Crypto startups in the European Union are encountering significant financial challenges due to the compliance costs associated with the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation. According to NS3.AI, the licensing expenses alone range from €250,000 to €500,000, posing a substantial burden on smaller firms. Austria's Financial Market Authority provides licensing timelines of less than six months, while Germany has reduced the transition period to 12 months. This has intensified the pressure on companies unable to manage the increased compliance costs.