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European Commission unveils proposed EU cryptocurrency regulation

Europe will soon have a unified set of rules governing the cryptocurrency sector.

Image by Capri23auto from Pixabay

Fri, 25 Sep 2020, 08:55 am UTC

The goal of having a uniform set of cryptocurrency regulations across Europe is finally getting closer to becoming a reality. The European Commission recently unveiled the proposed rules that will govern the digital currency segment across the economic bloc once approved.

On Thursday, September 24, the European Commission unveiled a plan to regulate cryptocurrency in Europe, according to Pymnts.com. The European Commission is the executive branch of the European Union (EU) and is responsible for managing the 27-nation bloc’s day-to-day business, coming up with legislative proposals, and implementing decisions.

The proposed legislation, dubbed as “Regulation on Markets in Crypto Assets,” will turn cryptocurrencies into regulated instruments, according to Coindesk. The bill will define what a “crypto-asset” is and clarify the different subcategories of tokens.

The proposed bill will lay down the capital requirements and rules on digital asset custody. It will also include the rules governing the relationship between token holder and token issuers and provide a set of procedures in case investors wish to file complaints.

The commission knows that the financial industry going digital is inevitable. “The future of finance is digital,” the panel,” Valdis Dombrovskis, executive vice president of the European Commission panel, said in a statement. “During the lockdown, many people shifted to accessing banking and other financial services online. Many more made contactless payments. Developing better financial products for consumers and opening new funding channels for companies will all help the recovery.”

While the future of finance is digital, the tech-driven transformation won't’ be without its own set of risks. Thus, the new legislation aims to reduce these risks for investors while establishing regulatory certainty for token issuers.

Aside from risk reduction, the legislation aims to reduce market fragmentation. With uniform rules governing the industry, crypto firms will be able to easily extend their services to other member states within the European Union.

Reports also hinted that the proposed rules will take a stricter stance on stablecoins. While they are designed to reduce volatility, they have their own share of controversies such as the question on whether issues have enough reserves to back the tokens.

However, implementation of the proposed legislation might take some time as the proposal needs to be approved by each EU government and the European Parliament. “The legislative process will take time, at least a year, probably longer, depending on how much priority will be given by both member states and the European Parliament,” Dombrovskis told CNBC.

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