As part of our series on the Central Bank of Ireland’s (CBI) 2026 Regulatory and Supervisory Outlook, we have produced a practical paper examining the crypto‑asset sector and the areas where supervisory scrutiny is now intensifying.

The first full year of MiCAR supervision is underway, with Crypto Asset Service Providers (CASPs) entering their first full supervisory cycle under the new regime. The paper explores how the CBI is moving from setting expectations to testing outcomes, with a particular focus on:

• Custody and safeguarding of crypto‑assets
• Consumer protection and retail customer outcomes under MiCAR
• Financial integrity, fraud risk and AML/CFT controls
• Operational and cyber resilience, including DORA implementation
• Market abuse and surveillance in crypto markets
• MiCAR Title II whitepaper oversight

It also examines what crypto firms must now evidence in practice as supervisory activity increases across the sector. Practical actions are included to help firms assess readiness, strengthen controls and respond to heightened regulatory expectations throughout 2026.