Every scam exchange presents itself as legitimate. Fake or exaggerated registration claims are the most common deception. An exchange may name a real regulator, show a certificate image, or invent an official-sounding body. The only protection is to verify the registration directly on the official register.
US crypto exchanges must register with FinCEN as a money services business (MSB). Use the FinCEN MSB Registrant Search on the official fincen.gov site.
Remember that FinCEN registration is an anti-money-laundering measure, not a guarantee of solvency. Always check custody and proof-of-reserves too.
The FCA (Financial Conduct Authority) publishes registered cryptoasset firms at register.fca.org.uk.
Under the EU's MiCA framework, crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) are authorised by national regulators and listed publicly (ESMA also maintains a central register).
In Singapore, the MAS (Monetary Authority of Singapore) lists licensed payment-service providers in its Financial Institutions Directory. In Dubai, the VARA (Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority) publishes licensed virtual-asset service providers.
Every exchange in our database has been checked against official registers. We show the regulator, the registration type, and the verification date. Use our free exchange check tool to look up any exchange's registration in seconds, or visit the individual exchange check pages for a full data breakdown on any of the 100 exchanges we cover.
Search the relevant official register for the exchange's legal entity. FinCEN MSB Registrant Search (US), the FCA cryptoasset register at register.fca.org.uk (UK), your national MiCA/CASP list (EU), or the MAS directory (Singapore). Confirm the status is current and the permitted activities match.
A US crypto exchange must register with FinCEN as a money services business and follow AML/KYC rules. It is an anti-money-laundering requirement, not proof of solvency, and exchanges also need state money-transmitter licences (plus a NYDFS BitLicense for New York).
MiCA is the EU's crypto framework. A CASP authorised under MiCA must meet capital, custody and conduct rules and can passport across the EU. It is a real step up from an unregistered offshore exchange, though newer than established securities regimes. Verify the entity on your national CASP list.
No verifiable registration; entity not found in the register; no proof-of-reserves or unclear custody; pressure to deposit; withdrawal fees or "tax" to release funds; guaranteed return promises. If in doubt, check the registration yourself on the official register before depositing.
Last updated 2026-09-16. This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.