The pickup began about 18 months ago, before MiCA’s first rules took effect, she said. Stablecoin regulations began applying about a year ago, and crypto-asset service providers have been working through a transition period before the July 1, 2026, deadline. After that date, firms relying on legacy national regimes will no longer be able to provide MiCA-regulated services in the EU.

The inquiries come from entrepreneurs frustrated by bureaucracy and regulatory burdens in Europe.

“They’re not just some random guys,” she said. “They’re former founders or current founders, somebody with multiple exits, somebody with years of experience in crypto.”

The deadline is already reshaping the competitive landscape. Binance, the world’s largest…