Reed Smith Launches Aquarius Platform to Help Crypto Firms Comply With EU MiCA Rules

The European Union’s crypto regulatory framework has entered a new stage, prompting businesses to strengthen their compliance efforts. In response, global law firm Reed Smith has launched Aquarius, an automated platform designed to help cryptocurrency companies meet the requirements of the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulation. The platform is aimed at businesses entering the European market as well as firms expanding their digital asset services across the region.

Aquarius Aims to Simplify MiCA Compliance

Reed Smith, which operates more than 30 offices across North America, Europe and Asia, said Aquarius automates major compliance tasks, including crypto asset classification, regulatory white paper generation, due diligence, and environmental, social and governance (ESG) disclosures. The firm said the platform combines legal expertise with automated workflows to make compliance more efficient. It also plans to expand Aquarius to support crypto regulations in the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

MiCA Enforcement Increases Regulatory Pressure

The launch follows the end of the EU’s MiCA transition period on July 1, after which crypto firms could no longer rely on temporary national exemptions in countries that adopted the full grandfathering period. MiCA establishes a unified framework covering licensing, consumer protection, and operational requirements for crypto-asset service providers across all 27 EU member states.

Reed Smith has also advised on major digital asset transactions through its On Chain initiative, including Trump Media’s $2.5 billion Bitcoin treasury financing and Nakamoto Holdings’ merger with KindlyMD. Meanwhile, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has launched a supervisory review of authorized crypto firms, while Sebastien Dessimoz, co-founder and managing partner of Taurus, said obtaining a MiCA license is only the beginning, as firms will continue to face oversight on cybersecurity, governance, and client asset protection. EU policymakers are also considering changes to MiCA’s stablecoin rules following the US GENIUS Act.