Over 1,700 Unlicensed Crypto Platforms Ordered to Cease Operations, Scammers Lure Users to Migrate Assets After EU MiCA Takes Effect
2026-08-16 14:04
Odaily News: Following the full implementation of the EU's MiCA regulation on July 1, over 1,700 unlicensed crypto platforms have been ordered to cease operations and guide users toward licensed platforms; currently, only 323 companies hold valid authorizations. Approximately 10 million users need to migrate their assets, and scammers are taking advantage of this by impersonating regulators and licensed exchanges, sending fake migration notices to lure users into transferring assets to fraudulent platforms. The French Financial Markets Authority (AMF) stated that scammers have been posing as its employees to defraud funds under the guise of collecting "management fees." The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) confirmed that its identity and logos have been misused. The Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) warned that migration from unlicensed exchanges has itself become an attack surface, advising users to verify service providers through ESMA's official register and to remain vigilant against unsolicited contact requesting fund transfers.
