European Union: FinTech

On 30 September 2026, the European Securities and Markets Authority ("ESMA") published its response to the European Commission's (the "Commission") consultation on the review of Regulation...

Die Europäische Bankenaufsichtsbehörde (EBA) und das Europäische System der Zentralbanken (ESCB) haben ihre Antworten zum MiCAR-Review vorgelegt – mit teils unterschiedlichen Positionen zu Stablecoin-Reserven, Signifikanzkriterien und globalen Multi-Issuer-Modellen. Der neue EU RegCORE Client Alert analysiert die divergierenden Standpunkte und zeigt auf, welche Vorbereitungen Banken, Stablecoin-Emittenten, CASPs, Asset Manager und Marktinfrastrukturen jetzt treffen sollten.

Italy's 2025 Budget Law significantly reformed cryptocurrency taxation, raising capital gains rates to 33% from 2026 and eliminating the previous €2,000 annual threshold. Understanding these changes is crucial for anyone holding crypto-assets in Italy, as new reporting obligations and tax rates now apply to all realized gains, staking rewards, and other crypto-related proceeds.

The Central Bank of Ireland has issued comprehensive guidance on prohibition notices under its fitness and probity regime, while simultaneously releasing its second payment and e-money newsletter addressing critical compliance matters. These publications coincide with the second edition of the Financial Crime Bulletin, which emphasizes escalating fraud risks and the evolving AML/CFT supervisory framework across Ireland's financial services sector.

Cyprus property law now intersects with cryptocurrency regulation as international buyers increasingly seek to use Bitcoin, Ethereum, and stablecoins for real estate acquisitions. While crypto-funded property purchases are legally possible in Cyprus, they require careful structuring to satisfy contract law, Land Registry requirements, anti-money laundering obligations, and the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA).

Malta is exploring how tokenisation could reshape financial markets by enabling financial instruments and real-world assets to be issued, traded and managed using distributed ledger technology (DLT). The consultation seeks to create a secure regulatory framework that supports innovation while protecting investors and maintaining market integrity.

In our third episode we meet André Xuereb, professor of physics at the University of Malta and an entrepreneur. André is a thought leader in quantum technologies with a passion for exploring how we can shape tech for a safer tomorrow.

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Payment Institutions offering crypto-related services face a complex new regulatory landscape under MiCAR, requiring separate authorisation beyond their existing licences. The framework introduces substantial compliance obligations spanning conduct rules, disclosure requirements, and capital adequacy standards, while imposing multi-layered costs that can reach tens of thousands of euros annually. Understanding whether the commercial benefits justify these regulatory burdens has become a critical strategic q