Tagged: EU

February 17, 2025 @ 4:43 pm By JD Alois  |  

The French crowdfunding market experienced a significant decline in 2024, dropping by 17.1% compared to results generated in 2023. In total, €1.7 billion was raised, according to a report published by France Fintech in collaboration with Forvis Mazars. The peak amount of funds raised for… Read More

February 17, 2025 @ 9:00 am By Omar Faridi  |  

With Bitcoin price surpassing $100K, it’s arguable that 2025 is starting strong for the crypto industry. Regulatory developments in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, combined with regime change in the United States, could set the stage for more institutional and mainstream adoption of stablecoins…. Read More

February 14, 2025 @ 2:22 pm By JD Alois  |  

Fraktion is a tokenization and securities crowdfunding enabler that is powered by Tezos.  The France-based company recently announced Seed funding of €1.1 million, backed by Tezos as well as Cabrit Capital, Vox Capital, and other angel investors. Fraktion is focusing on real-world assets, specifically real… Read More

February 14, 2025 @ 1:59 pm By JD Alois  |  

The EU-UK Financial Regulatory Forum met this past week in London. The entity aims to pursue regulatory cooperation while preserving financial stability and protecting participants. The event was co-chaired by HM Treasury, and the Director General for Financial Services and the European Commission Director General… Read More

February 13, 2025 @ 12:49 pm By JD Alois  |  

In a recent email, EuroCrowd announced it was adopting a new operational structure for the group. EuroCrowd is the leading voice in Europe supporting the securities crowdfunding sector. Several years ago, the ECSPR, or European Crowdfunding Service Providers regulation, was adopted by the EU. This… Read More

February 11, 2025 @ 9:44 am By JD Alois  |  

The European Union (EU) has announced a commitment of €200 billion to boost development of artificial intelligence (AI). In a public statement at the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Summit in Paris, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the new funding to accelerate AI in… Read More

February 7, 2025 @ 6:06 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The EU AI provisions reportedly went into force on 2 February, 2025. Diyan Bogdanov, Director of Engineering Intelligence & Growth at Payhawk, the global spend management solution and Bulgaria’s “first” unicorn, explains that the EU AI Act isn’t “just another compliance burden — it’s a… Read More

February 5, 2025 @ 7:30 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Paxos, the blockchain and tokenization infrastructure platform, announced it has completed its acquisition of Membrane Finance, an Electronic Money Institution (EMI) based and licensed in Finland. The acquisition received regulatory approval, “making Paxos a fully licensed EMI” in Finland and the EU. Paxos issues USD-backed… Read More

February 3, 2025 @ 10:09 am By JD Alois  |  

Digital asset exchange Kraken has been approved for a MiFID [Markets in Financial Instruments Directive] license. A MiFID license enables a firm to provide services across the EU with standardized reporting and “enhanced” transparency. Kraken gained the approval via an acquisition of a Cypriot investment… Read More

January 30, 2025 @ 1:58 pm By JD Alois  |  

Several years back, the European Union approved the European Crowdfunding Service Providers Regulation (ECSPR), which enabled issuers to raise funds across all EU member states. Under the rules, an issuer could raise up to €5 million for an offering listed on a regulated securities crowdfunding… Read More

January 30, 2025 @ 8:45 am By JD Alois  |  

The European Central Bank (ECB) has lowered its benchmark rate by 25 basis points (bps) to 2.75%. The Bank issued a statement explaining that the “disinflation process is well on track” as price increases are said to align with staff expectations. Similar to the US,… Read More

January 30, 2025 @ 8:08 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Regtech Sumsub announces its membership into the Payments Association EU, an industry group of stakeholders in the payments sector that fosters commercial connections between businesses and advocates for better policies. It joins a group of members, including the following firms: Mastercard, Visa, and Paypal and… Read More

January 27, 2025 @ 9:41 am By JD Alois  |  

Tokenization enabler Tokeny says it has formed a partnership with ONYZE, a Spain-based Fintech that offers a white-label digital wallet that is regulated. Founded in 2019, ONYZE provides enterprise-level infrastructure for trading digital assets such as crypto, tokenized assets, NFTs, and digital currencies. ONYZE claims… Read More

January 24, 2025 @ 7:52 am By Omar Faridi  |  

OKX announced that their platform is reportedly the first Virtual Financial Assets (VFA) exchange to secure a Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) “pre-authorization.” Upon receipt of a full MiCA license, OKX said they will offer “localized” crypto services to over 400 million Europeans via its… Read More

January 20, 2025 @ 7:58 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Stablecoin issuer Circle has reportedly submitted its response to the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority’s (EIOPA) consultation on technical advice for standard formula capital requirements for making investments in crypto-assets. Circle is a global financial technology firm that enables businesses of all sizes to… Read More

January 17, 2025 @ 4:10 pm By JD Alois  |  

The EU Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) is operational as of today. DORA aims to harmonize the rules regarding digital operational resilience that apply to financial services firms like banks and more. DORA seeks to improve the incident reporting methodology with a single network which should… Read More

January 17, 2025 @ 11:24 am By JD Alois  |  

MiCA, or markets in crypto markets regulation, aims to create bright-line rules in Europe to enable digital asset innovation. While not regulating digital securities, MiCA covers just about everything else, including stablecoin regulation. The EU wants to encourage the development of new products and services… Read More

January 15, 2025 @ 10:49 am By JD Alois  |  

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has published a report addressing crowdfunding in the EU. Not too long ago, the EU approved new rules addressing online capital formation. European Crowdfunding Service Provider regulation (ECSPR) allows a platform approved by the relevant authority in its home… Read More

January 10, 2025 @ 7:23 am By Tony Zerucha  |  

An executive with open banking platform Tink believes the Jan. 9 deadline for Eurozone banks to receive instant payments marks the most significant shift since PSD2 seven years ago. Head of industry and wallets Jan Van Vonno believes Europe is finally poised to realize the… Read More

January 9, 2025 @ 3:20 pm By JD Alois  |  

While MiCA [Markets in Crypto Assets] rules in the EU do not regulate securities it does outline a path for stablecoin integration. Stablecoins may emerge as the next iteration of payments rails with immediate transfers and low cost services. Dary McGovern, Chief Operating Officer of… Read More