Digital banking platform, Revolut has been awarded authorization by the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CYSEC) to expand its crypto services across the European Economic Area (EEA). According to a new report, Revolut has become the first entity to be awarded crypto-asset service provider (CASP) from the regulator of the island country. The news comes...Read More
On July 27, José Manuel Campa, president of the European Banking Authority (EBA), said that he was “concerned” that the EBA could not comply with the regulations ordered by the MiCA due to the lack of qualified personnel specialized in cryptocurrencies. Campa said that the demand for specialized personnel in the technology and cryptocurrency area...Read More
It comes as no surprise that the central bank wants to curtail crypto as much as it possibly can, advising EU lawmakers with a recent research paper. On July 12, crypto venture advisor at Presight Capital, Patrick Hansen, broke down the report, which focused primarily on what the ECB considers financial risks. It acknowledged that...Read More
The digital asset investment firm – CoinShares – received approval from the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (France’s top financial regulator) to acquire Napoleon Asset Management. The agreement will enable CoinShares to provide Alternative Investment Fund Manager (AIFM) services and Exchange-Traded Products (ETPs) to the European Union market. The Greenlight Has Been Granted At the end...Read More
On June 30, European Union policymakers hammered out an agreement on what will become the first major regulatory framework for the cryptocurrency industry. The Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) legislation will make things more challenging for crypto exchanges and stablecoin issuers operating in Europe. Under the new regulations, stablecoin issuers such as Tether and Circle will...Read More
A survey executed by the European Central Bank (ECB) estimated that 10% of the eurozone households are crypto HODLers. Wealthier families are more inclined toward purchasing bitcoin and altcoins. Dutch Households Lead the Way The ECB’s Consumer Expectation Survey determined that approximately one in ten family units in the following six European countries (Belgium, France, Germany,...Read More
With the crash of TerraUSD —the largest algorithmic stablecoin in the ecosystem— and the de-pegging of other stablecoins like Stasis, DEI (not to be confused with DAI and even Tether), banking institutions like the European Central Bank, used this weakness in in their favor and started promoting their new CBDCs. On May 16, Italian economist...Read More
The European Union (EU) has imposed the fifth round of sanctions against Russia in light of its continuing war against Ukraine. The council has targeted cryptocurrency wallets as it aims to close potential loopholes in existing restrictions that could allow Russians to circumvent sanctions and move money. Fifth Round of Sanctions Against Russia In a...Read More
The European Union today voted in favor of outlawing all anonymous crypto transactions – including from self-hosted wallets – facilitated through exchanges. This rule will apply to transactions of any size, meaning both payers and recipients of even the smallest digital asset payment must be identified. The Partisan Vote The law comes as part of...Read More
There’s been a lot of discussion surrounding EU’s proposed MiCA regulations, especially the text that was aimed at outlawing proof-of-work cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. Now, the law is moving forward but without these clauses. A Relief for Bitcoin in EU The European Union’s (EU) proposed Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulatory package has decided not to...Read More
The European Supervisory Authorities – the European Banking Authority (EBA), the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) – issued a warning to investors about cryptocurrencies, deeming the asset class as “highly risky and speculative” in nature. The ESAs Ask Consumers to Make Informed Decisions The warning comes...Read More
After weeks of debates and delays, the EU has voted against banning the use and mining of proof of work digital assets, such as bitcoin and ether. CryptoPotato reported earlier the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) framework developed by the European Union, which had one rather threatening note that sought the de facto ban of...Read More
Some regulatory bodies worldwide are becoming more oppressive and hostile towards Bitcoin and digital assets. This has been exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as policymakers mistakenly think that the former will suddenly switch to using cryptocurrencies. Other watchdogs are growing concerned about the excessive energy demands of proof-of-work Bitcoin mining (though it still...Read More
The European Union made it clear that cryptocurrencies, which fall into the category “transferable assets,” are included in the financial sanctions imposed on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Additionally, the EU implemented similar penalties on Belarus for assisting the Russian war-like regime. The Bloc Extends Its Sanctions Similar to the USA, the European Union...Read More
European Union lawmakers have removed a controversial paragraph that would have made all proof-of-work (PoW) based cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) illegal. Proposed Ban on PoW-Based Coins Deleted The Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, headed by Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) rapporteur – Stefan Berger – was originally scheduled for February 28....Read More
As a result of the economic sanctions against Russia, the largest financial institution in the country – Sberbank – will reportedly withdraw from the European market. The organization said its subsidiaries spread around Europe face large cash outflows while the safety of its employees is threatened. Interestingly, Sberbank is one of the Russian banks that...Read More
While the Federal Reserve continues to threaten interest rate hikes amid rising inflation, the ECB has taken a different approach. Bank President Christine Lagarde stated they will “not rush into a decision,” deeming inflation as merely a short-term problem. Interest Rates Remain Unchanged As reported by CNBC, the ECB’s refinancing rate will remain at 0%....Read More
The IOTA Foundation was recently selected as a contractor for Phase 2 of the EU blockchain’s pre-commercial procurement. They will now develop prototype improvements for the European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI)’s future versions. Competing For The EU The foundation announced the commission’s support in a blog post on their site earlier today. They will be...Read More
The Austrian authorities will reportedly tax bitcoin and the altcoins with the same percentage rate as mainstream stock and bond investments starting from March next year. Bitcoin to Be Like a Stock Investment A recent Bloomberg report reads that Austria wants to create fairness between the different classes of assets and impose a 27.5% capital...Read More
Central, Northern, and Western Europe (CNWE) has grown into the world’s largest cryptocurrency economy since July 2020. The region experienced a massive increase in trading activity since then– particularly in the DeFi space. The European DeFi Boom Data from Chainalysis shows that CNWE received over $1 trillion in cryptocurrency over the last year alone. This...Read More
The non-profit IOTA Foundation is among the seven projects chosen by the European Commission to partake in the first design phase of the European blockchain initiative. A Milestone for IOTA IOTA made the announcement in a blog post published on Tuesday (September 7, 2021). According to the blockchain project, IOTA would be involved in the...Read More
According to recent research, around 60% of Europeans prefer their own countries to regulate digital assets rather than the European Union. Interestingly, a growing number of people believe the creation of national digital currencies would grant their nations some financial independence from the EU. Crypto Regulations Coming from The EU Is Not Preferable A survey...Read More
According to a fresh release, companies that transfer BTC or other cryptocurrencies must collect information about the senders and recipients if proposed EU regulations come into force. In a bid to end anonymous cryptocurrency wallets, the Europoean Commission has proposed a law that would require companies that transfer BTC and other cryptos to collect information...Read More
The European Union is set to launch a new agency to take severe measures on money laundering across its borders. Cryptocurrencies have the ability to take part in illicit financial operations as well, and the new department will put them under its scope of regulations. Crypto Under The Radar of the EU According to a...Read More
François Villeroy de Galhau – the head of the French central bank – sounded a note of caution that Europe’s monetary sovereignty faces tough times if the EU does not regulate cryptocurrencies. Without hasty action, the international role of the euro would be endangered. ‘Europe Must Be Ready’ At the annual financial conference in Paris,...Read More
Germany’s Financial Supervisory Authority is investigating Binance for its offering of tokenized shares and is already holding a preliminary opinion that doesn’t look too encouraging for the world’s leading crypto exchange. According to a legal opinion published on its official website, the Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht —or simply BaFin— considers that Binance would be violating securities...Read More
Robert Ophèle, chairman of France’s financial regulatory body, the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), proposed a robust approach regarding cryptocurrecy regulations in order to encourage the growth and development of innovative projects. AMF Chairman Proposes Blockchain and DeFi Testing in Pilot Regime Speaking at the just concluded 5th Annual Conference Fintech and Regulation, Ophèle stated...Read More
The largest bank in Belarus – the ASB Belarusbank – has reportedly launched a legal service enabling customers from the country and Russia to purchase cryptocurrencies. Users will be able to exchange digital assets for Belarusian and Russian rubles, US dollars, and euros directly with their Visa payment cards. Belarusbank To Allow Crypto Purchases According...Read More
As Bitcoin adoption grows more and more, concerns about the need for scalability solutions increase. Lightning Network is the most important layer-two development currently available on the Bitcoin blockchain, and it seems that North Americans are the favorite demographic for this efficiency-focused micropayment solution. The Lightning Network is a layer-two solution currently under development. It...Read More
Peter Schiff may hate Bitcoin for having no value and being the money of criminals. Still, his bank Euro Pacific Capital is not without its sins either. A joint investigation by the tax authorities of Australia, the Netherlands, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States has Peter Schiff’s bank targeted for allegedly facilitating tax...Read More
