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Norway supports MiCA, considers CBDC for financial stability

Norges Bank backs the EU’s MiCA regulation while considering a CBDC to enhance cross-border payments and support financial stability in Norway.

Norges Bank, Norway’s central bank, has endorsed the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) as the country evaluates the potential adoption of a central bank digital currency (CBDC).

Kjetil Watne, project director for Norges Bank’s CBDC project, said in an interview with Cointelegraph that Norway, as a member of the European Economic Area (EEA), welcomes MiCA’s framework. However, he noted that the bank is still considering “whether additional regulations are necessary to promote financial stability.”

Watne explained that Norges Bank has “not yet decided” if it will issue a CBDC and is assessing how to “mitigate regulatory gaps related to decentralized finance.”

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Solana ETF Momentum Grows Amid Reports of SEC Engagement

Netherlands seeks input on crypto tax monitoring laws to align with EU

The Dutch government wants to align its data collection rules for crypto service providers with the rest of the EU, saying it would “create more transparency.”

The Dutch government has asked for public input on proposed laws that would require crypto service providers, such as exchanges, to collect and share user data with the local tax authority — aligning with European Union rules.

“The aim of the bill is to create more transparency about the ownership of cryptocurrencies, which can prevent tax avoidance and evasion,” the Netherlands Ministry of Finance said in an Oct. 24 press release.

It added “nothing will change” for crypto owners under the proposed rules as they’re already required to file a tax return of their holdings to the country’s tax authority, the Belastingdienst.

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Solana ETF Momentum Grows Amid Reports of SEC Engagement

ECB paper claims older Bitcoin holders are exploiting new holders

Since its introduction in 1999, the euro has lost approximately 85% of its value against gold due to monetary inflation.

A recent paper published by the European Central Bank on Oct. 12, 2024, claimed that older Bitcoin (BTC) holders profit at the expense of newer holders and argued that the scarce decentralized currency should be regulated to prevent its price from rising or outright banned.

The authors said that those who acquired BTC at an earlier date, or those who bought at market bottoms, and sold to new investors at a profit were exploiting the newer buyers. This is, of course, how all financial markets work — investors aim to buy assets low and sell high.

From this foundation, the authors concluded that Bitcoin should face strict price controls to prevent exploitation and the ensuing civil strife from this unfair wealth distribution:

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Solana ETF Momentum Grows Amid Reports of SEC Engagement

Ireland Moves to Draft Urgent Legislation for Cryptocurrency Regulations Ahead of EU Deadline

Ireland Moves to Draft Urgent Legislation for Cryptocurrency Regulations Ahead of EU DeadlineIreland’s Finance Minister Jack Chambers has announced plans to draft urgent legislation aimed at updating financial regulations to include cryptocurrency and digital asset firms. According to the Irish Examiner, this legislation is crucial to ensure compliance with new European Union money laundering and financing of terrorism laws, which are set to take effect on December […]

Solana ETF Momentum Grows Amid Reports of SEC Engagement

21Shares urges EU to change ‘inconsistent’ crypto ETP rules

The ETP issuer is asking for more clarity and consistency from what it claims is the European Union’s “patchwork” of crypto regulations.

Crypto exchange-traded product (ETP) issuer 21Shares has pushed for European Union regulators to create a unified regulatory framework for the inclusion of crypto in investment products.

On Oct. 7, 21Shares urged the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) to adjust its rule to include crypto assets in Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS) funds designed for retail investors, such as ETPs and exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Current EU regulations for including crypto in these types of funds are inconsistent and vary across countries, causing confusion and inconsistencies for investors, 21Shares claimed.

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Solana ETF Momentum Grows Amid Reports of SEC Engagement

Academic paper suggests governments should attack public blockchains

Crypto exchange Kraken has announced the delisting of Monero in the European Economic Area to maintain compliance with EU regulations.

An academic paper titled: "Reconciliation of Anti-Money Laundering Instruments and European Data Protection Requirements in Permissionless Blockchain Spaces" published in the Journal of Cybersecurity suggests that governments should target cryptocurrencies — especially privacy preserving chains — to combat money laundering.

The author of the paper outlined several methods of undermining trust in permissionless blockchains including 51% attacks, price suppression, and Sybil attacks — a type of malicious activity in which a single user creates multiple accounts to manipulate a network. The author asserted:

However, the paper also argued that these methods should only be used as a "last resort" to combat money laundering after other policy initiatives such as blacklisting wallet addresses, flagging transactions, sanctions, and other regulations have been exhausted.

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Solana ETF Momentum Grows Amid Reports of SEC Engagement

Coinbase to Delist USDT in Europe Amid New EU Regulations

Coinbase to Delist USDT in Europe Amid New EU RegulationsCoinbase has announced plans to delist Tether’s USDT and other stablecoins that do not comply with the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulations by December 30, 2024. This decision is part of Coinbase’s efforts to adhere to the new rules, which require stablecoin issuers to obtain an e-money license in an EU member state. […]

Solana ETF Momentum Grows Amid Reports of SEC Engagement

Coinbase To Stop Supporting Non-Compliant Stablecoins in EU by the End of 2024, Including Possibly USDT: Report

Coinbase To Stop Supporting Non-Compliant Stablecoins in EU by the End of 2024, Including Possibly USDT: Report

Coinbase reportedly plans to cut support for certain stablecoins in the European Union (EU) by the end of the year. A spokesperson for the crypto exchange tells Bloomberg the exchange will delist stablecoins in Europe that don’t comply with the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). “Given our commitment to compliance, we intend to restrict […]

The post Coinbase To Stop Supporting Non-Compliant Stablecoins in EU by the End of 2024, Including Possibly USDT: Report appeared first on The Daily Hodl.

Solana ETF Momentum Grows Amid Reports of SEC Engagement

Sygnum Secures Liechtenstein License to Expand Crypto Services in EU

Sygnum Secures Liechtenstein License to Expand Crypto Services in EUSygnum, a Swiss digital asset banking group, has registered its local subsidiary with the Liechtenstein financial regulator. This move allows the company to offer regulated services in the EU and European Economic Area under the incoming MiCA framework. With plans for further growth in Asia, including Hong Kong and Singapore, Sygnum continues to strengthen its […]

Solana ETF Momentum Grows Amid Reports of SEC Engagement

Consumer watchdogs call for EU action on in-game digital money

Consumers fall prey to many deceptive practices when buying and using in-game currencies in video games, claims BEUC.

A group representing European consumer protection organizations has filed a complaint with the European Commission about the video game industry’s use and marketing of in-game digital currencies.

The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) and 22 member organizations from 17 countries on Sept. 12 called for the European Commission and the European Network of Consumer Authorities (CPC-Network) to take stronger enforcement against video game companies that maximize consumer spending by using in-game currencies. 

A report from the watchdogs noted the growth of in-game purchases using in-game digital currencies, especially in free-to-play games and those played by children, a practice they claimed now generates significant revenues for game companies.

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Solana ETF Momentum Grows Amid Reports of SEC Engagement