On 27 February 2025, the European Banking Authority (EBA) issued its opinion responding to the European Commission’s (Commission) proposed changes to its draft regulatory technical standards (RTS) on the information to be provided to Member State competent authorities when authorising the offer to the public of asset-referenced tokens (
Crypto Assets
Commission adopts more MiCA delegated acts
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) supplementing MiCA with regard to regulatory technical standards (RTS) specifying records to be kept of all crypto-asset services, activities, orders and transactions undertaken. Article 68(9) of MiCA
ESMA consults on draft MiCA guidelines for the criteria on the assessment of knowledge and competence
On 17 February 2025, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) issued a consultation paper containing draft guidelines for the criteria on the assessment of knowledge and competence under the Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (MiCA).
Background
Article 81(15) of MiCA provides for ESMA to issue guidelines specifying the criteria for…
Eight Commission Delegated Regulations supplementing MiCAR published in the Official Journal

Property (Digital Assets etc) Bill completed House of Lords committee stage

On 4 February 2025, the Property (Digital Assets etc) Bill completed the House of Lords Committee stage.
The purpose of the Bill is to make provision about the types of things that are capable of being objects of personal property rights, as is further explained in our previous blog regarding the original publication of the…
ESMA supervisory briefing – Authorisation of CASPs under MiCA
On 31 January 2025, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) issued a supervisory briefing on authorisation of crypto asset service providers (CASPs) under the Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (MiCAR). The purpose of the supervisory briefing is for Member State competent authorities (NCAs) to achieve a…
SFC revamps and expedites licensing process for VATPs

Introduction
The Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) announced on 16 January 2025 that new applicants for a virtual asset trading platform (VATP) licence will be subject to a revamped and expedited external assessment process.
Previous external assessment process
VATP licence applicants who had submitted their application on or before…
The Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (Digital Securities Sandbox) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

On 30 January 2025, the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (Digital Securities Sandbox) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 were laid before Parliament and published on legislation.gov.uk, along with an explanatory memorandum.
The Regulations amend the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023 (Digital Securities Sandbox) Regulations 2023 (the DSS Regulations), to modify the effect of…
ESMA opinion on RTS specifying certain requirements in relation to conflicts of interest for CASPs under MiCAR
On 24 January 2025, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) issued an opinion on the regulatory technical standards (RTS) specifying certain requirements in relation to conflicts of interest for crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR).
On 31 May 2024, ESMA published…
ESMA statement on the provision of certain crypto-asset services in relation to non-MICAR compliant ARTs and EMTs
On 17 January 2025, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) issued a statement which provides guidance on how and under which timeline crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) are expected to comply with the requirements of Titles III and IV of the Regulation on markets in crypto-assets (MiCAR). In particular…

