Which ESMA resource answers the question?
| Question | Starting resource | Boundary to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Is an investment firm recorded with the relevant permission? | Investment-firm register and national authority links | Match the legal entity, status and service |
| Where is a published prospectus? | Prospectus documents or securities search | Read the issuer, document date and scope |
| Which instrument does an identifier refer to? | Financial Instruments Reference Database (FIRDS) | An instrument reference is not a broker licence |
| Where is an issuer's regulated disclosure stored? | National Officially Appointed Mechanisms linked by ESMA | Disclosure is distributed across national resources |
| Where is MiCA provider or white-paper information? | The MiCA register resources | Different files describe different objects |
These routes are documented in ESMA's directory. Use the directory as the durable starting point when individual register interfaces move. ESMA databases
Open ESMA's databases and registers
Identify the legal entity rather than only the brand
ESMA's investor guidance directs readers to official investment-firm records and national authorities. It describes checking the entity type and status, together with the record of authorised services. Is the firm regulated?
A suggested working note keeps the exact legal name, country, identifier where provided, current status, service and access date. When a provider uses several group entities, write which entity the document concerns. Do not transfer a record from one group company to another merely because they share a brand.
If a match remains unclear, the next step is to consult the relevant national authority, not to fill the gap with a presumed approval.
Read MiCA entries according to their type
ESMA's MiCA documentation separates information about crypto-asset service providers, certain issuers, white papers and non-compliant entities. A white-paper entry and a service-provider record therefore answer different questions. MiCA register documentation
For the Title II white papers in its register, ESMA expressly warns that listing does not mean review or approval by a competent authority. Do not describe a token as 'ESMA approved' merely because its document can be found there. ESMA white-paper warning
This guide does not reproduce a list of currently authorised providers. Open the live record and retain its date and stated scope when the status matters.
The register is evidence within a defined scope
Finding an entry can help establish what the authority records about a particular object. It does not logically answer whether an investment will perform well, whether every product under a brand is covered, or whether a marketing interpretation is correct.
For example, a hypothetical note that says 'the identified entity has the recorded status for the stated activity, checked on this date' is narrower and more inspectable than 'the platform is safe'. This is a documentation example, not a finding about any firm.
When to follow the national authority link
ESMA provides links to national records and explains that national information not available in the consolidated investment-firm resource may be accessed there. The national record can therefore be the appropriate next document when the central result does not settle the question. ESMA investor guidance
Keep the original query and what remains unresolved. Do not infer authorisation simply because a brand appears in a different ESMA database.
Questions about ESMA registers
Is there one ESMA register for all financial questions?
No. The official directory lists resources with different functions. Start with the object being researched instead of searching an arbitrary database. ESMA directory
Is a listed crypto-asset white paper a regulatory recommendation?
No. ESMA's warning for listed Title II white papers distinguishes publication from regulatory review or approval. Read the relevant document and record type. MiCA documentation
What if a brand name does not produce a clear firm match?
Check the legal entity and the appropriate national authority resource. A missing or ambiguous search result should remain unresolved in your notes until the correct source clarifies it. ESMA firm guidance
Sources and scope
Databases and Registers
European Securities and Markets Authority Official register directory
Published/updated: Date not consistently stated; live documentation
Scope: Different purposes of investment-firm, prospectus, instrument, national disclosure and MiCA resources. Not a single universal register.
Documentation consulted: October 9, 2026
Is the firm regulated?
European Securities and Markets Authority Official investor guidance
Published/updated: Date not consistently stated; live documentation
Scope: Legal-entity matching, investment-firm status and links to national authorities. Not a complete legal opinion on all possible service arrangements.
Documentation consulted: October 9, 2026
Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA): Interim MiCA Register
European Securities and Markets Authority Official regulatory register documentation
Published/updated: Date not consistently stated; live documentation
Scope: Separate MiCA files and the warning that listed Title II white papers are not regulatory approvals. Transitional dates are deliberately not generalized.
Documentation consulted: October 9, 2026
Related resources
Continue on Orbitrum
For provider descriptions, use the platform-documentation guides. For UK records, use the separate FCA guide; do not apply one jurisdiction's record as a worldwide permission statement.
The Academy evidence method explains how to record a source without overstating the conclusion it supports.
Source-based reference prepared with AI assistance. No hands-on platform test or named expert review is claimed.
Educational reference, not a platform recommendation or personalised investment, legal or tax advice. Check current documents for the relevant service and jurisdiction.
This is an Orbitrum guide to third-party documentation, not an official page of the provider or authority. Listing a resource does not imply endorsement or partnership.