MiCA 2026 and Crypto Taxation in Austria: What Companies Need to Know Now
With 2026, the EU-wide MiCA regulation's grandfathering period comes to an end. For crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) in Austria, the message is clear: the era of experimentation is over – full compliance is now mandatory.
Blockchain Expert & VBW Co-Founder
Key insights from Day 2 of Vienna Blockchain Week
At VBW26 we dedicate a full day to the topic of policy. Together with partners such as PwC Austria and ABC Research, we tackle the critical questions every crypto company has to answer in 2026.
- Licensing: How does the MiCA licensing process actually work in Austria – from filing with the FMA to passporting into the wider EU single market?
- Travel Rule & AML: How do we run identity checks on-chain without sacrificing privacy? Zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) play a decisive role here.
- Crypto taxation: PwC shares exclusive insights into current tax practice for digital assets in the DACH region – including staking, lending and stablecoin treasuries.
Watch the deadline
The grandfathering phase ends in 2026. Anyone who is not actively preparing the transition to a full MiCA license now risks a gap in operational continuity.
Why this matters
Institutional investors are waiting for regulatory clarity. Companies that operate compliantly in 2026 secure access to the mass market – and to custody mandates from banks, pension funds and asset managers.
- Compliance as a competitive edge: MiCA-compliant providers have had a markedly easier time securing banking relationships and VC funding in recent months.
- A bridge to TradFi: Clear rules open the door to partnerships with traditional financial institutions – especially in Austria.
- DACH as a test market: Companies that get tax practice and reporting right in the DACH region can roll the model out across the EU.
Join our panels on May 19 at the DC Tower and speak directly with experts from Ledger, AMINA Bank and PwC Legal.