The proposed crypto regulations by the EU seem to lack in purpose


As crypto goes through yet another bout of turmoil, it is clear that stronger regulatory oversight of digital assets is needed. The EU will soon roll out a specific regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies and markets. the move comes as digital assets are plunging and a crisis has engulfed some of the world’s biggest “stablecoins”. Cryptocurrencies have in our opinion become popular despite the fact that there is very limited or no oversight of them. Whether they are Ponzi schemes. money laundering shells or stablecoins pegged to real-world assets, it is difficult for ordinary investors or users to know which is which. Where they are based, how they are organized and who is backing them is often an enigma. This in our opinion is a major cause of concern.

But there are reasons why EU proposals are not the right remedy. Under the planned regulations, only crypto coins authorized in the block can be offered to investors. Surprisingly crypto assets and exchanges will have a very light supervisory regime, much less than what is in place for financial instruments and other exchanges. That in our opinion raises the question about why distinct rules are needed. The industry is divided into three different forms in the proposed EU Markets in Crypto-Asset Act (EU’s Mica): non-fungible tokens (NFTs) or virtual gadgets; stablecoins, whose value is meant to be linked to a real-world asset; and digital currencies, which always represent a fixed exchange rate to a hard currency (fiat currency).

Digital currencies can be issued only by banks or fintech companies that already have a license to do so, while issuers of stablecoins must have a minimum level of reserves. The EU is the first international organization to propose a specific regulatory framework. Certain member states like for example Malta already have special legislation for tokens and crypto assets but there is no agreement on this at a multinational level. Outside the bloc, countries such as the UK and US and territories including Hongkong are reluctant to impose dedicated rules and apply existing securities legislation.

Consumers in our opinion have at present little idea of their rights to protection or redress, especially if the transactions take place outside the EU. Non-EU cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, will have to register under one of these forms to gain admission to the EU market. A system of mutual recognition is in our opinion unlikely, given that regulations vary too widely internationally. The brunt of the risks will be borne by the consumer, who will see no difference between EU or global crypto but still will be besieged on social media with adverts for unregulated cryptos or even flat-out scams.

The EU’s Mica proposal raises many more problems. Supervision is very limited and split between national or European regulators. Under the proposal rules, it is much easier to start a crypto exchange than a traditional exchange, which is governed by the European financial markets rule book known as Mifid. Provisions against market manipulation and insider trading are very light, hardly comparable with existing EU law. And accounting standards and tax rules for crypto companies do not exist.

On the other hand, some EU countries also apply existing consumer protection or market regulation to crypto publicity. How that interaction will work in practice remains in our opinion a big question.

The EU would have been better off considering crypto under existing laws rather than creating a new regulatory framework. This means applying Mifid for crypto assets, considering them as financial instruments. Electronic money or banking rules could be used for digital money. NFTs do not require separate rules but can be covered under existing consumer or intellectual property legislation. Market and business – conduct rules should apply regardless of the packaging. Start-ups in the crypto sector will say that this will make the market unattractive, but why should they be subject to lighter supervision for their financial operation?

An international framework is in our opinion required to regulate crypto with a common approach. Diverse regulatory approaches enable regulatory arbitrage and a race to the bottom where providers are the winners and investors the victims. And an unregulated crypto sphere just encourages misunderstanding and potential abuse of a fundamentally interesting innovation. Even more important is to inform consumers adequately about the dangers of investing in crypto and the need to distinguish between fraudulent and well-intentioned schemes.