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EU Provisional Agreement: Crypto Asset Service Providers Added to Obliged Entities List
19.1.2024
As per the provisional agreement struck between the European Union Council and Parliament, crypto asset service providers will be obliged to verify facts and information on users whose transactions exceed $1,090. According to the Belgian Finance Minister, the new requirements will “ensure...
Do Kwon Should be Extradited to South Korea, not United States, Lawyer Argues
19.1.2024
Do Kwon’s lawyer has argued that Terraform Labs’ co-founder should be extradited to South Korea and not the United States. The statement comes as a response to extradition requests from both countries, with Kwon currently in detention in Montenegro. Goran Rodic, Kwon’s Montenegrin...
EU Tightens Crypto Regulations with Provisional AML Agreement
18.1.2024
The European Union has provisionally agreed on new anti-money laundering (AML) regulations specifically targeting the crypto sector. According to a press release published by the European Council, the provisional agreement reached by Council and the Parliament focuses on enhancing measures...
ESMA Unveils Plan to Address Crypto Risks Ahead of MiCA Regulation Implementation
16.1.2024
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) is actively preparing for the implementation of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, marking a significant milestone in bringing comprehensive oversight to the digital asset space. As the ESMA prepares for the enforcement of the MiCA...
EU Banking Watchdog Seeks to ‘Harmonize’ AML Measures With Extension to Crypto Firms
16.1.2024
Source: AdobeStock/Grecaud Paul Europe’s leading banking entity, the European Banking Authority (EBA), has extended its regulatory reach to cover the cryptocurrency space. In a blog post dated January 16, the EU banking watchdog announced the release of new guidelines focusing on money...
Terraform Labs Co-founder Do Kwon Appeals Extradition Decision Amid Claims of Political Pressure
15.1.2024
Do Kwon, co-founder of Terraform Labs, has once again appealed the Montenegro High Court’s decision to uphold extradition requests from the U.S. and South Korea. His legal team argues that the recent decision by the Montenegro High Court violates legal provisions, the European Convention...
ECB Member Isabel Schnabel: Bitcoin Is ‘Speculative,’ ‘Unlikely’ to Be Purchased by the Bank
12.1.2024
Isabel Schnabel, member of the European Central Bank (ECB) executive board, has blasted bitcoin’s characteristics, stressing that it is a speculative asset unlike central bank digital currencies (CBDC) like the proposed digital euro. Schnabel stressed it was ‘unlikely’ that...
CoinShares Exercises Option to Acquire Valkyrie Funds Following Spot Bitcoin ETF Approval
12.1.2024
Source: Adobestock Investment management company, CoinShares has exercised the right to acquire Valkyrie Funds, a unit of Valkyrie Investment Inc. following the approval of its spot Bitcoin (BTC) ETF by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). CoinShares solidifies position as a bridge between...
Crypto Products for European Investors Experiencing ETF FOMO
12.1.2024
Source: AdobeStock / Craig European crypto enthusiasts are on the sidelines watching as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved eleven spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds experiencing FOMO (fear of missing out) – it’s worth noting there are already plenty of products...
EBA Discusses Proposed Guidelines for Stablecoin Issuers
11.1.2024
Source: AdobeStock / rarrarorro European banking regulators have urged stablecoin issuers and other stakeholders to dialogue with regulators ahead of proposed stablecoin rules under the Markets in Crypto Assets (MICA) regulation. EBA Calls for Synergy Between Stakeholders and Regulators...
Proactive Reforms: Lithuania Intends to Refine Crypto Landscape Ahead of MiCA Rollout
11.1.2024
In order to manage the emerging risks before the entry into application of the European Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (MiCA), Lithuania intends to reinforce its national cryptocurrency regulation. We discussed the key points and consequences with legal experts from Gofaizen & Sherle...
European Central Bank Shows It’s Serious About Enabling Digital Euro Offline Use
11.1.2024
The central bank plans to allocate the lion’s share of its $1.3 billion contract budget for providers to work on enabling offline payments for a digital euro
Crypto Giant Coinbase to Enhance EU Presence with Key Derivatives Acquisition
6.1.2024
Source: Adobe / Rafael Henrique Coinbase has revealed plans to offer crypto-linked derivatives in the European Union (EU) market. The company has reportedly told CNBC that it has entered into an agreement to acquire an unnamed holding company, which holds a MiFID II license. MiFID II,...
The Road to Digital Euro: ECB Publishes Crucial Rulebook Draft
4.1.2024
Source: Adobe/Christian The European Central Bank (ECB) has unveiled progress in the development of the digital euro, with the publication of a report detailing the advancements made by the digital euro scheme’s Rulebook Development Group (RDG). The update follows a June 2023 report from...
EBA to Extend Stress Testing to Assess Impact of Strains in Non-Bank Financial Institutions, Including Crypto Entities
3.1.2024
Source: AdobeStock / Grecaud Paul The European Banking Authority (EBA) is set to implement additional measures to evaluate the potential impact of strains in non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs), including those in the cryptocurrency sector, on traditional banks. This initiative is driven...
Euro at 25: ECB President Christine Lagarde Calls Euro the ‘World’s Second Most Important Currency’
3.1.2024
The president of the European Central Bank Christine Lagarde and fellow European Union leaders recently hailed the euro for its role in giving the bloc “greater sovereignty in a turbulent world.” The EU leaders added, however, that more still needs to be done if the bloc and...
EU Banking Watchdog to Deepen Probe of Links Between Banks, Crypto Entities: FT
3.1.2024
The European Banking Authority (EBA) will take additional steps to anticipate how strains in non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs), including cryptocurrency-related entities, will affect banks
Report: EU Represents Just 6% of Bitcoin Mining Hashrate, US Significantly Leads China
31.12.2023
The countries in the European Union collectively account for 6% of the Bitcoin network’s hashrate while the U.S. has emerged as the world’s number one bitcoin miner, a new report has said. The economic bloc’s bitcoin mining prospects are however being hamstrung by geopolitical tensions...
New EU Crypto Regulation Allow Governments to Freeze and Seize ‘Unexplained Wealth’ Believed Tied to Crime
26.12.2023
EU has passed expanded powers allowing governments to freeze and confiscate crypto tied to a crime. Image by Vitalii Vodolazskyi, Adobe Stock. European Union officials reached an agreement on December 12 on new crypto regulations that will grant member states expanded powers to freeze...
Coinbase Expands European Footprint With Approval to Operate in France
23.12.2023
Crypto exchange Coinbase has received approval as a registered virtual asset service provider in France. “This registration allows Coinbase to operate in France, continuing our plans to grow across Europe,” the crypto platform detailed. “France is an important market for Coinbase … We...