Marina Markezic, director and co-founder of the European Crypto Initiative (EUCI), said that decentralized finance (DeFi) remains a “niche globally,” with European Union (EU) adoption above the global average but still behind other developed economies. Markezic made her statement in a January 16 post on X.
“DeFi remains a niche phenomenon globally, with EU adoption above the global average but lagging behind other developed economies,” said Markezic. “The report emphasizes the need for clearer regulations and better AML/CFT controls in DeFi.”
According to Markezic, a joint report released by the European Banking Authority (EBA) and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) analyzes crypto-assets, DeFi, and related activities. She highlights the need for “clearer regulations” and enhanced anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-financing of terrorism (CFT) controls to ensure DeFi’s growth while addressing its risks.
The EBA and ESMA report indicates that DeFi accounts for 4% of the global crypto-asset market, with EU adoption exceeding the global average but trailing behind countries like the United States and South Korea. The report notes a correlation between DeFi hacks, stolen assets, and market size. It identifies risks of money laundering and terrorist financing linked to decentralized exchange flows, which represent 10% of global spot crypto trading volumes.
The European Commission outlines that AML/CFT measures include customer due diligence and adapting legislation to emerging risks such as virtual assets. Key initiatives include the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), the Traceability of Transfers of Funds Regulation (TFR), and annual risk assessments. The Authority for Anti-Money Laundering and Countering the Financing of Terrorism (AMLA) aims to centralize supervision and enhance law enforcement’s access to financial information to support cross-border investigations.
Markezic is known for her focus on crypto regulation as director and co-founder of EUCI. She has worked with crypto projects since 2017, specializing in governance, DeFi, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Known for her expertise, she frequently speaks at blockchain events. Previously leading the advisory team at Cofound.it, she evaluated over 700 whitepapers. In 2018, she was named one of the top 100 women in fintech by Lattice80.
