Your VASP Website Must Change

MiCA compliance essentials that could make or break your crypto business

Read time: 3 minutes

Time's running out. If you're operating a crypto service in the EU, your website needs a complete overhaul sooner than you think.

MiCA transforms your website from a marketing tool into a legal document that regulators will scrutinize.

Get it wrong, and you're out of business. Get it right, and you'll outpace competitors still thinking like it's 2021.

The Eight Non-Negotiables

1. Kill the Crypto-Bro Language

What MiCA says: Article 66 demands fair, clear, non-misleading information.

What you do: Strip out every phrase that hints at guaranteed returns or risk-free gains. Replace "moon" and "diamond hands" with plain English. If a financial regulator would frown at your wording, rewrite it.

Red flag phrases to delete:

• "Guaranteed profits"

• "Risk-free investment"

• "Can't lose money"

2. Show Every Fee Upfront

What MiCA says: Article 66(4) requires complete fee transparency.

What you do: Create a "Fees & Charges" page that lists everything—trading fees, spreads, withdrawals, deposits. No hiding costs three clicks deep. Build a fee calculator so users know exactly what they'll pay before they commit.

Hidden fees = regulatory death sentence.

3. Make Risk Warnings Impossible to Ignore

What MiCA says: Article 66(3) mandates clear, unambiguous risk disclosures.

What you do: Forget generic "crypto is volatile" warnings. Use specific statements:

• "You may lose your entire investment"

• "Prices can drop 50% in minutes"

• "Transactions cannot be reversed"

Put these in pop-ups that users must click to acknowledge. Make them bold, visible, unavoidable.

4. Disclose Environmental Impact

What MiCA says: Article 66(5) requires consensus mechanism impact reporting.

What you do: For every crypto asset you offer, publish:

• Annual energy consumption (kWh)

• Carbon emissions estimates

• Proof-of-work vs proof-of-stake comparisons

Create a "Sustainability" section with charts and data. ESG compliance isn't optional anymore.

5. Link Every White Paper

What MiCA says: Article 66(3) requires white paper access.

What you do: Add a "Read White Paper" link on every token page. Users need to understand what they're buying. Missing white papers = regulatory violations.

6. Publish Your Complaints Process

What MiCA says: Article 71 requires clear complaint procedures.

What you do: Create a "Customer Rights" section explaining:

• How to file complaints

• Response timeframes

• Escalation procedures

• Contact information

Also publish conflict of interest statements per Article 72. If you profit from trades or promote specific tokens, say so clearly.

7. Explain Payment Processing

What MiCA says: Article 70(4) requires payment clarity for fiat conversions.

What you do: Tell users:

• Who processes their payments (you or third-party)

• All fees and settlement times

• Which PSD2 rules apply

Transparency builds trust. Confusion kills conversions.

8. Label All Marketing

What MiCA says: Articles 26 & 27 govern promotional content.

What you do: Every ad, blog post, or promotional material needs:

• Clear "marketing" labels

• This disclaimer: "This marketing communication has not been reviewed or approved by any competent authority. The offeror is solely responsible for its content."

• White paper links

• Contact information

What Regulators Really Want (But Won't Tell You)

Three expectations that aren't written in MiCA but matter:

Archive everything: Keep old versions of your website and marketing materials. Regulators will ask for them.

Mobile-first compliance: Risk warnings and fees must be equally visible on phones and desktops.

Consumer protection standards: Clear company identity, proper terms and conditions, privacy notices that actually make sense.

The Instant Audit Checklist

Walk through your website right now:

❌ Guaranteed returns mentioned anywhere? Delete immediately.

❌ Fees buried in fine print? Move to prominent display.

❌ Generic risk warnings? Replace with specific statements.

❌ Missing environmental data? Research and publish.

❌ White papers hard to find? Add direct links.

❌ No complaints procedure? Write one today.

❌ Payment process unclear? Explain everything.❌

Marketing unlabeled? Add proper disclaimers.

Your 90-Day Action Plan

Month 1: Audit current content, add basic risk warnings and fee disclosures, create complaints procedure.

Month 2: Implement environmental reporting, link white papers, publish conflict of interest statements.

Month 3: Test mobile accessibility, optimize compliance content, train customer service team on new procedures.

This guide covers MiCA essentials but isn't legal advice. Consult qualified legal counsel for your specific situation.