Nikolai Timofejev
15 years in FinTech and payments. Maps your business model to the right licence scope and leads the file all the way to the FIN-FSA decision, including banking and payment rails.
Get a crypto license in Finland.
The Nordic standard: FIN-FSA authorises CASPs under MiCA, the national transition closed on 30 June 2025 - among the earliest in the EU, and the market has run licence-only ever since. We run the file from our Helsinki office, two hours across the gulf.
27 yrs
on the international marketon the market
60+
in-house specialistsspecialists
400+
Crypto licenses obtainedlicenses obtained
Updated
Finland in brief
The Nordic stamp, licence-only since mid-2025.
Finland runs MiCA through the Financial Supervisory Authority - FIN-FSA, and ran it early: the national transition period for virtual currency providers ended on 30 June 2025, among the first in the EU, a fact FIN-FSA announced plainly on its own site. Every firm serving Finnish clients since then holds a CASP authorisation or passports one in. The supervisor has also kept pace with the rulebook's completion - noting that the European framework is now finished, with the last ESMA guidelines applicable from 28 July 2026, so a Finnish file today is reviewed against the final, settled standard, not a moving target.
What Finland sells is trust infrastructure. A FIN-FSA authorisation carries the Nordic reputation premium - banks, institutional partners and enterprise clients across Scandinavia and the EU read it as a mark of operational seriousness. Around it: one of Europe's deepest engineering talent pools, a state that digitised its own services decades ago, 20% corporate tax with no surprises, and Helsinki two hours by ferry from our Tallinn headquarters - the closest any of our offices sits to a licensing desk.
The Nordic standard: FIN-FSA authorises under MiCA, the national transition closed 30 June 2025 - among the EU's first, and the market has been licence-only since.
20% flat corporate tax, settled rules (final ESMA guidelines from 28 July 2026), and our Tallinn HQ two hours across the gulf.
Licence classes
One authorisation, scoped to your services.
MiCA defines ten crypto-asset services in three capital classes. FIN-FSA authorises the exact scope you apply for, against the completed European rulebook. We fix the perimeter first, then build once.
Ten MiCA services in three capital classes. FIN-FSA authorises against the completed rulebook.
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
Licence-only since 30 June 2025Trading 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 with the Nordic reputation premium built in.
The highest MiCA tier. A trading venue with €150,000 capital, with the Nordic premium built in.
- ✓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 authorisation - for all 27 EU states
Costs and timelines are confirmed for your case before any work begins. FIN-FSA fees are statutory; the real investment is the file and substance. Both scoped individually in your quote. EMT / stablecoin issuance is quoted separately.
Why Finland
The trust premium of the North.
The framework is MiCA, supervised by FIN-FSA. Inside the jurisdiction that closed its transition first among the Nordics and never looked back.
✓
A licence-only market since mid-2025
FIN-FSA ended the national transition on 30 June 2025. Earlier than nearly everyone. The market you enter has been clean for over a year: competitors are authorised, banks treat crypto as normal, grey-zone operators are gone.Clean market, normalised banking.
✓
The Nordic reputation premium
A FIN-FSA stamp is read across Scandinavia and the EU as a mark of operational seriousness. The same trust halo Finnish banking and fintech enjoy, extended to your licence.The trust halo, extended to your licence.
✓
Reviewed against final rules
FIN-FSA itself notes the European CASP framework is complete, with the last ESMA guidelines applying from 28 July 2026. Your file is assessed against a settled standard, not a moving target.ESMA guidelines complete from 28 Jul 2026.
✓
Engineering depth
Decades of Nokia-trained engineering built one of Europe's deepest technical talent pools. Matching engines, custody infrastructure and security hires are local, not imported.Nokia-trained talent. Hires are local.
✓
A predictable 20%
Corporate tax is a flat 20% with no municipal surcharges or size tiers. One number, decades stable, in a country ranked among the world's least corrupt.One number, decades stable.
✓
Our HQ is two hours away
Tallinn-Helsinki is a commuter ferry. Your file is run from our headquarters, not a partner's inbox. Meetings in person whenever the process needs them.Tallinn-Helsinki is a commuter ferry.
How it compares
How Finland differs from other routes.
Finland trades a moderate flat tax for the Nordic trust premium and a market that has been licence-only longer than nearly any other. The side-by-side comparison is below.
Finland vs other jurisdictions
| Feature |  Finland | Other jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory regime | MiCA CASP - FIN-FSA | National regimes or lighter desks |
| Transition closed | 30 June 2025 - among the first | Up to 1 July 2026 |
| Reputation | Nordic trust premium | Varies - often needs explaining |
| Corporate tax | 20% flat, no tiers | 10-30%, often with surcharges |
Regulatory regime
FinlandMiCA CASP - FIN-FSA
Other jurisdictionsNational regimes or lighter desks
Transition closed
Finland30 June 2025 - among the first
Other jurisdictionsUp to 1 July 2026
Reputation
FinlandNordic trust premium
Other jurisdictionsVaries - often needs explaining
Corporate tax
Finland20% flat, no tiers
Other jurisdictions10-30%, often with surcharges
Country by country
| Country | License type | Taxation | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finland | MiCA CASP (FIN-FSA) | 20% CIT · capital income 30/34% | Nordic standard, settled rules |
 Estonia | MiCA CASP (Finantsinspektsioon) | 0% retained / 22% on payout | Experienced, demanding supervisor |
 Lithuania | MiCA CASP (Bank of Lithuania) | 17% CIT (2026) | Fast, but strict AML practice |
 Netherlands | MiCA CASP (AFM) | 19% / 25.8% CIT | Most practised desk in the EU |
FinlandLicense typeMiCA CASP (FIN-FSA)
Taxation20% CIT · capital income 30/34%
RequirementsNordic standard, settled rules
EstoniaLicense typeMiCA CASP (Finantsinspektsioon)
Taxation0% retained / 22% on payout
RequirementsExperienced, demanding supervisor
LithuaniaLicense typeMiCA CASP (Bank of Lithuania)
Taxation17% CIT (2026)
RequirementsFast, but strict AML practice
NetherlandsLicense typeMiCA CASP (AFM)
Taxation19% / 25.8% CIT
RequirementsMost practised desk in the EU
Before you apply
Requirements for the FIN-FSA authorisation.Requirements for FIN-FSA authorisation.
FIN-FSA reviews against the completed European rulebook with Nordic thoroughness. The checklist below is what a passing file contains.
01
Finnish entity. An Oy with its registered office and effective management in Finland.
02
Substance. Decision-making genuinely in the country: local management, compliance and risk on the ground.
03
Fit & proper management. Clean records and relevant experience for directors and qualifying shareholders.
04
Own funds - €50,000, €125,000 or €150,000 by service class, or one quarter of fixed overheads if higher.
05
Programme of operations. Services, target markets, volumes and a business plan FIN-FSA can interrogate.
06
AML/CFT framework. KYC, EDD, monitoring and reporting to the FIU, with a named compliance officer.
07
ICT and DORA compliance. Resilience testing, incident reporting and the ICT third-party register.
08
Safeguarding of client assets. Segregation of client crypto and funds, custody policy, key management.
09
Governance. Ownership to UBOs, qualifying holdings disclosed, conflicts and complaints procedures.
10
Wind-down plan. Credible, funded and documented.
11
ESMA guidelines compliance. The full set applies from 28 July 2026; files are reviewed against it.
01
Finnish Oy, managed from Finland.
02
Local management, compliance and risk.
03
Fit & proper directors and shareholders.
04
Own funds €50k-€150k by class.
05
Programme of operations + business plan.
06
AML with named officer, reporting to the FIU.
07
ICT resilience under DORA.
08
Segregation and custody of client assets.
09
Ownership disclosed up to UBOs.
10
Credible, funded wind-down plan.
Reflects MiCA and FIN-FSA practice as of 2026. The national transition ended 30 June 2025. Unauthorised service is subject to enforcement.MiCA + FIN-FSA practice as of 2026. Transition ended 30 Jun 2025.
How it works
From first call to the FIN-FSA register.
01
Perimeter and strategy
We map your services to the MiCA classes and fix scope, capital and timeline in writing. Against the completed rulebook.Classes, capital. Against the settled rulebook.
02
Finnish company and substance
Oy formation, registered office, local management and governance. The presence FIN-FSA verifies.Oy, office, local management.
03
The application file
Programme of operations, AML/CFT framework, DORA documentation, safeguarding and wind-down. Complete before filing.Programme, AML, DORA - complete first.
04
FIN-FSA review
25 working days to completeness, 40 more to decision on the statutory clock - 6-9 months in practice. We answer every round.25+40 wd statutory; 6-9 months in practice.
05
Authorisation and passport
Entry in the FIN-FSA register, ESMA notification and passporting into all 27 EU states - plus ongoing reporting we can keep running.Register entry, then all 27 EU states.
Quick facts
RegulatorFIN-FSA
FrameworkMiCA CASP
Capital€50k / €125k / €150k
Statutory clock25 + 40 working days
In practice6-9 months
Transition closed30 June 2025
ESMA guidelinescomplete · 28 Jul 2026
PassportAll 27 EU states
FIN-FSA reviews against the final European standard. Settled rules make well-built files predictable.
On the ground in Finland
Run from our Helsinki office.
Prifinance - Finland
Helsinki · Finland
Helsinki, Finland
01
Finnish company formation
Oy incorporation, registered office and the corporate layer FIN-FSA expects. Structured for the authorisation from day one.Oy, structured for the authorisation.
02
The authorisation file
Programme of operations, AML pack and DORA documentation. Drafted by us and defended through FIN-FSA's question rounds.Programme, AML, DORA. Defended in rounds.
03
Substance and staffing
Director and compliance recruitment from Helsinki's deep talent pool, office arrangements and payroll - assembled pragmatically.Helsinki hires, assembled pragmatically.
04
In-person when it matters
Helsinki is a two-hour ferry from our Helsinki office. Supervisory meetings, notary visits and hiring rounds happen face to face.Two-hour ferry from our Helsinki office.
We also have offices in
Vilnius
Lithuania
Gedimino pr. 2
Prague
Czech Republic
Vlkova 532/8, Žižkov
London
United Kingdom
7 Bell Yard
Dubai
UAE
33 Level, Al Saqr Business Tower
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 Finland.
One flat corporate number, clear official crypto guidance from the Tax Administration, and the Nordic predictability that makes planning boring. In the best way.
Corporate tax: 20% flat
One rate, no municipal surcharges, no size tiers - 20% on profits, stable for over a decade. Ordinary deductions and loss carry-forward apply.No surcharges, no tiers, decades stable.
Individuals: 30% / 34%
Crypto gains are capital income per the Tax Administration: 30% up to €30,000 of annual capital income, 34% above. With every exchange, including crypto-to-crypto, a taxable event.Threshold €30,000 - per vero.fi.
Deemed acquisition cost
Official option for long holders: deduct a deemed cost of 20% of the sale price (40% after ten years of ownership) instead of documented costs. Useful when records are thin.Official option for long holders.
VAT-exempt exchange
Crypto ↔ fiat exchange is VAT-exempt as a financial service under the Hedqvist line. The 25.5% standard rate touches only ordinary supplies.Different rates; we structure it.
Mining is earned income
The Tax Administration classifies mining proceeds as earned income, not capital gains. A distinction that changes rates and deductions; we structure operations accordingly.Hedqvist line; standard 25.5%.
Expanded reporting from 2026
Per the Tax Administration, authorities receive expanded crypto data from domestic and international service providers starting 2026. Clean records are now infrastructure.Providers report to authorities.
Tax summary
Corporate tax20% flat
Capital income30% to €30k · 34% above
Deemed acquisition cost20% · 40% after 10 yrs
MiningEarned income
VAT on crypto exchangeExempt
Standard VAT25.5%
Expanded reportingfrom 2026
*Figures per Finnish Tax Administration guidance as of 2026. Every disposal - including crypto-to-crypto. Is a taxable event; we set up the tracking from day one.
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 an individualized approach to each client.
Oleksii Kindratenko
Builds the application itself: Finnish Oy, 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, FIN-FSA-authorised business.
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Finland · FIN-FSA
Launch your crypto project in Finland with expert support.
Full-service assistance - from company registration to FIN-FSA authorisation and ongoing compliance.
Get a consultation →Free legal opinion
Is Finland the right fit for your project?
Our legal team will analyze your case at no cost and provide a written legal opinion: which jurisdiction, licence scope, or route fits your business.
Written assessment within 2-5 business days
Request a free conclusion →FAQ
The Finnish crypto licence - what clients ask.
What licence does a crypto business need in Finland?+
CASP authorisation from the Financial Supervisory Authority (FIN-FSA) under MiCA - required for exchange, brokerage, custody, transfer, advice and trading-platform services aimed at the Finnish market.
What happened to the old virtual currency provider regime?+
It ended early: FIN-FSA closed the national transition on 30 June 2025 - among the first in the EU. Since then only authorised CASPs and passporting EU firms lawfully serve Finnish clients.
How much capital is required?+
MiCA's three classes: €50,000 for advice and order services, €125,000 for exchange, execution and custody, €150,000 for a trading platform - or a quarter of annual fixed overheads if that is higher.
How long does FIN-FSA authorisation take?+
The statutory clock is 25 working days to completeness plus 40 to decision; realistic end-to-end timelines run 6-9 months. The rulebook is settled - FIN-FSA notes the final ESMA guidelines apply from 28 July 2026, so well-built files move predictably.
What substance does FIN-FSA expect?+
A Finnish Oy with effective management in Finland: local directors, a compliance function on the ground, and systems that demonstrably run. Helsinki's engineering pool makes the technical hires local.
How are crypto companies taxed?+
A flat 20% corporate tax - no surcharges, no tiers. Crypto-fiat exchange is VAT-exempt as a financial service; the standard VAT rate is 25.5%.
And founders personally?+
Crypto gains are capital income per the Tax Administration: 30% up to €30,000 of annual capital income, 34% above. Long holders can use the deemed acquisition cost - 20% of the sale price, or 40% after ten years - instead of documented costs.
What counts as a taxable event?+
Every disposal - selling for euros, spending on goods, and crypto-to-crypto swaps alike, per official guidance. Mining is earned income, taxed separately. From 2026 the authorities also receive expanded data from service providers.
Does the Finnish licence passport across the EU?+
Yes - one FIN-FSA authorisation covers all 27 EU member states through MiCA passporting after notification, with the Nordic reputation premium travelling with it.
Why Finland rather than Estonia or Lithuania?+
The Baltics win on cost and speed; Finland wins on brand. A FIN-FSA stamp carries the Nordic trust halo with banks and enterprise clients, and the market has been licence-only since mid-2025. Many groups run exactly this calculus; we model it case by case, and our Tallinn HQ serves both answers.
What licence is needed?+
FIN-FSA CASP authorisation under MiCA.
Old regime?+
Transition closed 30 June 2025 - licence-only since.
Capital?+
€50k / €125k / €150k by service class.
How long?+
6-9 months; settled rules, predictable review.
Substance?+
Finnish Oy, local directors, real compliance.
Company taxes?+
20% flat; VAT-exempt exchange.
Founder taxes?+
Capital income 30/34%; deemed cost option.
Taxable events?+
Every disposal, incl. crypto-to-crypto.
EU passport?+
Yes - all 27 states by notification.
Why Finland?+
The Nordic trust premium; Baltics win on cost.
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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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, licence scope, or route fits your business.Free legal opinion: which Finnish route 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 licence scope, 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 Financial Supervisory Authority (FIN-FSA) or any other public authority. Authorisations are granted by, and obtained directly from, the competent authorities.