ESMA and EBA are cryptocurrency regulatory authorities
The European Securities and Markets Authority and the European Banking Authority will be given additional powers to oversee cryptocurrency services in the European Union. They will have the authority to intervene and restrict cryptocurrency-related services, as well as control over cryptocurrency marketing, distribution, and sale. The decision was made in order to safeguard investors and guarantee the financial stability of cryptocurrency assets.
ESMA
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) is the financial market regulator for the European Union. It is in charge of supervising European financial markets, as well as safeguarding investors and ensuring market stability.
CASP unit oversight will continue to be at the national level, although ESMA will play a crucial coordinating role for big CASP units.
ESMA will create a list of undesirable businesses and persons operating without adequate authorization in the EU, providing authorities with a formidable instrument to manage such entities.
ESMA will create regulations (RTS) that will outline methodology and indications of sustainability for crypto-assets. Furthermore, cryptocurrency issuers and exchanges will be forced to report the climatic and environmental implications of their issuance. This is owing to the fact that cryptocurrencies can have a substantial environmental impact, such as the high level of energy consumption in their manufacture and usage.
If a service provider has more than 15 million active users, it is considered a 'significant client' and is monitored by the CA. ESMA will, however, have the authority to prohibit or restrict crypto-asset services if they endanger market integrity, investor security, or economic stability. Furthermore, like in the case of the broader financial sector, ESMA will have the authority to speak out on supervisory convergence.
ESMA will maintain a cryptocurrency list of CASPs that are not MiCA-compliant. This will assist investors identify enterprises that refuse to register in an EU member state or intentionally evade registration by operating outside of legal frameworks. Companies on the blacklist will be barred from functioning in the EU.
EBA
The European Banking Authority (EBA) regulates the banking industry in the European Union. It is in charge of overseeing the banking sector, protecting customers, and ensuring financial stability throughout the European Union.
The EBA is in charge of stable moneys with more than 10 million customers and a stock of more than €5 billion. It will be the single regulator for the largest stabilecoin in the European Union.
This implies that the EBA will be in charge of monitoring and regulating the stablecoin, as well as establishing regulations for its issuer. Furthermore, the stablecoin must have a 1:1 reserve to meet all criteria and give holders with a perpetual redemption right.
Despite ESMA and the EBA's regulatory efforts, some experts are concerned that this would have a detrimental influence on innovation and the growth of blockchain technology. However, ESMA and EBA officials have stated that the law is not meant to hinder the development of Bitcoin technology, but rather to offer investors with security and safety.
Furthermore, greater regulation may minimise the number of unethical competitors in the market while improving the quality of services given. Regulation might also boost trust in cryptocurrencies, encouraging their usage as a form of cash and investment.
It is crucial to emphasise, however, that the execution of regulatory measures necessitates substantial resources as well as careful supervision by ESMA and the EBA. Furthermore, CASP companies and Stablecoin issuers will need to focus more on regulatory compliance and client safety, which may result in increased expenses and challenges in running the business.
Overall, ESMA and the EBA's introduction of new regulatory requirements and cryptocurrency supervisory powers is an important step towards improving the security and stability of the cryptocurrency market, but its implementation may prove difficult and may necessitate strict regulatory compliance.
FIUs (Financial Intelligence Units) under the MICa plan, on the other hand, are not supervisory organisations. Their mission is to gather, evaluate, and disseminate financial data in order to prevent money laundering and terrorism financing. Each country's regulatory function is carried out by the applicable supervisory authorities. FIUs communicate information and coordinate activities with supervisors, law enforcement agencies, and others involved in the fight against financial crime.