21X Secures EU Approval for Tokenization Platform

December 5, 2024

Catenaa, Thursday, December 05, 2024 – German fintech firm 21X has become one of the first companies to gain regulatory approval to operate a blockchain-based trading and settlement platform under the European Union’s DLT Pilot Regime. The milestone was confirmed Tuesday following an announcement from Germany’s financial watchdog, BaFin.  The license enables 21X to establish […]

Australia Sets Digital Asset Rules, Aims for Global Lead

March 24, 2025

Catenaa, Monday, March 24, 2025-The Australia government on Thursday announced plans to establish a ‘fit for purpose’ digital asset framework aimed at fostering innovation while ensuring consumer protection.  The Treasury released a paper Thursday detailing efforts to regulate digital asset platforms (DAPs) and stablecoins, with input from industry leaders, regulators, and the public. The initiative […]

BaFin Bans Ethena GmbH’s USDe Token Sales in Germany

March 25, 2025

Catenaa, Tuesday, March 25, 2025-Germany’s financial watchdog, BaFin, has banned the sale of Ethena GmbH’s USDe token in the country, citing approval process flaws and violations of the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR).  BaFin ordered immediate enforcement actions, including freezing the token’s reserve assets and halting new customer registrations. The regulator further instructed […]

Belgium to Prioritize Blockchain as EU Council Leader in 2024

December 12, 2023

In a move to bolster the European Union’s (EU) blockchain infrastructure and foster innovation in the digital realm, Belgium has taken the initiative to revitalize the European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI) project. This initiative aligns with the country’s presidency of the Council of the European Union, which commences in early 2024. The EBSI project, launched […]

ECB Warns US Crypto Policies May Trigger Financial Crisis

March 17, 2025

Catenaa, Monday, March 17, 2025-A top European Central Bank (ECB) official warned that the United States’ (US) growing support for cryptocurrencies and non-bank financial institutions could sow the seeds of the next financial crisis. ECB Governing Council member François Villeroy de Galhau, speaking to French newspaper La Tribune Dimanche, criticized the US for what he […]

EU Adopts New Rules to Boost Crypto Tax Compliance

November 13, 2023

BRUSSELS, Oct. 30, 2023-The European Union (EU) has adopted new rules to boost crypto tax compliance, requiring crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) to disclose their customers’ transactions to tax authorities, a news report said. The report of PricewaterhouseCoopers can be seen here: The new rules, which are part of the EU’s Directive on Administrative Cooperation in […]

EU Approves First Retaliation Against Trump’s Tariffs

April 10, 2025

Catenaa, Thursday, April 10, 2025- European Union (EU) countries are set to approve their first wave of retaliatory tariffs against the United States on Wednesday, directly responding to President Donald Trump’s sweeping trade levies that took full effect the same day. The EU’s countermeasures target US steel and aluminum tariffs and include new 25% duties […]

EU Banks Lag in Crypto Adoption Despite Demand

March 31, 2025

Catenaa, Monday, March 31, 2025-A new survey highlights a growing gap between European banks and crypto investors, as most financial institutions hesitate to adopt digital asset services.  The Bitpanda report shows that while crypto demand surges, only a fraction of EU banks offer trading or custody services. Regulatory uncertainty and risk aversion are key barriers. […]

EU Plans Tougher Capital Rules for Insurers Holding Crypto

April 1, 2025

Catenaa, Tuesday, April 01, 2025- The European Union (EU) has proposed a rule requiring insurers to hold capital reserves equal to their crypto holdings, a move aimed at addressing the volatility and risks associated with digital assets. The proposal, made by the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA), stresses the need for enhanced financial […]

EU probes Tech Goliaths for antitrust violations

April 15, 2024

EU Launches Antitrust Probe into Meta, Google, Apple, and Amazon, Warning of Potential 10% Annual Turnover Fines Brussels, Monday, April 01, 2024-The European Commission announced On March 25 that it had launched antitrust investigations into Apple, Google, and Meta for potential violations of the bloc’s new Digital Markets Act (DMA). The DMA, which took effect […]

EU Tightens Sanctions on Russia, Expands Crypto Rules

February 25, 2025

Catenaa, Tuesday, February 25, 2025- The European Union(EU) has adopted its 16th sanctions package against Russia, introducing stricter financial controls, trade restrictions, and expanded oversight on cryptocurrency transactions. The measures, announced on February 24, mark three years since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  The package includes sanctions against 83 additional individuals and entities, targeting organizations involved […]

European AI Regulation Debate Sparks Intense Expert Clashes

July 31, 2023

BRUSSELS, July 31, 2023 – The European Union’s proposed regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) is sparking debate, with some experts arguing that it is too restrictive and others saying that it is not strict enough. The proposed regulation, known as the AI Act, would classify AI systems according to their risk level and impose different […]

Europol Busts Drug Ring, Seizes $26M in Crypto

December 22, 2024

Catenaa, Sunday, December 22, 2024 – Europol announced a major success in combating international drug trafficking, revealing the seizure of $26.23 million in cryptocurrencies and the arrest of nine suspects linked to an underground financial network. Authorities from six countries collaborated to dismantle the operation, which used cryptocurrency to launder proceeds from large-scale cocaine trafficking […]

France, Italy Urge EU to Reform Blockchain Regulations

April 14, 2025

Catenaa, Monday, April 14, 2025-France and Italy have jointly called on the European Commission to revise its approach to blockchain regulation, submitting a proposal Wednesday to revamp the EU distributed ledger technology (DLT) framework. The move comes amid criticism of the EU’s 2023 Pilot Regime, which has drawn limited participation and failed to meet its […]

German Watchdog Demands Biometric Data Deletion

December 26, 2024

Catenaa, Thursday, December 26, 2024 – A key German privacy regulator has ordered the controversial World project, backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, to delete biometric data collected from scanning people’s eyeballs. The Bavarian State Office for Data Protection Supervision, tasked with enforcing the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), announced the decision Thursday, citing […]

Kraken, Coinbase Secure EU, UK Approval for Crypto Expansion

February 4, 2025

Catenaa, Tuesday, February 04, 2025 – US-based cryptocurrency exchanges Kraken and Coinbase have received regulatory approvals, clearing the way for expanded operations in the European Union and the United Kingdom, respectively. Kraken obtained a Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) license in the EU through its acquisition of a Cypriot investment firm regulated by the […]

OKX Suspends DEX Aggregator Amid EU Money Laundering Probe

March 24, 2025

Catenaa, Sunday, March 23, 2025 – Crypto exchange OKX has temporarily suspended its decentralized exchange (DEX) aggregator following European regulatory scrutiny over allegations that North Korean hackers laundered stolen funds through the platform.  In a March 17 statement, OKX confirmed that its DeFi services were targeted by the Lazarus Group, a hacking collective accused of […]

Revolut Launches Crypto Exchange App Revolut X in UK, EEA

March 29, 2025

Catenaa, Saturday, March 29, 2025-London-based fintech giant Revolut has launched a mobile app for its crypto exchange, Revolut X, enabling users in the UK and European Economic Area (EEA) to trade over 400 crypto pairs, the company announced Tuesday.  The move expands Revolut X beyond its initial professional trader base, allowing any user with a […]

Robinhood Crypto Now Expands to Spain

January 29, 2025

Catenaa, Tuesday, January 28, 2025 – The US-based firm Robinhood Crypto enabled its trading app accessibility in Spain last week. This will allow the customers to trade, stake, and invest in crypto directly on the Robinhood Crypto platform. The new milestone would pave the path to secure the firm a top place on the EU […]

Standard Chartered Gains EU Crypto Custody License

January 10, 2025

Catenaa, Friday, January 2025 – Banking giant Standard Chartered has received a license to offer cryptocurrency custody services in the European Union, establishing a new entity in Luxembourg as its regulatory gateway under the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulation.  MiCA, which came into full effect on Dec. 30, provides a uniform regulatory framework for […]