The European Banking Authority (EBA) plans to finalize
its monitoring framework for stablecoin issuers by the end of this month,
Coindesk reported. This development aligns with MiCA’s broader regulations, which provide strict caps on transaction volumes and values.
Specifically, stablecoins are prohibited from facilitating more than 1 million
transactions or exceeding daily transaction values of 200 million euros.
Regulatory Caps Threaten Operations
The EBA is expected to release a detailed report clarifying how it will measure transaction volumes.
Preliminary consultations suggest that transactions involving parties outside
the EU may be excluded from the cap calculations. However, transactions with at
least one party within the EU are likely to be counted.
The European Union’s new stablecoin regulations, part of the EU’s Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) legislation, are set to reshape the landscape for major issuers like Tether and Circle. These stringent rules aim to impose tight controls on stablecoin
transactions, potentially sidelining key players from the European market.
The impending regulations have raised alarms among
stablecoin issuers. Tether, known for its dollar-pegged USDT, and Circle, the
company behind USDC, might find themselves unable to operate within the EU.
Robert Kopitsch, secretary-general of Blockchain for Europe, highlighted this
challenge, noting that the predominance of USD-denominated stablecoins
exacerbates the issue.
MiCA Regulations
The introduction of the MiCA regulations marks a
significant regulatory step for the EU’s crypto industry, enabling firms
licensed in one member state to operate across the entire bloc. According to
Article 23 of MiCA, stablecoin issuers must cease operations if they surpass
the defined transaction thresholds. This provision is intended to safeguard the
euro from being overshadowed by private digital currencies, a concern sparked
by Facebook’s now-abandoned Diem project.
Stablecoin issuers face the dual challenge of
compliance and obtaining the necessary certifications. Circle, which
conditionally registered as a Digital Asset Service Provider with France’s
Financial Markets Authority in April, is reportedly working to meet the
deadline.
This article was written by Jared Kirui at www.financemagnates.com.
