MiCA And DORA Regulation: Penetration Testing For Regulated Fintech Platforms In 2026

Over the years, I have worked with various financial institutions, fintech companies, and crypto businesses across Europe, and one similarity that I have observed is that organisations often know they must meet regulatory requirements but are unsure which framework governs licensing, which covers cybersecurity, and how they both align.

MiCA (Regulation EU 2023/1114) is a European law that governs crypto-asset markets and Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs) operating their business in Europe
DORA (Regulation EU 2022/2554) governs the cybersecurity requirements of financial organisations operating within Europe.
MiCA and DORA serve different purposes; they are closely interconnected. MiCA establishes the regulatory framework for crypto-asset issuers and Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs), while DORA defines the cybersecurity, ICT risk management, and penetration testing requirements that these regulated entities must implement. Together, they establish the regulatory and cybersecurity framework operating in the EU.

In this guide, I explain the meaning and applicability of both acts, the requirements of both acts, how MiCA and DORA intersect, the penetration testing requirements introduced under DORA, and the practical steps fintechs and CASPs should take to achieve compliance in 2026.

Source: https://qualysec.com/mica-a ...