Spot crypto is legal to hold, buy and sell, and the service side runs on MiCAR, which applies directly as an EU regulation; Ireland designated the Central Bank of Ireland as the national competent authority for it through S.I. No. 607/2024, published in Iris Oifigiúil on 12 November 2024, and the regime has bound crypto-asset service providers since 30 December 2024. Ireland is not merely a passive recipient of the EU regime - it is where a large share of it is licensed: Kraken holds its MiCA CASP authorisations from the Central Bank of Ireland and passports them to every EEA state, so an Irish resident buys spot crypto from a provider supervised by their own regulator.
A perpetual on ENA tracks price and does not confer ownership of the underlying — the same contract mechanics apply in every jurisdiction; what differs by country is legal status and funding rails.
13 venues open Ethena perps to traders in Ireland.
ApeX
Aster
Avantis
gTrade
Helix
Hyperliquid
Lighter
Pacifica
Paradex
Reya
VestFour steps from sign-up to an open position.
No crypto-specific regime: gains fall under the ordinary Capital Gains Tax rules, where "The rate of CGT is 33% for most gains" and an individual has an annual personal exemption of EUR 1,270 below which no CGT is due.
Trading ENA from Ireland: legal.
Regulator for Ethena trading in Ireland: Central Bank of Ireland (Banc Ceannais na hÉireann).
From Ireland, you can fund an Ethena position using SEPA / SEPA Instant transfer (EUR), Debit card and PayPal.
19 platforms serve Ireland for Ethena trading, among them Aevo, ApeX and Aster.
On Canborsa, Ethena trading from Ireland costs 0.07% per side.