Quantcast
New proof of reserves for Binance: the exchange finally cleared?
Ternoa gets into DeFi: smart contracts arrive on the betanet
Bitcoin: More than 6,000 merchants accept BTC in their store
Coinbase plans acquisition to expand derivatives offering in EU
BTC: Cboe exchange approves listing of Fidelity Investments Bitcoin Spot ETF
European Central Bank lays out €1.2bn plan for development of digital euro
Crypto Council for Innovation survey finds crypto offers alternative to underbanked communities
Lummis: 'Congress must create rules of the road for the crypto asset industry'
Nexo acquitted of money laundering and tax fraud
Donald Trump sells $2.4 million worth of ETH
Are modular blockchains the answer to scalability problems?
THE TITANS OF WALL STREET AND THE BITCOIN ETF RACE – CRYPTO PERSONALITIES OF 2023
CRYPTO: RIPPLE VERSUS THE SEC, WILL THE WAR CONTINUE IN 2024?
BNB Surges 11% to Overtake Solana as Community Welcomes Sleepless AI
The fortune of the former CEO of Binance increased by 25 billion in 2023
The 5 events that marked the world of crypto in 2023
Currencies and Freedoms: Interview with Benoit Huguet
Survey: Bitcoin adoption slowed by an overly complicated crypto wallet?
Coinbase obtains PSAN registration in France
Crypto industry steps up political donations as mood in Washington sours
Bitcoin miners splash out $600mn in race to squeeze out rivals
Circle secures conditional registration in France under DASP rules
PSAN: the challenges of Circle and Coinbase's arrival in France
El Salvador Offers Citizenship to Bitcoin “Donors”
Coinbase Lands PSAN Registration in France
EXCLUSIVE: Swift makes progress on a blockchain settlement system
Binance CEO Richard Teng: 'Binance has invested heavily in compliance'
Shares, Trade Republic, Robinhood: the growing appetite of investment apps for cryptos
Banks, Tech, Crypto: The Biggest Winners and Losers in Congress
Stablecoin Push Unleashes Flood of Crypto Lobbying Cash in US Congress

European Crypto Initiative: ‘latest guidance from FINMA on the issuance of stablecoins has sparked a lot of discussion’

Policy
Webp eurocrypto
Members of the European Crypto Initiative | X/EUCInitiative

The European Crypto Initiative (ECI) announced that its policy expert Vyara Savova contributed to an analysis of the new stablecoin guidelines published by FINMA, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority. The analysis compares these guidelines to the European Union’s (EU) stablecoin regulations from the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) legislation. ECI shared its statement in an August 16 post on X.

"The latest guidance from FINMA on the issuance of stablecoins has sparked a lot of discussion, but how does it stack up against the EU's MiCA regulation," said ECI. "Here's what you need to know according to our Policy Expert @VyaraSavova on @VixioRegulatory."

FINMA published guidance on the issuance of stablecoins on July 8. In this guidance, FINMA "provides information on aspects of financial market law that arise in relation to stablecoin projects and the impacts of such projects on the supervised institutions." This guidance addresses risks related to money laundering, terrorist financing, and sanctions circumvention.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Crypto Republique
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

According to a release from Elliptic, the EU’s MiCA regulations took effect on June 30 for all stablecoin issuers, ushering in "a new era of regulatory oversight for innovators in the Crypto space." The new rule states that "issuers must now obtain approval from relevant members of state authorities before offering their tokens within the EU, or when offering stablecoins pegged to the euro or other member state currency."

Key points of the new FINMA guidance were outlined in a paper published by VIXIO on August 7, with contributions from Savova, according to ECI's post. The paper stressed the importance of adhering to financial market laws, "particularly in the areas of banking and collective investment schemes." It also emphasized that stablecoins pose a heightened risk for illicit transactions due to their susceptibility to anonymous transactions. Thus, according to a founding member and advisor to SwissAssetDAO, FINMA’s regulations are "essential for maintaining the integrity not just of the financial system but rather make it clearer that stablecoins should and must be backed by robust guarantees and adhere to stringent AML [anti-money laundering] standards."

According to VIXIO's paper, the EU's MiCA regulations contrast with FINMA's by creating "a comprehensive regime for asset-referenced tokens and e-money tokens, focusing on claims against issuers, backed by sufficient reserves and authorization requirements."

Savova is an experienced EU human rights and tech lawyer who graduated from the University of London. She has significant experience in healthcare and financial sectors as well as blockchain and crypto regulations and licensing. Currently, she is a Senior Policy Leader at European Crypto Initiative where she has been since 2022.

More News

The UK cryptocurrency market continues to pose challenges for exchanges as they adapt to stricter regulatory requirements. Cryptocurrency exchange Bitget recently relaunched its UK platform after halting services in May 2024 to comply with the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Financial Promotions regime. This relaunch reflects Bitget’s efforts to align with the FCA’s evolving standards, aimed at enhancing consumer protection in the digital asset space.

Nov 24, 2024

The Italian government recently announced a plan to increase the capital gains tax on bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies from 26% to 42%. This proposal, part of broader fiscal measures to support election pledges and reduce Italy’s fiscal deficit, has raised concerns among cryptocurrency investors and industry leaders.

Nov 24, 2024

On November 14, the European Banking Authority (EBA) released comprehensive guidelines for Payment Service Providers (PSPs) and Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs) to ensure alignment with European Union (EU) and national restrictive measures. These guidelines aim to reduce risks and strengthen compliance when transferring funds or crypto assets.

Nov 22, 2024

The UK government is set to introduce new cryptocurrency regulations aimed at countering the growing appeal of the United States as a destination for crypto businesses. In response to concerns of regulatory delays following Brexit, the legislation focuses on establishing a clearer framework for stablecoins and staking activities, with the goal of strengthening the UK’s position as a global hub for digital assets.

Nov 22, 2024

OpenAI, the world’s largest artificial intelligence company, has announced it will establish a new base in Paris.

Nov 20, 2024

On October 30, UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced a capital gains tax (CGT) rate increase for high-income individuals, raising it to 24%. This change has raised concerns in the cryptocurrency community, where some investors fear that increased tax and regulatory pressures will diminish the UK's appeal for digital asset investment.

Nov 20, 2024