No global stablecoin project will begin operation in the European Union (EU) until the associated risks to monetary sovereignty are addressed, according to EU authorities. In a joint statement adopted by the Council of the European Union and the European Commission (EC), the Council and the Commission admitted that stablecoins may be effective at providing cheap and fast payments, but they have far more risks and challenges. The statement was approved by the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN), one of the oldest configurations of the Council, on Dec. 5, based on the data in an official document released in …

In January 2020, the regulatory landscape for crypto businesses will completely change in the European Union in comparison with the last decade — and these changes will touch all those who store clients’ crypto funds or provide fiat-to-crypto exchange services, at minimum. Not long ago, the Anti-Money Laundering regulations were extended to cover cryptocurrency custodian wallet service providers and crypto-to-fiat exchanges in the EU. The legislation known as the EU Fifth Anti-Money Laundering Directive entered into force on July 9, 2018, and shall be transposed into the national legislation of each EU member state by Jan. 10, 2020. Before that, …

The European Union's announcement of a new 110 million euro fund to support research on artificial intelligence and blockchain comes at a critical time for the AI industry, when issues at the intersection of privacy, security and AI are the focus of acute attention by government, the tech industry and the general public. Blockchain technology has the promise to radically transform the way society handles data as well as how AIs are trained and taught with this data. It has the potential to create a world in which control over and reward from data and AI is distributed more broadly …

News on crypto and blockchain technology is coming in abundance from China. This became especially true in late October 2019, when the Chinese President Xi Jinping called for accelerating the use of blockchain technology in the country. President Xi identified dozens of use cases that should be promoted: loans, health care, anti-counterfeiting, charity and food security. Xi emphasized that blockchain development could “China gain an edge in the theoretical, innovative and industrial aspects of this emerging field.” That was the green light the Chinese blockchain startups and ongoing projects needed to further accelerate their development. A few days after the …

Society is now witnessing the implementation of digital currencies, AI and blockchain technology worldwide. These new digital technologies require a high consumption of electricity, currently produced predominantly using coal and fossil fuels that adversely impact the environment. A global shift toward green energy will require the removal of the existing regulatory barriers on technology, infrastructure, finance and tax policy. In this series, my articles evaluate the tax, digital technology and solar policies (including space power satellites) of the countries that emit the highest volumes of carbon dioxide. Proving the heliocentric model of our solar system put forward by European scientists …

Bitcoin (BTC) lacks the characteristics of a currency and is purely speculative, according to the European Central Bank’s former president Jean-Claude Trichet. Chinese news outlet South China Morning Post reported on Nov. 10 that Trichet made remarks at Caixin’s conference in Beijing. “I am strongly against Bitcoin” During the event, Trichet also expressed doubt that cryptocurrencies could ever become the future of money. He said that Bitcoin lacks the characteristics of a real currency: “I am strongly against Bitcoin, and I think we are a little complacent. [...] The currency itself is not real, with the characteristics that a currency …

A draft document issued by the European Union suggests that the union should consider issuing its own digital currency. Will the EU wage war on crypto? Reuters reported on Nov. 5 that the draft in question — which is still subject to amendments — urges member states to develop a common approach to cryptocurrencies, possibly banning high-risk projects. If the draft in its current form is approved, which could happen as early as next month, it could have far-reaching consequences. More precisely, Reuters suggests that such a law could escalate into an EU regulatory campaign against cryptocurrencies. European Central Bank …

Five European Union member countries have reportedly teamed up to prevent the issuance of Facebook’s stablecoin Libra. Private meetings to turn EU against Libra Following a series of private meetings in October, France is reportedly leading the anti-Libra effort with Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands, political news publication Politico Europe reports on Oct. 30. Citing sources familiar with the matter, Politico states that the countries’ deputy finance ministers have presented their unified position against Libra to other EU ministers at a private meeting on Oct. 28 in Brussels. According to the report, the group intends to prevent Libra from …

The Libra Association is in talks with European Union regulators, according to its managing director, according to an interview with Reuters, Sept. 27. Bertrand Perez said that discussions were ongoing and there was still work to do, in one of his first public appearances on the job at a blockchain conference in Geneva, where the association is based. Facebook’s Libra faced a cold reception in France and Germany Since Facebook announced its intention to launch the Libra cryptocurrency, it has faced scrutiny from regulatory bodies across Europe and North America. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has resorted to wining and dining …

CF Benchmarks, CME Group’s Bitcoin (BTC) index provider, received a benchmark license under the European Benchmarks Regulation (EU BMR). On Sept. 13, CF Benchmarks’ official Twitter account announced that the firm received its license from the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). In the tweet, the firm also claims to be the first cryptocurrency index provider to reach this goal: “CF Benchmarks is the first #crypto index provider to receive EU BMR authorisation from [the FCA].” Regulatory future-proofed According to the report published by financial news outlet Finextra on Sept. 13, the authorization will allow CF Benchmarks to offer its …

The Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA) says in its recently published strategic plan that it will actively monitor and manage business-related risks related to cryptocurrency firms. Monitor crypto firms to prevent crypto-related crimes On Sept. 6, the MFSA published its three-year strategic plan for 2019–2021 which states the Malta financial regulator will strive to modernize their regulatory approach to be one step ahead of industry developments. The MFSA said it will work closely with the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit and other national and international authorities, including the newly formed Malta Digital Innovation Authority. The regulator added: “Whilst Malta has taken …

German bank WEG Bank obtained a cryptocurrency trading and custody in Estonia. WEG Bank confirmed in a tweet published on Aug. 25 that it obtained a crypto trading and custody license in Estonia. Estonia greenlights German bank to trade and hold crypto Furthermore, the firm also announced that it is now trying to take hold of a securities trading and custody license in Germany. The bank stated: “We announce that as of today we have secured full access to a crypto trading and custody license in Estonia and are equally applying for a securities trading and custody license in Germany.” …