#EMT

EU MiCA Regulation 2026: Kraken and Stablecoins Lead EU Crypto News

The European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) entered full enforcement on July 1, 2026, mandating that all crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) obtain formal authorization to operate within the bloc. Data from the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), highlighted by Circle's Patrick Hansen, reveals that 21 authorized electronic money token (EMT) issuers are currently active across 12 member states. These entities have collectively issued 35 distinct EMTs, with France leading the region by hosting six regulated issuers. Despite this progress, the market faces a significant regulatory gap as no approvals have been granted in the specific category regulators originally prioritized for the framework. This transition marks the end of national-level operating windows, forcing firms like Kraken to align with new EU-wide compliance standards to maintain service access. The consolidation of these rules is critical for the RWA market, as it establishes a standardized legal environment for stablecoin issuance and asset tokenization. Failure to secure authorization under these stringent guidelines threatens the continued availability of specific tokens on European exchanges, potentially reshaping the competitive landscape for digital asset providers.

coingabbar.com·Jul 8