Crypto Company Germany: Buy a GmbH for Fintech and Crypto
A crypto company in Germany is a German legal entity, almost always a GmbH, used to run a crypto, blockchain, or fintech business such as an exchange, a custody service, a broker desk, a wallet, or a token project. Germany sits inside the EU’s harmonised crypto framework (MiCA) and is supervised by BaFin, which makes it a credible base for founders who want to serve the whole European market from one regulated entity. Müller Konsult helps international founders set up that entity, and the fastest route is usually to buy a clean, ready-made GmbH and build from there.
To be clear from the outset: this page is for founders who want to own and operate a crypto-ready German company. It is not a directory of existing German crypto firms, and it is not an exchange where you buy coins. We set up and sell the company; the regulatory licence, where one is needed, is a separate step we explain below.
What is a crypto company in Germany?
A crypto company in Germany is simply a German company whose business is crypto, blockchain, or fintech. In practice that means a GmbH (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung), the standard limited liability company, because it gives you a recognised legal form, limited liability, and the credibility that banks, partners, and regulators expect.
There are two layers to keep separate from the start. The first is the corporate vehicle: the GmbH itself, which exists once it is entered in the commercial register. The second is the regulatory authorisation: a licence from BaFin, under EU rules, that you need before you can offer certain crypto services to the public. You can own a perfectly valid German crypto company and still need to apply for that licence separately. Confusing the two is the most common mistake we see, and most of this page is about keeping them clear.
Is crypto regulated in Germany? MiCA and BaFin
Yes. Crypto-asset services in Germany are regulated under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA / MiCAR), formally Regulation (EU) 2023/1114. The licensing rules for crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) came into force on 30 December 2024, with full enforcement of the regime phasing in to around 1 July 2026 as transitional arrangements for legacy permission holders run out.
The competent authority in Germany is BaFin (the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority), supported by a German companion law, the KMAG (Kryptomärkteaufsichtsgesetz). On top of MiCA, every crypto firm must build an anti-money-laundering framework under Germany’s Geldwäschegesetz (GwG), including customer due diligence and a designated AML function.
The practical upside of operating inside MiCA is EU passporting: a CASP authorised in Germany can offer its services across the European Economic Area without a fresh licence in each member state. That single-market reach is a large part of why founders choose an EU base over an offshore one.
This section is general information about the regulatory landscape, not legal or regulatory advice. Crypto rules are changing quickly, and your obligations depend on your exact business model.
Which crypto activities need a CASP licence?
Whether you need a CASP licence turns on what your company actually does. Activities that typically require authorisation include:
- Custody and administration of crypto-assets on behalf of clients.
- Operating a trading platform (an exchange) for crypto-assets.
- Exchange of crypto for fiat money or for other crypto-assets.
- Execution, placing, or reception and transmission of orders for clients.
- Transfer services for crypto-assets.
- Advice and portfolio management on crypto-assets.
Not every crypto-adjacent business needs a licence. A pure software or development company, a holding vehicle, or a firm that only uses crypto for its own treasury may fall outside the CASP perimeter. The honest answer is that it depends on the model, which is why the first step is always to map your activities against the regime before anyone files anything.
GmbH, UG or AG for a crypto business?
Most crypto founders use a GmbH, but it is worth knowing the alternatives before you commit:
| Entity | Minimum capital | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|
| GmbH | €25,000 (GmbHG §5) | The standard choice: most crypto and fintech businesses, banking, licensing |
| UG (haftungsbeschränkt) | From a low amount, building a reserve to €25,000 (GmbHG §5a) | Very early-stage projects testing an idea with little start-up capital |
| AG | €50,000 (AktG §7) | Larger, investor-heavy or capital-markets-oriented ventures |
For a licensed CASP, the practical reality is that the regulatory capital (below) usually exceeds the company’s own minimum capital, so most applicants use a GmbH and capitalise it to meet the licence. If you want the cheapest start while you validate the idea, a UG (mini-GmbH) can work, and you can convert later. For a full overview, see types of companies in Germany.
- 1. Consultation — We propose the right company and structure for your goals.
- 2. Due diligence — We confirm the company is clean, debt-free and compliant.
- 3. Notarial transfer — Ownership passes to you — remotely if needed (GmbHG §15).
- 4. Setup — Banking, tax, registered address and director are put in place.
Buying a ready-made GmbH as your crypto vehicle
If you need the corporate vehicle quickly, buying a clean shelf company in Germany is the fastest route. A shelf GmbH is already incorporated, has its capital paid in, and is entered in the commercial register, but it has never traded, so it carries no debts and no history. You take it over through a notarised share transfer and start building your business immediately, instead of waiting out a fresh incorporation.
One thing we are careful to state plainly, because some sellers blur it: a shelf company is not a pre-licensed crypto company. Buying a GmbH gives you the entity, not the BaFin authorisation. The shelf company shortens the corporate timeline; the licence is still a separate application that depends on your capital, your management, and your compliance setup. Used correctly, a ready-made GmbH is a head start, not a shortcut around regulation.
The setup process step by step
We handle the whole project, from first call to a company that is ready to operate and, where needed, to apply for its licence:
- Consultation. We map your model (exchange, custody, broker, wallet, advisory) and decide whether a CASP licence is required.
- Choose the vehicle. Buy a clean ready-made GmbH for speed, or form a new one, with UG or AG considered where it fits.
- Notarial share transfer. Ownership passes by notarial act, mandatory under GmbHG §15, with remote and power-of-attorney options for buyers abroad.
- Register and substance. We file the managing director, registered office, and shareholder list, update the transparency register, and start building your AML and KYC framework.
- Banking. We help you open a business account, usually the hardest part for a crypto firm.
- Licensing, if required. We prepare the BaFin/MiCA CASP application: capital, fit-and-proper management, AML officer, and the business plan.
- Tax and ongoing compliance. Tax-office registration, VAT, accounting, annual filings, and the ongoing BaFin and AML duties that follow a licence.
Substance: management, AML, and the beneficial-owner register
A German crypto company needs real substance, not just a registration. Every GmbH must have at least one managing director, a Geschäftsführer (GmbHG §6), and for a licensed firm BaFin expects management to be qualified and fit and proper. You also need a working AML framework with a designated officer, and the company’s ultimate beneficial owners must be reported to the Transparenzregister. We coordinate all of this so the file holds up to scrutiny.
- €25,000 — Germany — GmbH
- €10,000 — Austria — GmbH
- CHF 20,000 — Switzerland — GmbH
- CHF 50,000 — Liechtenstein — AG
Bar length is scaled to an approximate EUR equivalent; capital is stated in each country’s statutory currency. Sources: GmbHG §5, Austrian GesRÄG 2023, Swiss CO, Liechtenstein PGR.
Share capital and legal requirements
It helps to see the two capital layers separately, because they are often confused:
- The GmbH’s own capital is €25,000 (GmbHG §5). At least one quarter of each share and a total of at least €12,500 must be paid in before registration (GmbHG §7). In a shelf company this is already done.
- A managing director is required for every GmbH (GmbHG §6), and liability is limited to the company’s assets (GmbHG §13), which protects your personal assets.
- The CASP licence carries its own capital requirement on top of the company capital. Under MiCA this is generally €50,000 to €150,000 depending on the class of services, with a floor of 25% of the prior year’s fixed overheads. This is regulatory capital for the licence, not the €25,000 GmbH minimum.
Keeping these numbers distinct matters when you budget: a licensed exchange or custodian needs far more capital than the company itself requires.
What it costs: company vs licensing
Crypto setup costs come in two parts, and we keep them transparent rather than bundling everything into one vague figure. The first part is the company; the second is the regulatory project.
| Always included (the company) | Optional or separate |
|---|---|
| The statutory share capital (€25,000 for a GmbH) | A business bank account |
| Notarial fees for the share transfer | A VAT number (USt-IdNr) |
| Commercial register fees | A virtual office or registered address |
| The full set of company documents and transfer | A nominee or local managing director |
| Ongoing tax, accounting, and compliance | |
| The CASP licensing project (separate regulatory layer) |
A key point: the share capital is not a fee. It belongs to the company and works in its business once you own it. The licensing layer is genuinely separate. As a market reference, MiCA’s CASP capital sits in the €50,000–€150,000 range above, and industry sources report a BaFin application fee in the region of €10,750; these are regulatory figures, not Müller Konsult charges, and we quote our own work transparently. For the company side, see our shelf company cost guide, and contact us for a clear quote.
Have questions about your specific crypto model? Request a free callback with our lawyers, with no commitment. Talk to our team.
Banking for a German crypto company
For most crypto founders, opening a business account is the hardest single step, harder than the company or even the licence. Many traditional banks are cautious about crypto, so you may need a crypto-friendly bank or a regulated electronic money institution, and you should expect detailed questions about your model, your owners, and your source of funds. A clean, well-documented company helps, and so does local presence. We help you prepare and open a business bank account in Germany, and a nominee or local director can satisfy requirements that are difficult to meet from abroad. Choosing a shelf company with a bank account already in place can remove the bottleneck entirely.
Crypto company tax in Germany
A German crypto company is taxed like any other GmbH. Corporation tax is 15% plus the 5.5% solidarity surcharge, and municipal trade tax (Gewerbesteuer) is added on top, so the effective corporate rate is around 30%, varying by municipality. Standard VAT is 19%, though many financial and crypto-specific supplies have their own treatment. How your particular tokens, trading, and services are taxed depends on the detail, so we plan it with a tax adviser rather than guess. For the full picture, see our guide to corporate tax in Germany. This is general information, not tax advice.
Foreign and non-EU founders: ownership, remote setup, EU passport
You do not need to be German, or an EU citizen, to own a German crypto company. There is no nationality or residency requirement to hold shares in a GmbH, and the purchase or formation can be completed remotely using a remote notary or a power of attorney, so non-EU founders can take ownership without travelling. If you are starting from outside Germany, our guide on how to buy a company in Germany as a foreigner walks through the practical steps. The big advantage of the German route is that a CASP licence obtained here can be passported across the EEA, so one authorisation reaches the whole European market. We coordinate the cross-border paperwork and KYC on your behalf.
Germany or Switzerland for crypto? A DACH comparison
Founders often weigh Germany against Switzerland, and the trade-off is straightforward. Germany gives you the EU single market: a MiCA CASP licence passports across the EEA. Switzerland sits outside MiCA and regulates crypto through FINMA and its anti-money-laundering law, with a lighter SRO-membership route for some intermediation activities and full FINMA authorisation for custody, deposits, or stablecoins. Switzerland’s canton of Zug, the “Crypto Valley”, is a long-established hub with attractive tax. Both require real substance, an office, and local management. If your priority is EU reach, Germany usually wins; if it is the Swiss ecosystem and tax, look at our guides to a crypto company in Switzerland and a shelf company in Zug.
Ongoing compliance and why a lawyer-led provider
Setting up the company is the start, not the finish. A German GmbH must keep proper books, file annual financial statements and tax returns, and keep its commercial-register and beneficial-owner entries current. A licensed CASP also carries ongoing BaFin and AML obligations, including reporting, monitoring, and capital maintenance. These duties are exactly where many providers go quiet.
There is no shortage of websites selling crypto companies, and some are little more than checkout pages or offshore intermediaries with no German presence. A regulated crypto business is a serious undertaking, so who you build it with matters. With Müller Konsult you get legal sourcing grounded in the actual law cited on this page, genuine due diligence on any company you buy, a clear separation of company cost from licensing cost, and a named, accountable corporate lawyer with a real office in Düsseldorf, not an anonymous form. We can also support the company long after handover, including its accounting, filings, and amendments. If you ever need a wider European base, we cover the DACH region too.
Frequently asked questions
What is a crypto company in Germany?
It is a German legal entity, usually a GmbH, used to run a crypto, blockchain, or fintech business such as an exchange, custody service, broker, wallet, or token project. The company is the vehicle; any required licence is a separate regulatory step.
Is crypto regulated in Germany?
Yes. Crypto-asset services are regulated under the EU’s MiCA regulation (Regulation 2023/1114), with CASP licensing rules in force since 30 December 2024. The supervisor is BaFin, and anti-money-laundering duties apply under the GwG.
Do I need a BaFin or CASP licence?
It depends on your activities. Custody, exchange, trading-platform operation, order handling, transfers, and advice generally require a CASP licence. Some pure-technology, holding, or own-treasury setups may fall outside the regime. We assess your model first.
What is MiCA and when does it apply?
MiCA is the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation, EU Reg 2023/1114. The CASP licensing rules came into force on 30 December 2024, with the regime fully enforced as transitional arrangements end, by around 1 July 2026.
Does buying a company give me the licence?
No. Buying a GmbH gives you the corporate vehicle, not the BaFin authorisation. A shelf company is not a pre-licensed crypto company. The licence is a separate application based on your capital, management, and compliance framework.
Can I buy a ready-made GmbH for crypto?
Yes. A clean ready-made GmbH is the fastest way to get the corporate vehicle, since it is already registered with capital paid in. You then build the compliance setup and, where required, apply for the CASP licence on top.
What capital does a CASP need?
Under MiCA, generally €50,000 to €150,000 depending on the class of services, with a floor of 25% of the prior year’s fixed overheads. This regulatory capital is separate from, and usually larger than, the €25,000 GmbH minimum capital.
What is the GmbH minimum capital?
€25,000 under GmbHG §5, with at least €12,500 paid in before registration under §7. In a ready-made shelf company, this capital is already paid in and verified.
Which entity should I use, GmbH, UG or AG?
The GmbH is the standard choice for crypto and fintech. A UG suits very early-stage projects with little start-up capital, and an AG suits larger, investor-heavy ventures. Most licensed CASPs use a well-capitalised GmbH.
Can a foreigner own a German crypto company?
Yes. There is no nationality or residency requirement to own a German GmbH. Foreign and non-EU founders can hold the shares and run the business, subject to the usual due diligence and regulatory rules.
Can I set it up remotely?
Yes. The share transfer or formation can be completed remotely using a remote notary or a power of attorney, so you need not travel. KYC checks and real substance, such as management and an office, still apply.
How long does it take?
The company itself can be ready in days with a shelf GmbH, or a few weeks with a new formation. A CASP licence typically takes several months from a complete BaFin submission, depending on the service class and the quality of the file.
What about banking for crypto firms?
Banking is usually the hardest part. Many banks are cautious about crypto, so you may need a crypto-friendly bank or a regulated e-money institution, and they will scrutinise your model and owners. A clean company and local presence improve your chances.
What is the crypto tax position in Germany?
A crypto GmbH is taxed like any company, with an effective corporate rate of around 30% and standard VAT of 19%. The treatment of specific tokens and services varies, so plan it with a tax adviser. This is general information, not tax advice.
Does a German licence work across the EU?
Yes. A CASP licence obtained in Germany can be passported across the European Economic Area, so one authorisation lets you serve clients throughout the EU without licensing separately in each country.
What does the price include and what costs extra?
The company side always includes the statutory capital, notarial and register fees, and all documents. Optional extras are a bank account, VAT number, virtual office, and nominee director. The CASP licensing project is a separate regulatory layer, quoted on its own.
What ongoing compliance applies?
Every GmbH must keep accounts, file annual financial statements and tax returns, and keep its register and beneficial-owner entries current. A licensed CASP also has ongoing BaFin reporting, monitoring, AML, and capital obligations.
Why use a lawyer-led provider rather than an online shop?
Because a regulated crypto business carries real legal and supervisory obligations. A lawyer-led provider gives you legal sourcing, genuine due diligence, a clear split of company versus licensing cost, ongoing support, and a named, accountable adviser, not just a checkout page.
Official sources
- Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 — eur-lex.europa.eu
- BaFin (Federal Financial Supervisory Authority), crypto supervision — bafin.de
- German Limited Liability Companies Act (GmbHG), official English text — gesetze-im-internet.de
Ready to set up your crypto company in Germany?
Contact Müller Konsult for a compliant German GmbH and clear guidance on MiCA and BaFin. We map your model, propose the right vehicle, and guide you through every step. Müller Konsult · Königsallee 27, 40212 Düsseldorf · +49 211 5403 8800 · info@gmbhforsale.com · Request a callback
Reviewed by Stefan Stelthove, Corporate & Commercial Lawyer, Müller Konsult. Last updated 7 June 2026.
Related: GmbH for sale · Shelf company Germany · Crypto company Switzerland · Company with a VAT number · Corporate tax in Germany
