Regulated (Crypto)

Regulated, in a crypto context, describes an exchange, custodian, stablecoin issuer or other firm that holds a licence, registration or authorisation from a financial regulator and is supervised under that regime. Examples include a virtual asset service provider registered in its home country, a firm authorised under the EU's MiCA regulation or a New York business holding a BitLicense. Being regulated usually brings duties such as know your customer checks, anti-money laundering controls, capital or reserve rules and reporting. The label has limits. Registration for anti-money laundering purposes alone is lighter than full authorisation, a licence in one country does not cover customers elsewhere, and regulation does not guarantee that a firm is solvent or that crypto holdings are protected like bank deposits. Users are generally advised to check a regulator's public register rather than rely on a firm's own claims.