BTC $63,416.81 -2.88%
ETH $1,877.08 -4.54%
BNB $565.91 -1.18%
XRP $1.05 -4.82%
SOL $73.18 -4.40%
TRX $0.3257 -1.59%
DOGE $0.0700 -3.68%
ADA $0.1569 -5.10%
BCH $213.34 -2.57%
LINK $8.30 -5.58%
HYPE $54.90 -8.91%
AAVE $97.17 -4.42%
SUI $0.6821 -4.94%
XLM $0.1710 -5.83%
ZEC $468.68 -6.43%
BTC $63,416.81 -2.88%
ETH $1,877.08 -4.54%
BNB $565.91 -1.18%
XRP $1.05 -4.82%
SOL $73.18 -4.40%
TRX $0.3257 -1.59%
DOGE $0.0700 -3.68%
ADA $0.1569 -5.10%
BCH $213.34 -2.57%
LINK $8.30 -5.58%
HYPE $54.90 -8.91%
AAVE $97.17 -4.42%
SUI $0.6821 -4.94%
XLM $0.1710 -5.83%
ZEC $468.68 -6.43%

euro

All
Article
Flash

With the implementation of MiCA, the European crypto industry is facing a "major reshuffle": high regulatory thresholds may trigger a new wave of mergers and acquisitions

The EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) competition phase is coming to an end, but the real challenges for businesses are just beginning. The high costs of maintaining a compliant operational system may change the landscape of the European crypto industry. In the future, the focus of industry competition may shift from "who can obtain a license" to "who has the capacity to bear regulatory costs," driving companies to achieve scalable development through mergers, joint ventures, or partnerships with banks.As MiCA gradually takes effect and the UK's crypto regulatory framework is about to take shape, the European crypto industry is entering a new phase of consolidation. Industry insiders believe that high regulatory standards may spur a new wave of mergers and acquisitions, and cooperation between crypto-native companies and traditional financial institutions will deepen further. This trend in the UK market may be even more pronounced. The UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is developing a new regulatory framework for crypto assets, which is expected to incorporate crypto businesses into the existing financial services regulatory system, subjecting them to capital, operational, and customer asset protection requirements similar to those faced by traditional investment institutions.Steven Lightstone, a partner at Morgan Lewis's London office and co-head of the global fintech team, stated that the FCA aims to promote market competition and support new entrants, but its regulatory standards will be very strict when it comes to consumer protection. Unlike the EU's independently operating MiCA framework, the UK approach will directly utilize the existing financial regulatory system to manage crypto businesses. Meanwhile, the increase in regulatory certainty is driving European banks to accelerate their entry into the digital asset space. Sygnum Europe CEO Simon Schneider noted that currently, less than 20% of banks in Europe offer crypto-related services, indicating a significant market gap. The greatest value of MiCA is not just in creating a new licensing system, but in providing legal certainty for financial institutions to enter the digital asset market.He pointed to Switzerland as an example, where after the introduction of regulations on distributed ledger technology, most large Swiss banks began offering digital asset services, a path that may be replicated in other parts of Europe in the future. In the future, banks may not necessarily replace crypto-native companies but are more likely to rely on specialized infrastructure service providers to collaborate in areas such as custody, brokerage, staking, and asset tokenization. As companies that fail to obtain MiCA licenses gradually exit the European market, assets may further concentrate among regulated entities. However, Schneider believes that self-custody models and institutional custody models will continue to coexist in the long term. Industry insiders believe that the European crypto industry is entering a "regulation-driven consolidation cycle." For crypto startups that previously relied on rapid innovation and asset-light models, the core competitiveness in the future may no longer be just technological speed, but compliance capability, capital scale, and the ability to integrate financial infrastructure.

Cointelegraph talks to Gate Europe's CEO: sharing MiCA compliance layout and continuously deepening development in the European market

Gate Europe CEO Dr. Giovanni Cunti was invited to participate in a live interview on Cointelegraph X Space, where he shared insights on the regulatory trends of digital assets in Europe, the MiCA compliance framework, and Gate Europe's development strategy in Europe. Dr. Giovanni Cunti stated that the implementation of MiCA is an important step towards the unification of the European market, "Unified regulation brings broader market access, and market access will further drive institutional adoption." He believes that after the adjustments made under the MiCA framework, market participants will be able to operate in a clearer and more transparent regulatory environment, providing institutional investors with a higher degree of security and trust.During the live broadcast, Dr. Giovanni Cunti also introduced the latest strategic progress of Gate Europe in the European region. He emphasized that Gate Europe proactively began compliance alignment as early as the initial phase of the MiCA framework in 2021. Leveraging the dual licensing advantages of MiCA and Payment Institutions (PI), Gate Europe is steadily strengthening compliance, risk control, and operational governance while continuously expanding digital asset trading, wealth management, and localized services, committed to providing European users with safer, more transparent, and efficient digital asset services.As the global regulatory framework for digital assets continues to improve, compliance is becoming an important foundation for the long-term development of the industry. Currently, Gate has completed regulatory registrations, license applications, or obtained authorizations and approvals in multiple jurisdictions including Europe, the United States, Japan, Dubai, Australia, and the Bahamas, continuously advancing its global compliance strategy. In the future, Gate will adhere to the parallel development of compliance and innovation, continuously enhance its global service capabilities, promote the steady development of the digital asset industry, and provide global users with safer, more efficient, and trustworthy products and services.

European Central Bank: The proliferation of stablecoins may erode the deposit base of banks, and the digital euro is being accelerated

According to Cointelegraph, Piero Cipollone, a member of the Executive Board of the European Central Bank (ECB), stated that the large-scale adoption of stablecoins could weaken the retail deposit base of commercial banks and alter the competitive landscape of the traditional banking system. Cipollone pointed out during a speech at the Italian Banking Association in Rome on Friday that digital payments are reshaping the banking industry while increasing Europe’s reliance on non-European payment infrastructures.Banks are currently facing declining payment fee revenues and loss of transaction data due to the development of mobile payment service providers. As payment tools like stablecoins and other digital assets become more widespread, commercial banks may face increased pressure from deposit outflows. Cipollone emphasized that the digital euro will help maintain the status of public money and ensure that banks continue to participate in the payment ecosystem while meeting the evolving financial needs of customers."The digital euro can both maintain the role of public funds and ensure that banks retain an important role in the payment system," Cipollone stated. This Tuesday, the European Central Bank selected 36 payment service providers to participate in a 12-month pilot project for the digital euro, including banks, fintech companies, and payment firms.The pilot program is set to launch in the second half of 2027, aiming to test the feasibility of retail central bank digital currency (CBDC) operating in the eurozone. The European Central Bank has previously stated that if relevant legislation and testing progress smoothly, the digital euro could be officially issued as early as 2029.
app_icon
ChainCatcher Building the Web3 world with innovations.