> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://www.headlesslaw.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://www.headlesslaw.com/mica/articles/70.md).

# Article 70 — Safekeeping of clients’ crypto-assets and funds

*In force · Consolidated version of 9 January 2024 · Checked against EUR-Lex on 19 Oct 2026 ·* [*Official source*](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02023R1114-20240109)

1. [Crypto-asset service providers](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/crypto-asset-service-provider) that hold crypto-assets belonging to [clients](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/client) or the means of access to such crypto-assets shall make adequate arrangements to safeguard the ownership rights of clients, especially in the event of the [crypto-asset service provider](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/crypto-asset-service-provider)’s insolvency, and to prevent the use of clients’ crypto-assets for their own account.
2. Where their business models or the [crypto-asset services](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/crypto-asset-service) require holding clients’ [funds](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/funds) other than [e-money tokens](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/electronic-money-token), [crypto-asset service providers](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/crypto-asset-service-provider) shall have adequate arrangements in place to safeguard the ownership rights of clients and prevent the use of clients’ funds for their own account.
3. [Crypto-asset service providers](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/crypto-asset-service-provider) shall, by the end of the business day following the day on which clients’ [funds](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/funds) other than [e-money tokens](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/electronic-money-token) were received, place those funds with a [credit institution](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/credit-institution) or a central bank.

   [Crypto-asset service providers](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/crypto-asset-service-provider) shall take all necessary steps to ensure that clients’ [funds](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/funds) other than e-money tokens held with a [credit institution](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/credit-institution) or a central bank are held in an account separately identifiable from any accounts used to hold funds belonging to the [crypto-asset service providers](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/crypto-asset-service-provider).
4. [Crypto-asset service providers](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/crypto-asset-service-provider) may themselves, or through a third party, provide [payment services](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/payment-services) related to the [crypto-asset service](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/crypto-asset-service) they offer provided that the [crypto-asset service provider](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/crypto-asset-service-provider) itself, or the third party, is authorised to provide those services under Directive (EU) 2015/2366.

   Where [payment services](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/payment-services) are provided, [crypto-asset service providers](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/crypto-asset-service-provider) shall inform their [clients](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/client) of all of the following:

   **(a)** the nature and terms and conditions of those services, including references to the applicable national law and to the rights of clients;

   **(b)** whether those services are provided by them directly or by a third party.
5. Paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article shall not apply to [crypto-asset service providers](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/crypto-asset-service-provider) that are [electronic money institutions](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/electronic-money-institution), [payment institutions](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/payment-institution) or credit institutions.

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#### Related

* [crypto-asset service provider](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/crypto-asset-service-provider) — definition used in this article
* [crypto-asset service](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/crypto-asset-service) — definition used in this article
* [credit institution](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/credit-institution) — definition used in this article
* [electronic money](https://www.headlesslaw.com/definitions/mica/electronic-money) — definition used in this article

### Related Level 2 and Level 3

#### Guidance and Q\&A

* [ESMA Q\&A 2486 — Q\&A — Interests earned from client funds \[Published Answer Updated\]](/mica/level-3/q-and-a/esma/esma-qa-2486-interests-earned-client-funds-deposited-at-credit.md)
* [ESMA Q\&A 2578 — Q\&A — Commingling client assets \[Answer Published\]](/mica/level-3/q-and-a/esma/esma-qa-2578-commingling-client-assets.md)
* [ESMA Q\&A 2607 — Q\&A — Staking on own account \[Answer Published\]](/mica/level-3/q-and-a/esma/esma-qa-2607-staking-own-account.md)
* [ESMA Q\&A 2883 — Q\&A — Crypto-asset lending services under MiCA \[Answer Published\]](/mica/level-3/q-and-a/esma/esma-qa-2883-crypto-asset-lending-services.md)
* [ESMA Q\&A 2932 — Q\&A — Transient exposure of EU \[Forwarded to EC/Public Consultation/Other\]](/mica/level-3/q-and-a/esma/esma-qa-2932-transient-client-assets-non-eu-hot-wallet.md)
* [ESMA Q\&A 2933 — Q\&A — Non-EU entities in signing \[Forwarded to EC/Public Consultation/Other\]](/mica/level-3/q-and-a/esma/esma-qa-2933-non-eu-group-entities-transaction-signing.md)

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[Title V — Authorisation and operating conditions for crypto-asset service providers](/mica/titles/v.md) › Chapter 2 — Obligations for all crypto-asset service providers · [← Article 69](/mica/articles/69.md) · [Article 71 →](/mica/articles/71.md)