EU Proposes Shift in Cryptocurrency Regulation to Enhance Market Oversight

According to Odaily, the European Commission has proposed transferring regulatory authority over cryptocurrency companies to the European Union's market regulatory body as part of a comprehensive financial market integration initiative. The Commission believes that incorporating cryptocurrency regulation into the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) will enhance regulatory efficiency and facilitate cross-border activities. This move aims to address the fragmentation caused by differing regulatory approaches among the 27 member states. Previously, individual national regulators, including France's AMF, Austria's FMA, and Italy's Consob, expressed concerns about the implementation of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework and called for ESMA to strengthen its oversight. The proposal is subject to negotiation and approval by the European Parliament and the European Council.