Policy Work
We work with policymakers, academics and our member companies to develop a European regulatory framework to support and promote blockchain-based innovation.
Topics we are actively following include the proposed EU Regulation on Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA), the creation of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) such as a digital Euro, the proposed anti-money laundering review (AML VI), digital assets taxation, the EU Data Strategy, the forthcoming EU legislative proposal on artificial intelligence (AI), and emerging discussions on Decentralised Finance (DeFi) and self-sovereign identity (SSI).
Find out more about our latest position papers and thinking here.
17.07.2024
BC4EU Letter to ESMA on order routing limitations for broker-dealer business models
On 12 July 2024, BC4EU sent a letter to ESMA urging it to reconsider its intention to issue an opinion suggesting potential limitations to order routing, which would potentially limit the possibility of CASPs to operate a broker-dealer business model.
Download
27.06.2024
ESMA’s consultation on certain requirements in MiCA on detection and prevention of market abuse, investor protection and operational resilience
On 26 June, BC4EU submitted its response to ESMA's consultation on on certain requirements in the Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (MiCA) on detection and prevention of market abuse, investor protection and operational resilience.
Download
09.05.2024
BC4EU Response to ESMA’s Consultation on the Classification of Crypto-Assets as Financial Instruments
On 26 April, BC4EU Responded to the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA)'s consultation on the classification of crypto-assets as financial instruments under MiCA_
Download
09.05.2024
BC4EU Response to ESMA’s Consultation on Reverse Solicitation
On 26 April, BC4EU submitted its response to the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA)'s consultation on guidelines under Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) on reverse solicitation.
Download
05.03.2024
Joint Industry Letter on Application of PSD provisions to EMTs as defined under the MiCA Regulation
Together with other associations, we published a joint letter to urge the European Commission to clarify the application of the Payment Services Directive1 (PSD), to electronic money tokens (EMT) and EMT services, which is anticipated by the MiCA Regulation2 (MiCA) to apply in June 2024. To this end, we stand ready to participate in a joint government-industry working group to develop a tailored means of achieving regulatory clarity.
Download
18.12.2023
MiCA Level 2 – BC4EU Response to ESMA Consultation on sustainability indicators for crypto-assets
On 14 December 2023, BC4EU submitted its response to ESMA's consultation on its draft RTS for MiCA's sustainability indicators for crypto-assets. Our association's members focused on stressing the need for ensuring that sustainability indicators remain fit for purpose, collecting from providers the most important and reliable data that is clear, transparent and easily comparable both for the competent authorities and for potential investors. Important aspect is also the need to account for the positive impact that a blockchain network can have on the environment, not only focusing on the negative externalities due to energy or resources consumed.
Download
20.10.2023
BC4EU Response to IOSCO Consultation on DeFi
On 19 October 2023, BC4EU responded to IOSCO's Consultation on Decentralised Finance highlighting how the lack of a common
understanding globally about DeFi and clear definitions means the Recommendations are not only unlikely to be effective, but might end up creating adverse consequences.
Download
02.06.2023
BC4EU high level response to the ACPR Consultation on DeFi
On 2 June 2023, Blockchain for Europe submitted its response to the ACPR Consultation on DeFi, welcoming the substantive research of the paper and suggesting some high-level comments to build a constructive dialogue.
Download
11.05.2023
BC4EU Position Paper on AML Regulation
BC4EU welcomes the swift progress made by EU institutions in developing the new AML framework. However, this paper presents specific recommendations to support the development of a coherent, transparent and fit-for-purpose anti-money laundering regime for the crypto-asset industry in the EU that would be fully aligned with other cornerstone regulations already adopted – the Transfer of Funds regulation (TFR) and Markets in Crypto-assets Regulation (MICA).
Download
09.05.2023
Joint industry letter on Data Act
BC4EU signed a joint-industry letter on the Data Act urging EU policymakers to change the definition used of 'Smart Contracts' and avoid unintended consequences for the smart contracts deployed on public & permissionless blockchain networks.
Download
27.03.2023
DAC8 Proposal – Consultation Feedback
We are happy to announce that we submitted our feedback to the European Commission's DAC8 proposal.
In the spirit of actively participating in the development of European regulation on crypto and digital assets, we could not miss this opportunity to share our support and recommendations with the European Commission to ensure that the proposal does not hinder innovation in Europe.
We want to thank Dr. Max Bernt, Chief Legal Officer of Blockpit for his invaluable work in organically gathering and combining input from our members and the International Association for Trusted Blockchain Applications (INATBA).
Download
03.08.2022
Blockchain Regulatory and Policy Timeline
Blockchain for Europe's timeline of Policy and Regulatory initiatives at the Global, EU and National level.
Download
19.05.2022
BC4EU Guiding principles on how to approach final phase of MiCA trilogue
This list of key principles is meant to support policy-makers in their sanity check of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) Regulation, during the second political trilogue on 18th May and beyond.
Download
30.11.2021
BC4EU response to the European Commission’s AML package
BC4EU's position paper on the European Commission's proposals for a Regulation on the prevention of the use of the financial system for the purposes of money laundering or terrorist financing, and a Regulation on information accompanying transfers of funds and certain crypto-assets.
Download
22.04.2021
BC4EU response to the Draft updated FATF Guidance for a risk-based approach to virtual assets and VASPs
Blockchain for Europe's feedback on the draft FATF Guidance, and a number of alternative ideas that are designed to leverage blockchain technology instead of eroding the benefits of disintermediation.
Download
11.03.2021
Blockchain for Europe – Making MiCA a success for Europe
Blockchain for Europe's position paper on the European Commission proposal for a Regulation on Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA).
Download
15.12.2020
The Future of Payments in a DLT-based European Economy: A Roadmap
The paper provides a roadmap for the future of payments in a Distributed Ledger Technology oriented European economy.
Download
