On April 8, 2025, Natasha Cazenave, executive director of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), addressed the European Parliament’s Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, offering key insights into the...more
In a previous alert, we identified that the definition of a collective investment scheme (CIS) could capture on-chain staking, and that the UK government, acting through the HM Treasury (HMT), was looking to clarify the...more
1/16/2025
/ Blockchain ,
Collective Investment Schemes ,
Compliance ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Digital Assets ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Services and Markets Act ,
Financial Services Industry ,
HM Treasury ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
UK
In a previous alert, Crypto-Asset Services and Grandfathering Under MiCA: Clarity From ESMA, we noted that the provisions of the Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (MiCA) governing crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) is...more
In a previous alert, “Are You Ready for MiCA Implementation?,” we discussed provisions of the Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (MiCA) governing stablecoins that came into effect on 11 June 2024.
With further provisions...more
On June 30, 2024, the new Markets in Crypto-assets (MiCA) regulation, which affects stablecoins in the European Union, went into effect. This client alert outlines the critical obligations and considerations for stablecoin...more
In our previous alert “Acquiring or Investing in EU Crypto-Asset Businesses: MiCA’s Impact,” we discussed the impact of the European Union (EU) Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) on the acquisition or investment in EU...more
4/18/2024
/ Acquisitions ,
Anti-Money Laundering ,
Cryptoassets ,
Digital Assets ,
EU ,
European Banking Authority (EBA) ,
European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ,
Investment ,
Popular ,
Regulation Technical Standards (RTS) ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Standards
In our previous alert, we noted the statement of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) encouraging market participants and national competent authorities in EU member states to prepare for implementation of the...more
The Response and Stablecoins Update confirm the core of HMT’s policy proposals in the General Consultation and Stablecoin Consultation, respectively, although they shine further light on the features of the regulatory regime....more
On 17 October 2023, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) published a statement (the Statement) clarifying the timeline for implementation of the Regulation on Markets in Cryptoassets ((EU) 2023/1114) (MiCA)...more
As we have discussed previously (see ”First Reminder: Two Months Until New UK Crypto Marketing Rules Take Effect”), starting 8 October 2023, anyone — including a crypto issuer or business based outside the UK — who makes a...more
As noted in our previous alerts “Marketing Crypto-Assets in and Into Europe: MiCA, the EU’s New Uniform Crypto Code” and “Doing Crypto Business in Europe: MiCA, the EU’s New Uniform Crypto Code – Part 2”, the European Union...more
9/8/2023
/ Acquisitions ,
Bitcoin ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
Ethereum ,
EU ,
Investment ,
MiFID ,
New Regulations ,
Popular ,
Regulatory Authority ,
Stablecoins ,
Target Company
Starting 8 October 2023, anyone — including a crypto issuer or business based outside the UK — who makes a cryptoasset or service available to an investor or user in the UK will need to consider the UK ‘financial promotion...more
The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published its policy statement PS23/11 (PS), containing final guidance (the guidance) on trading venues. A firm requires trading venue authorisation from the FCA if it operates...more
As noted in our previous Marketing Crypto-Assets in and Into Europe: MiCAR, the EU’s New Uniform Crypto Code, the European Union (EU) Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) was published in the Official Journal of the...more
The EU Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 9 June 2023. MiCAR is a the major, step toward an EU-wide uniform code governing crypto-assets, such as BTC,...more
6/14/2023
/ Asset Tokens ,
Compliance Dates ,
Cross-Border Transactions ,
Cryptoassets ,
Cryptocurrency ,
E-Money ,
EU ,
Exclusions ,
Financial Action Task Force ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Marketing ,
Member State ,
MiFID ,
New Regulations ,
Regulatory Requirements
In our Alert Marketing Cryptoassets and Services in and Into the UK: Shifting Regulatory Sands, we noted the policy statement issued by HM Treasury (HMT) on cryptoasset promotions and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)...more
With more fintech’s looking to expand their businesses internationally, it can be daunting to navigate varying regulations across borders. This article focuses on regulations in the United Kingdom....more
5/1/2023
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
Compliance ,
Cross-Border ,
Cross-Border Transactions ,
Cryptoassets ,
EU ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Services Industry ,
FinTech ,
FSMA ,
MiFID ,
Payment Services Directive ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
UK ,
UK GDPR
On 1 February 1 2023, HM Treasury (HMT) issued a further policy statement on cryptoasset promotions in the UK, "Government approach to cryptoasset financial promotions regulation policy statement”. It updates HMT’s January...more
3/9/2023
/ Consultation ,
Cryptoassets ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Promotions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
HM Treasury ,
Marketing ,
Policy Statement ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
UK
The advance of the regulation of crypto-assets and crypto-related service providers has been piecemeal in the U.K. The latest round of changes took place in the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 (MLR) on 1 September...more
9/21/2022
/ Acquisitions ,
Anti-Money Laundering ,
Change in Control ,
Change of Ownership ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Crypto Exchanges ,
Cryptoassets ,
Due Diligence ,
EU ,
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) ,
FSMA ,
Investment Firms ,
Notice Requirements ,
Popular ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Standards ,
UK