#MiCAR
3 articles tagged #MiCAR — curated RWA tokenization coverage.
MiCA Interest Ban Stablecoins and MEXC's USDT Cashback Card
MEXC Global recently launched a Visa-linked crypto card offering up to 10 percent cashback and 7 percent annual interest on USDT balances, raising questions about compliance with the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR). Article 50 of MiCAR explicitly prohibits licensed providers from paying interest or holding-period rewards on regulated stablecoins, known as e-money tokens, to prevent them from functioning as interest-bearing bank deposits. Because Tether has not sought MiCAR authorization for USDT, the token falls outside the scope of the e-money token interest ban, allowing non-licensed providers to offer such products to EU users. However, the regulation creates a clear divide between cashback, which is tied to transaction activity, and interest, which is tied to holding duration. While cashback is generally permissible, interest paid on idle balances remains strictly prohibited for any entity operating within the EU's licensed framework. This situation highlights the regulatory gap between authorized e-money tokens and non-compliant stablecoins in the European market. Users are advised to verify provider licensing via ESMA and BaFin databases, as the lack of MiCAR authorization for a token does not exempt providers from broader consumer protection standards. Ultimately, the distinction between transaction-based rewards and balance-based interest remains the critical factor for regulatory compliance under the evolving MiCA regime.
Checking a MiCAR White Paper: What the First Published MiCA Penalty Against Bitpanda Means for Investors
Austria's Financial Market Authority (FMA) has issued a 70,000 euro fine to Vienna-based Bitpanda GmbH for violating Regulation (EU) 2023/1114, commonly known as MiCAR. The sanction marks the first final enforcement action published by the FMA under the new European crypto-asset framework. The breach involved the late filing of a mandatory crypto-asset white paper and the dissemination of marketing materials before the official publication of said document. While Bitpanda clarified that customer funds and platform security remained unaffected, the case highlights the regulator's shift from licensing to active enforcement of disclosure requirements. MiCAR mandates that issuers provide standardized white papers to ensure retail investors have access to risk disclosures and project details before making purchase decisions. This enforcement action serves as a critical signal to the RWA and broader crypto market that procedural compliance regarding documentation and advertising sequences is now strictly monitored. By enforcing these rules, the FMA aims to protect investors by ensuring that marketing communications remain consistent with the formal disclosures required under Title II of the regulation.
Boerse Stuttgart Adds SG-FORGE’s Euro Stablecoin
Boerse Stuttgart Digital has integrated Societe Generale-FORGE’s EUR CoinVertible stablecoin into its trading and custody infrastructure, marking the first time a bank-issued, MiCAR-compliant euro stablecoin has been onboarded into its regulated ecosystem. This move represents a strategic shift for the infrastructure provider, which is prioritizing euro-denominated assets over the Web3-native, dollar-based stablecoins that dominate most crypto platforms. The integration builds upon a long-standing partnership between the Boerse Stuttgart Group and Societe Generale, which previously collaborated on the Seturion settlement platform for tokenized securities. By utilizing a bank-issued stablecoin, Boerse Stuttgart Digital aims to provide institutional clients with a secure, compliant instrument for settlement and payments. This development underscores a broader industry trend where regulated financial institutions are positioning themselves as the primary architects of digital asset infrastructure in Europe. The initiative is framed as a matter of European strategic sovereignty, reducing reliance on non-European stablecoin alternatives. Ultimately, this partnership serves to bridge the gap between traditional capital markets and the emerging digital asset economy through a fully regulated framework.