EU’s rulebook for ‘Wild West’ crypto markets

[ad_1]

Crypto firms issuing and selling digital tokens in the EU will be required to get a license, and will be liable for losing crypto assets from users’ crypto wallets

TheEuropean Union on Thursday, June 30, reached a provisional deal on the world’s first set of comprehensive rules to regulate what one lawmaker called the “Wild West” cryptomarket.

What are the new rules?

Cryptofirms that want to issue and sell digital tokens in an EUstate will have to obtain a license from a national regulator.

The license will allow operators to serve the whole 27-country bloc from one base, and be liable for losingcrypto assets from consumers’ digital wallets.

Currently, firms show an EU national regulator they have adequate controls to stop money laundering, but can only operate within that country.

National watchdogs must update theEU’s securities watchdog ESMA about any large operators they have authorized, which stops short of lawmaker calls for aEuropean watchdog for the sector.

So the rules are already in effect?

Not yet.

The deal needs formal rubberstamping by EUstates and the European Parliament before it comes into effect likely 2023 at the earliest.

The rules will apply to some tokens such as “stablecoins” cryptopegged to traditional currencies or commodities that aim to keep a steady value 12 months from the day the law comes into force. For other tokens, the rules will apply 18 months after the start date.

Cryptofirms that already comply with anti-money laundering controls will also be given 18 months to obtain licenses under new law, without disrupting service.

Are stablecoins a big issue?

For sure.

The collapse in May of the terraUSD stablecoin triggered a sharp sell-off in crypto markets and worried regulators.

The EU rules will give holders of stablecoins the right to claim their money back free of charge. Issuers of the tokens will have to hold minimum levels of liquidity, and will be overseen by the EU’s European Banking Authority.

Crypto firms must have a registered office in the bloc to issue stablecoins, and coins based on non-European currencies will be constrained to preserve “monetary sovereignty.”

Crypto industry officials say it will become harder to make money under such rules.

And non-fungible tokens?

It’s complicated. Lawmakers wanted non-fungible tokens (NFTs) under the new rules, but EU states opposed.

That led to a compromise where NFTs are not included, but if they become fungible mutually replaceable regulators can force them to comply with cryptorules. If they act like traditional securities, theEU’s stringent MiFID markets rules can come into play.

The European Commission will assess within 18 months whether standalone rules are needed for NFTs.

What about crypto and climate change?

Bitcoin’s energy use is a big worry for lawmakers.

Crypto firms will have to disclose their impact on the environment and climate change, using standards that the ESMA securities watchdog will draft.

TheEuropean Commission will assess within two years the environmental impact ofcryptoassets and introduce mandatory sustainability rules, including on the energy-intensive “proof of work” system used for “mining”cryptosuch as bitcoin.

What are other countries doing?

Japan blazed a trail among major economies by introducing a crypto law in 2017, forcing exchanges to register with its financial watchdog.

Others have been slower.

In the United States, there is no federal framework in place, though individual states do havecrypto-specific rules. Senators unveiled this month a bill to set out new rules and hand the bulk of oversight to commodities regulators, though it’s unclear when the rules would be approved.

Britain said in April it would introduce rules on stablecoins, leaving mostcryptocurrencies and related firms subject only to patchy regulation. Rappler.com

[ad_2]