The European Union’s pursuit of regulatory clarity in the
realm of cryptocurrencies took another stride as the European Banking Authority
(EBA) published its latest draft requirements for stablecoins referencing
multiple currencies under the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulation on today
(Wednesday).
Collaborating with the EU’s markets regulator, the European
Securities and Markets Authority, the EBA has been crafting rules under the
MiCA framework. This latest publication marks the culmination of efforts, with
more batches expected to follow as part of the consultation process.
The draft Regulatory Technical Standards released by the EBA
delineate the stipulations, templates, and procedures for complaints received
by issuers of what MiCA defines as asset reference tokens (ARTs). Unlike
traditional stablecoins, which are typically pegged to a single currency such
as the euro or US dollar, ARTs possess the flexibility to reference multiple
currencies or other assets, including cryptocurrencies.
🆕 #EBA final draft Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) under #MiCAR 📜🔍
These set out the requirements, templates and procedures for handling complaints received by issuers of asset reference tokens (ARTs) 🗂️📝https://t.co/yT3pSGSowh pic.twitter.com/DvycTm2MqI
— EU Banking Authority – EBA 🇪🇺 (@EBA_News) March 13, 2024
Notably, the MiCA regulation places a
significant emphasis on establishing stringent requirements for stablecoin
issuers. While the broader MiCA framework is slated to come into effect in
December, the regulations specific to stablecoins are anticipated to be
enforced as early as this summer. The regulatory landscape surrounding
cryptocurrencies has been evolving rapidly as authorities seek to balance
innovation with investor protection and financial stability.
Minimum Capital and Liquidity Requirements for
Stablecoins
Earlier, the EBA
proposed regulations for cryptocurrency and stablecoin markets, as reported
by Finance Magnates. These rules
include minimum capital and liquidity requirements for stablecoin issuers to
ensure they have sufficient funds for investor redemptions. The regulations aim
to establish a framework for the stablecoin industry and prevent potential
crises.
Key elements include maintaining liquidity for asset
reserves backing stablecoins and using only high-quality assets. The proposed
regulations align with the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation to
monitor and mitigate risks from…
