Marina Markezic, co-founder of the European Crypto Initiative, said that increased regulatory attention on Maximal Extractable Value (MEV) necessitates counter-measures to protect users and maintain market integrity while ensuring blockchain efficiency. The statement was made on X.
“Why is monitoring and advocacy important,” said Markezic. “Because the regulators are not sleeping, even if MICA is already finalised and applicable. Neither should we! Get informed! Effective MEV counter-measures should consider as the priority the protection of DeFi users and crypto-assets market integrity, while providing the right incentives to maintain the efficiency of blockchains.”
The European Union has intensified its regulatory approach to decentralized finance (DeFi) and MEV. According to CryptoSlate’s summary of the draft, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) released technical standards under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) in May 2024. These standards explicitly classify MEV practices such as front-running and transaction reordering as market abuse. This aligns with MiCA’s goal, launched in 2023, to unify crypto regulation and strengthen market integrity within the EU.
A joint report by ESMA and the European Banking Authority in 2025 indicates that MEV extraction remains a significant challenge in EU DeFi markets. Several large platforms reportedly experience persistent MEV-based activities that adversely affect user outcomes. The report identifies MEV as an illegal market abuse under MiCA.
Morgan Lewis reported in early 2025 that the introduction of MiCA regulations resulted in a 15% decrease in DeFi protocols flagged for market integrity risks within the EU. Despite this, the total number of EU DeFi users has remained stable at approximately 2.5 million active wallets. Regulators continue to warn about potential systemic risks if crypto asset exposure exceeds key thresholds.
According to her LinkedIn profile and public conference appearances, Marina Markezic is not only a co-founder but also serves as executive director of the European Crypto Initiative. She is an active commentator on EU crypto policy, MiCA standards, and DeFi regulation with prior experience in blockchain governance.
EUJobs and statements from the European Crypto Initiative indicate that the organization was founded in May 2024 to advocate for open, decentralized blockchain policies within the EU. It focuses on shaping regulatory standards like MiCA, with membership including leading organizations such as the Ethereum Foundation and Ava Labs.
