MiCA Certification
Programs for CASPs
Meet ESMA's mandatory knowledge and competence requirements with the only trilingual MiCA certification program designed for institutional teams — developed in partnership with DEC Institute.
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Two pathways.
One compliance standard.
Choose the certification that matches the role and responsibilities of your team members. Both programs are fully aligned with ESMA Guidelines 2 and 3.
Designed for professionals who provide information on crypto assets or CASP services. The MIC™ ensures staff can deliver accurate, compliant information to clients under MiCA regulation.
Who it's for
- Customer service & client onboarding representatives
- Sales and marketing staff
- Support personnel providing product information
Built for professionals who advise clients on crypto asset investments. The MAC™ validates advanced competence for advisory roles under MiCA, covering the full Guideline 3 suitability framework.
Who it's for
- Crypto asset advisors and relationship managers
- Portfolio managers incorporating crypto mandates
- Senior compliance and advisory officers
MiCA changes everything
for crypto professionals.
Legal obligation, not a checkbox
MiCA introduces mandatory knowledge and competence requirements for all CASP staff who provide information or advice to clients. Non-compliance is a supervisory risk — authorities are actively auditing authorisation files.
EU-wide standard, national enforcement
For the first time, a single framework governs crypto services across all EU member states. But each NCA (AMF, BaFin, CSSF, FINMA for Switzerland) may apply additional requirements — making third-party certification the safest path.
Documented at authorisation time
When applying for CASP authorisation, firms must describe the professional training of their employees. Certified staff, with per-employee ESMA audit records, is the standard regulators expect to see.
Annual CPD obligation — ongoing
MiCA certification is not a one-time event. Information staff must complete 10h CPD/year; advisory staff 20h — all assessed by a recognised external body. Regulators will verify annual compliance records.
"MiCA's knowledge requirements aren't just a compliance checkbox. They represent a fundamental shift in how crypto firms must professionalise their client-facing operations. The industry now faces the same standards as traditional finance — and those who fail to adapt by July 2026 will find themselves at a significant competitive disadvantage."
The strategic briefing
before the certification.
format
Module 0 — MiCA Executive Briefing
A 2-hour strategic session built for C-suite and board members who need the full picture — fast. Based on The Big Whale's proprietary intelligence from 150+ institutional clients across Europe.
- What MiCA changes for your business model
- The 6-month enforcement clock and regulatory timeline
- Key figures on the European crypto-asset market
- How your institutional peers are responding
- The decisions your organisation needs to make now
What your teams
will master.
A rigorous curriculum mapped directly to ESMA's knowledge and competence guidelines. Modules 1–6 form the MIC™ programme. All 12 modules comprise the MAC™.
- MiCA Overview and Scope
- Crypto-Asset Categories under MiCA
- Crypto-Asset Services and Licensing
- Investor Protection Obligations
- Staff Knowledge & Competence Requirements
- Case Study: Applying MiCA to Business Scenarios
- Blockchain Technology 101
- Wallets, Keys, and Transactions
- Consensus Mechanisms
- Major Blockchain Protocols
- Smart Contracts and Tokenization
- Types of Crypto-Assets
- Interactive Crypto Simulation
- Market Volatility and Liquidity Risk
- Cybersecurity Threats in Crypto
- Private Key Management and Custody Risk
- Smart Contract and Protocol Risks
- Scams, Fraud and Social Engineering
- Stablecoin Risks
- Client Risk Disclosure Role-Play
- Fees and Costs in Crypto Transactions
- Crypto Market Structure & Trading Platforms
- Liquidity and Market Depth
- Price Drivers: Sentiment and Macro Events
- Interactive Scenario: Explaining Costs and Slippage
- AML/CFT Compliance Fundamentals
- Market Abuse and Fraud Prevention
- Marketing and Communication Standards
- Client Interest First: Ethical Conduct
- Data Privacy and Security
- AML Case Study: Suspicious Activity
- Foundations of Crypto Asset Valuation
- Fundamental Analysis of Crypto Projects
- Tokenomics and Crypto Economic Models
- On-Chain Metrics and Analytical Tools
- Environmental Sustainability in Crypto
- Capstone Case: Comprehensive Crypto Assessment
- Product Classifications under MiCA
- Stablecoins, ARTs, EMTs: Risk and Regulatory Considerations
- Complexity Factors: Custody, Redemption, Governance
- Comparing Asset Features for Suitability
- Valuation Mechanisms and Limitations
- Identifying Investor Type: Growth vs. Defensive Clients
- Assessing Knowledge, Experience, and Loss Capacity
- Translating Qualitative Goals into Risk Indicators
- Documenting and Evidencing Risk Profile Quality
- Case Study: Misjudged Risk Profile
- Identifying Investor Type: Growth vs. Defensive Clients
- Assessing Knowledge, Experience, and Loss Capacity
- Translating Qualitative Goals into Risk Indicators
- Documenting and Evidencing Risk Profile Quality
- Case Study: Misjudged Risk Profile
- Aggregating Total Client Costs: Fees, Spread, Network
- Explaining CASP Advice Fees vs. Trading Costs
- Impact of Costs on Performance and Suitability
- Regulatory Expectations for Cost Disclosure under MiCA
- Role-Play: Total Cost of Ownership in Client Language
- Acting in the Client's Best Interest under MiCA
- Conflict of Interest Identification and Management
- Inducements, Cross-Selling, and Ethical Limits
- Communicating When Advice Cannot Be Given
- Case Study: In-House Token Promotion and Conflicts
- Advanced Portfolio Construction for Crypto Mandates
- Performance Attribution and Benchmarking
- Client Communication on Complex Portfolios
- Regulatory Expectations for Portfolio Reporting
- Capstone: Full Advisory Cycle Simulation
The global benchmark for
digital asset credentials.
The Big Whale —
your market intelligence edge.
The Big Whale is an independent market intelligence platform on digital assets, serving 150+ financial institutions across Europe. As the exclusive intelligence partner of this programme, TBW embeds real-time regulatory tracking, market data, and institutional insights directly into the certification content.
Everything you need
to know.
The MIC™ (80h) certifies staff who provide information about crypto assets without offering personalized recommendations. The MAC™ (160h) certifies staff who provide advice — personalized investment recommendations that trigger suitability obligations under MiCA.
Giving information: delivering factual, non-personalised details about a crypto-asset or service without suggesting what a client should do. Giving advice: offering a personal recommendation tailored to a client's situation. As soon as guidance is individualised, it becomes advice and MiCA suitability requirements apply.
Under ESMA Guideline 2: Path A — 80h professional qualification (MIC™) + 6 months supervised experience. Path B — 1 year supervised experience without formal qualification. Both require an assessment demonstrating knowledge across all Guideline 2 criteria.
Under ESMA Guideline 3, candidates must pass an assessment and meet one of: (1) relevant tertiary degree + 1 years supervised advisory experience; (2) 160h professional training + 1 year supervised experience; (3) 2 years prior MiFID II or IDD advisory experience + 6 months supervised crypto-asset advisory.
Yes. ESMA allows firms to grandfather competence for staff performing a relevant role for at least 1 year before guidelines apply. Employers must document this experience and confirm it covers all relevant knowledge areas. This is a one-time exception — new hires after this date must follow the standard path.
MIC™ holders: 10 hours/year. MAC™ holders: 20 hours/year. All CPD must include an assessment and cover regulatory changes, market developments, and emerging risks. DEC Institute's CPD platform provides ESMA-aligned annual learning activities.
Yes. Staff may operate under supervision of a fully certified individual, with documented supervision arrangements. The supervising staff member is responsible for all client-facing activity. Supervised staff must become fully certified within 4 years.
A 4-week waiting period applies before reattempt. Candidates receive a detailed result report identifying knowledge gaps. The first retake is included in the program fees. Firms may allow continued supervised work during this period.
Prepare your team
before July 28, 2026.
Don't wait for regulatory enforcement — group discounts available for 10+ participants.
Need a consultation? Talk to Silvan Sperl, MiCA Program Director
Questions about enrollment, group pricing, or programme details.
Already a The Big Whale member? Ask about preferential pricing when requesting your quote.