Bell Yard
Madeira
Portugal
Rua da Alegria 31, 1F
Budapest
Hungary
Korányi Sándor u. 4
Istanbul
Turkey
Perpa Ticaret Merkezi, A Blok
Good to know
Taxation of crypto companies in the Czech Republic.
There is no special crypto levy. A Czech CASP is taxed like any other Czech company, with EU-grade certainty on VAT and one of Europe's friendliest regimes for individual holders.
Corporate tax 21%
The standard CIT rate applies to trading margins, fees and commissions; compliance, legal and operational costs are deductible in the ordinary way.Standard CIT; compliance and legal costs deductible.
VAT-exempt exchange
Exchanging crypto for fiat is VAT-exempt across the EU under the ECJ's Hedqvist ruling (C-264/14). Czech practice follows it without local surprises.Hedqvist (C-264/14): crypto ↔ fiat exchange is VAT-exempt.
Individuals: the 3-year test
Since February 2025, gains on crypto held for more than three years are exempt from personal income tax, within the CZK 40 million annual cap.Held 3+ years. Exempt (CZK 40m annual cap), since Feb 2025.
Petty transactions exempt
Individual sales of up to CZK 100,000 per year are exempt outright. Founders' small disposals stay outside the tax return.Individual sales up to CZK 100,000 a year. Outside the return.
90+ tax treaties
One of the EU's oldest treaty networks; the standard 15% dividend withholding drops further under most treaties.15% dividend WHT, reduced under most treaties.
DAC8 from 2026
EU-wide crypto reporting under DAC8 applies from January 2026. We build the reporting flows into your compliance from day one.EU-wide crypto reporting. Built into your compliance day one.
Tax summary
Corporate tax rate21%
VAT on crypto exchangeExempt
Individual gains after 3 years0%
Petty limit (individuals)CZK 100,000 / yr
Dividend withholding15%
DAC8 reportingfrom 2026
Tax treaties90+
*Company-level figures; the 3-year and petty exemptions apply to individual holders. Keep records and file on time to preserve licensed status.
Turnkey professional support
Experienced lawyers and international consultants.
We provide end-to-end support, from company registration and the application file to regulatory interaction and compliance oversight - with in-depth expertise in MiCA and an individualized approach to each client.
Oleksii Kindratenko
Builds the application itself: Czech s.r.o., AML/KYC policy pack, capital structure and tax registrations. His document sets are the reason reviews finish in months, not years.
Eugeniu Bevziuc
First point of contact for international founders. Runs the whole setup remotely, across time zones and languages - from the first call to a live, authorised CASP.
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Czech Republic · MiCA CASP
Launch your crypto project in the EU with expert support.
Full-service assistance - from Czech company registration to CASP authorisation and passporting.
Get a consultation →Free legal opinion
Is the Czech Republic the right fit for your project?
Our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, CASP class, or licensing route fits your business.
Written assessment within 2-5 business days
Request a free conclusion →FAQ
The Czech CASP licence - the questions we hear.
What licence does a crypto business need in the Czech Republic?+
A CASP authorisation under MiCA (Regulation (EU) 2023/1114), issued by the Czech National Bank under the Digital Finance Act (No. 31/2025 Coll.). The old trade-licence regime is closed - since 1 July 2026 only authorised CASPs may provide crypto-asset services.
What are the CASP classes and capital requirements?+
Class 1 (€50,000) covers execution, transmission of orders, advice, portfolio management and transfers; Class 2 (€125,000) adds custody and exchange; Class 3 (€150,000) covers operating a trading platform. The tiers are fixed by MiCA Annex IV.
How long does authorisation take?+
The statutory clock is 25 working days for the completeness check plus 40 working days for the assessment (MiCA Article 63). With regulator Q&A rounds, a well-prepared file lands in about 4-6 months.
Can I serve clients across the EU with a Czech licence?+
Yes. Under Article 65 of MiCA a Czech CASP passports its services to any EU member state by notification - no additional licences, with the ČNB remaining your single home regulator.
Do I need real presence in the Czech Republic?+
Yes: a Czech entity with a registered office, and part of management and the compliance function actually in the country. The ČNB screens out letterbox arrangements at the assessment stage.
What happened to companies from the old VASP era?+
The transition is over. Providers operating under the old trade licence had to apply for CASP status by 31 July 2025 and could operate at the latest until 1 July 2026. New entrants apply for a full authorisation before launching.
What AML obligations apply?+
The Czech AML Act (No. 253/2008 Coll.): an appointed MLRO, KYC and monitoring, reporting to the FAÚ, plus travel-rule compliance under the EU Transfer of Funds Regulation. AML readiness is examined inside the authorisation file.
How is the company taxed?+
21% corporate income tax on profits; crypto-to-fiat exchange operations are VAT-exempt under the ECJ's Hedqvist ruling; dividends bear 15% withholding, reduced by most of the 90+ Czech tax treaties.
And the founders personally?+
Since February 2025 individuals pay no tax on crypto held for more than three years (within the CZK 40 million annual cap), and disposals up to CZK 100,000 a year are exempt outright.
Why the Czech Republic rather than Lithuania or Poland?+
The rulebook is identical - MiCA, so the difference is execution: a technical regulator with a statutory clock, a 21% tax wrapper with individual exemptions, central location and solid banking. Lithuania is fast but strict in AML practice; Poland started MiCA late and its practice is still forming.
What licence do I need?+
A CASP authorisation under MiCA, issued by the ČNB (Act No. 31/2025). Since 1 July 2026 only authorised CASPs may operate.
Classes and capital?+
Class 1 - €50k; Class 2 (custody, exchange) - €125k; Class 3 (trading platform) - €150k. MiCA Annex IV.
How long does it take?+
25 + 40 working days by statute; 4-6 months in practice.
Can I work across the EU?+
Yes - Article 65 passporting to all 27 states by notification.
Do I need local presence?+
Yes: Czech entity, office, part of management and compliance in-country.
What about old VASP companies?+
Transition closed on 1 July 2026 - a full authorisation is required now.
AML obligations?+
Act No. 253/2008: MLRO, KYC, FAÚ reporting, travel rule.
Company taxes?+
21% CIT, VAT-exempt exchange, 15% dividend WHT, 90+ treaties.
Founder taxes?+
3-year exemption (since Feb 2025) and the CZK 100k petty limit.
Why Czech vs Lithuania or Poland?+
Same MiCA rules - better execution: technical regulator, clean 21% wrapper, central location.
Client notes
Google4.7★★★★★
Founders who wanted it done right.
Google4.7★★★★★
“As a software development crew at FewMoreTaps OÜ, we've had the pleasure of working with Prifinance on some key financial moves.First of all, navigating the world of corporate banking and finance can be a maze, but Prifinance made it feel like a walk in the park. They helped us set up a corporate bank account without the hassle of jumping on a plane or drowning in paperwork. Everything was done remotely, smoothly…”
Google
“I had their assistance in company registration and I would recommend them. They were answering all my clarification during the process and offering all their supportThank you Daniel and Irinia”
Google
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Google
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Google
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Google
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Google
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One message away from your Czech CASP licence.
Get a free legal opinion on your project - our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, CASP class, or licensing route fits your business.Free legal opinion: which CASP class fits your project and what it will cost.
✓Written legal opinion within 2-5 business days - free of charge✓A clear recommendation on the right CASP class, not a sales pitch✓Transparent fixed fees, confirmed up front✓EN · RU · ES speaking team
Prifinance is an independent law and advisory firm. We are not a regulator and are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the Czech National Bank or any other public authority. Authorisations are granted by, and obtained directly from, the competent authorities.