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EU signs MiCA bill into law, setting stage for comprehensive cryptocurrency regime

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EU signs MiCA bill into law, setting stage for comprehensive cryptocurrency regime

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(Kitco News) – After years of development, officials in the European Union have officially signed the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) bill into law, setting the stage for the EU to implement a comprehensive cryptocurrency regulatory framework.


On Wednesday, Roberta Metsola, the European Parliament President, and Peter Kullgren, Sweden’s minister for rural affairs, signed the regulatory framework into law, capping nearly three years of work to formulate and amend the legislation.

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Now that the signing ceremony has been completed, the framework is expected to go into effect after it is published in the Official Journal of the European Union, with many of MiCA’s regulations on crypto firms likely being implemented sometime in 2024.


The European Parliament conducted its final vote on the bill in April – passing the measure by a vote of 517 in favor and 38 against – after two consecutive delays and extended debates about the finer points of the bill, which looks to create a licensing regime for digital asset service providers in the EU.


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In May, the finance ministers of all 27 member states of the EU unanimously voted to approve MiCA, which advanced the bill to be signed by Metsola and Kullgren. As it stands now, MiCA remains on track to become enforceable law by the third quarter of 2024, giving affected parties in the EU time to design their systems to comply with the new law.


MiCA lays out a framework for the European Union’s approach to regulating the cryptocurrency sector. Under the text of the legislation, the issuance of cryptocurrencies will be brought under the wing of institutional regulation, and it establishes a new regime for crypto-asset service providers across the EU’s member states.


The legislation is comprehensive and far-reaching, and its implementation will be carried out in phases. Provisions related to stablecoins could come into force as soon as July 2024, while many of the other provisions won’t take effect until January 2025 at the earliest.

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In addition to requiring stablecoin issuers to obtain a license and hold suitable reserves, the legislation allows central banks to intervene in companies’ proposals to issue new stablecoins, referred to in MiCA as ‘asset-referenced tokens.’


It will also require the issuance of the stablecoins to cease if the tokens reach over 1 million transactions per day.


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While the road to MiCA’s passage has been long, the work is not done for legislators, as several important sectors of the cryptocurrency ecosystem are not addressed in the bill, including non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and decentralized finance (DeFi) applications.


And companies need to tread carefully until MiCA is officially implemented, as noted by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), which issued a statement last Friday directing financial firms operating in the EU to proactively inform their customers of the regulatory status of the products they offer, with crypto a particular area of concern.

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“Specifically on crypto assets, while the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) is close to adoption, crypto assets offered by investment firms will continue to be unregulated in most jurisdictions until MiCA applies,” the ESMA warned.


The regulator went on to highlight that until MiCA is fully implemented across the EU, when investment firms offer both regulated and unregulated products and services, “there is a significant risk that investors may misunderstand the protections they are afforded when investing in those unregulated products and/or services,” and may believe that the protections of the regulated ones apply to the unregulated ones.


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The ESMA recommends that investment firms “take all necessary measures to ensure that clients are fully aware of the regulatory status of the product/service they are receiving,” and that they “clearly disclose to clients when regulatory protections do not apply to the product or service provided.”


While the ESMA is educating companies on how to prepare for the eventual implementation of MiCA, France is looking to implement the legislation ahead of its EU-wide integration, with the French Financial Markets Authority (AMF) exploring the option of providing companies with a “fast track” option which would allow them to come into compliance with MiCA regulations as soon as possible.






Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.

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Crypto

Top Cryptocurrency Gainers and Losers of the Week

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Top Cryptocurrency Gainers and Losers of the Week

Insights into recent surges and dips, and the importance of caution in investment

Cryptocurrency Gainers and Losers of the Week: Cryptocurrency markets are famously volatile, with prices soaring and dipping on a regular basis. In this week’s recap, we delve into the top cryptocurrency gainers and losers of the week, examining the factors behind their impressive surges or significant dips.

Top Gainers:

Helium

Price: US$5.39

Surge in 7days: 41.33%

Market Cap: US$30,168,995

During the week, the decentralized wireless network Helium has demonstrated an outstanding growth. Such a rapid growth might be associated with the increased demand for the services of the network, including IOT applications. Since Helium is rather unique in its way of arranging a global, decentralized wireless network, it has attracted the attention of the investors looking for the most innovative products in the cryptocurrency market.

Optimism

Price: US$2.83

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Surge in 7days: 16.12

Market Cap: US$470,387,039

Layer 2 scaling solution for Ethereum, Optimism has recorded an exceptional gain in its price within the last week. This significant growth emerges at a time of increasing interest in layer 2 solutions to tackle the present scalability problem Ethereum experiences. The technology developed by Optimism makes the process on Ethereum better while lowering transaction fees and increasing the network’s throughput .

Axelar

Price: US$1.24

Surge in 7days:11.29%

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Market Cap: US$43,249,928

Recently, the price of Axelar, a decentralized network aiming to connect various blockchain ecosystems, has skyrocketed. This phenomenon is caused by the growing need for interoperability solutions in the cryptocurrency industry. With abundant blockchain networks the issue of efficient communication or asset transfer over separate systems arise, and therefore the interest in such projects as Axelar increases.

Wormhole

Price: US$0.7299

Surge in 7days: 10.45%

Market Cap: US$339,987,856

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Wormhole, a cross-chain communication protocol, has risen in trading price over the past week. This growth clearly indicates that the market recognizes the importance of interoperability solutions in the cryptocurrency industry. Investors are beginning to flock to projects that offer ways to quickly exchange assets and data among a variety of blockchains and tackle this critical issue.

Starknet

Price: US$1.29

Surge in 7days: 7.86%

Market Cap: US$167,854,564

Starknet, the layer 2 scaling solution for StarkWare, has recently experienced a rapid increase in its price. More specifically, the layer 2 solutions have recently drawn more attention to solve Ethereum scalability issues. Starknet facilitates security and privacy of decentralized applications on the Ethereum network and thus been considered an attractive investment option.

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Top Losers:

Pendle

Price: US$4.44

Dip in 7days: 26.04%

Market Cap: US$78,101,979

Pendle — a protocol that tokenizes future yield — has experienced a dip in its price over the past week. Possible reasons for the dip include profit-taking by investors following a period of rapid price appreciation and concerns about the project’s long-term fundamentals. As with all cryptocurrency projects, investors should conduct their own research and assess the risks involved before putting their money in a token like Pendle.

Stacks

Price: US$2.07

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Dip in 7days: 23.79%

Market Cap: US$170,055,324

Recently, the price of Stacks, a blockchain that makes smart contracts possible on Bitcoin, has dropped sharply. This decline in value may be driven by market sentiment, profit booking, or ethical concerns about the advancement of the initiative. Projects that concentrate in this sector face significant hurdles and concerns, and investors should be wary of them.

ORDI

Price: US$35.43

Dip in 7days: 18.59%

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Market Cap: US$179,099,369

Over the past week, the decentralized identity protocol ORDI has witnessed a notable dip. Various factors may be contributing to this dip, such as market dynamics, regulatory uncertainty, or other particularities linked to the development of this project. Ultimately, the cryptocurrency market is a rapidly changing environment; as a result, projects such as ORDI have ample opportunities and challenges to ensure the broad and general adoption of the given technology in the future.

Theta Network

Price: US$2.03

Dip in 7days: 17.81%

Market Cap: US$56,591,821

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Theta Network — a decentralized video delivery network — has seen its price drop substantially recently. This drop could be the response of market dynamics, concerns about the level of competition in the sector, or specific improvements in the ecosystem building on Theta. As people continue to look for decentralized video delivery solutions, Theta Network will have a chance to capture a share of the market.

Hedera

Price: US$0.09864

Dip in 7days: 16.86%

Market Cap: US$225,149,589

Hedera — a decentralized public network — has seen a significant drop in its price over the past week. The decline could be an indicator of market trends, profit-taking by investors, or doubts about the project’s prospects. As with all cryptocurrencies, investors should research the risks before putting their funds in this token.

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To conclude, the cryptocurrency market is currently volatile, and its prices have been updating serially. The top cryptocurrency gainers and losers of the week speaks of some specific projects that have massively gained over the past few days while others have equally lost a lot. Therefore, for investors that desire to conduct business within such a dynamic market, it is necessary to make in-depth research, methodize specific risks and remain up-to-date with the current trends in the cryptocurrency world.

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'Dogecoin Killer' Shiba Inu Burn Rate Spikes 800%, Crypto Market Rallies As Sentiment Soars And More: This Week In Cryptocurrency

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'Dogecoin Killer' Shiba Inu Burn Rate Spikes 800%, Crypto Market Rallies As Sentiment Soars And More: This Week In Cryptocurrency

The week was a rollercoaster ride for the cryptocurrency market. The crypto world was buzzing with news, from Shiba Inu’s surging burn rate to speculation of certain altcoins becoming irrelevant. Major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin BTC/USD, Ethereum ETH/USD, and Dogecoin DOGE/USD ended April with heavy losses, but the market sentiment soared as the new week began. Let’s dive into the details.

‘Dogecoin Killer’ Shiba Inu Burn Rate Spikes 800%

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Shiba Inu experienced a resurgence in its burn rates, with an 800% surge and millions of coins burned in recent transactions prompting positive market sentiment and an increase in prices. Read the full article here.

Altcoins’ Fate: Strong Performers or Irrelevant?

Pseudonymous crypto trader “Cold Blooded Shiller” questions whether the market is beginning to phase out certain altcoins in favor of stronger performers and Bitcoin. He notes that while Bitcoin’s strength is undeniable, there’s an interesting separation among altcoins. Meme coins like Dogwifhat, Pepe, and Floki Inu have seen significant gains, but will they maintain their momentum? Read the full article here.

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See Also: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Rally, As Market Sentiment Soars On Macro Data: ‘Above $67,000 We Fly Like A

Heavy Losses for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin in April

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April ended on a sour note for major cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Dogecoin closed the month with losses of 16%, 19%, and 40%, respectively. The new Hong Kong Bitcoin ETFs, contrary to bullish expectations, may turn out to be a “complete failure,” according to finance and crypto newsletter, WhaleWire. Read the full article here.

Are Dogecoin and Shiba Inu Due for a Bounce?

Despite a turbulent month, traders remain optimistic about Dogecoin and Shiba Inu. Chart analyst Ali Martinez predicts a bullish breakout for Shiba Inu SHIB/USD, while crypto trader YG Crypto analyzes Dogecoin’s recent performance, which saw a dramatic 40% price drop. Read the full article here.

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Crypto Market Rallies as Sentiment Soars

Despite the losses in April, the cryptocurrency market started May on a positive note. Major cryptocurrencies are trading higher, with Bitcoin bouncing well above the $60,000 mark. Read the full article here.

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Read Next: Dogecoin Is ‘Primed For Higher’ But Pepe Is ‘On A Moon Mission,’ Exclaims Trader

Image: Eivind Pedersen from Pixabay


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Cryptocurrency Price Analysis: SHIB, DOGE, and XRP Face Varied Challenges

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Throughout much of the month, the majority of top assets maintained a sideways trajectory. While some experienced marginal upticks, others contended with declines. Let’s delve into the price analysis of Shiba Inu (SHIB), Dogecoin (DOGE), and Ripple (XRP). Shiba Inu (SHIB)Coin Edition’s evaluation of SHIB’s 4-hour chart revealed a bearish signal. Specifically, attention was drawn to the Exponential Moving Average (EMA), where the 20 EMA (yellow) crossed below the 9 EMA (blue)—a phenomenon known as a death cross. Moreover, SHIB’s price lingered beneath these indicators, signaling a diminishing strength for the token. Presently, there’s a prospect of SHIB’s price descending

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