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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Catenaa, Wednesday, June 25, 2025- The Berlin Summit 2025 brought together European leaders and experts to address the continent’s deepening reliance on US and Chinese technology giants, highlighting the urgent need for digital sovereignty amid mounting geopolitical and technological challenges. Attendees highlighted how Big Tech’s dominance extends beyond market control to governing critical digital infrastructures […]

Catenaa, June 30, 2025-Amsterdam-based crypto exchange Bitvavo has secured a Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) license from the Netherlands’ financial watchdog, paving the way for the largest EUR-denominated spot exchange to offer services across all 27 European Union member states. The Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) issued the license, joining a wave of […]

Catenaa, Tuesday, June 24, 2025- Coinbase has secured a license under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) framework, granting it regulatory clearance to operate across all 27 EU member states. The approval, issued by Luxembourg’s financial regulator, positions Coinbase as one of the first major global crypto firms to function fully under the […]

Catenaa, Saturday, June 21, 2025-US-based crypto exchanges Coinbase and Gemini are nearing regulatory approval to operate across the European Union under the bloc’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) rules, positioning themselves to expand in one of the world’s most closely watched crypto jurisdictions. Reuters reported Monday that Coinbase is expected to receive its crypto-asset service provider […]

Catenaa, Tuesday, May 27, 2025- US stock futures surged Monday night after President Donald Trump announced a delay on imposing a 50% tariff on European Union goods, a move that calmed jittery investors and boosted global market sentiment. The Dow Jones Industrial Average futures climbed 407 points, or 1%. S&P 500 futures gained 1.1%, and […]

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 […]

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 […]

Catenaa, Monday, May 26, 2025- The European Union(EU) agreed on Monday to accelerate negotiations with the US to avoid a trade war, a day after Trump delayed the implementation of a 50% tariff to July 09. Paula Pinho, a spokesperson for the European Commission, told reporters that Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke with […]

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 […]

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. […]

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 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 […]

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 […]

Catenaa, Wednesday, June 25, 2025– The European Union (EU) vowed to retaliate if the US sticks with its baseline 10% tariff, the EU Industry Chief said on Wednesday, as pressure mounts on closing key trade deals. The EU said that it would hit US goods like Boeing planes with tariffs if President Trump follows through […]

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 […]

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 […]

Catenaa, Monday, May 12, 2025-  France and the European Union are intensifying efforts to attract US-based scientists who are concerned about the Trump administration’s policies impacting academia. As part of the initiative, French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are expected to announce new incentives and protections for researchers wishing […]

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 […]

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 […]

Catenaa, Wednesday, July 02, 2025- Germany’s largest banking network, Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe, is set to introduce cryptocurrency trading services for retail customers, marking a major shift in stance from the institution’s earlier position on digital assets. The service, according to Bloomberg, is expected to roll out by summer 2026. The banking group had previously distanced itself from […]

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 […]

Catenaa, Friday, June 06, 2025-The European Union’s landmark crypto regulation, Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA), is reshaping the continent’s digital asset industry, forcing smaller firms to either adapt to strict compliance or exit the market altogether. Legal experts and industry insiders at the recent UN:BLOCK conference in Riga said MiCA, which aims to unify crypto regulation […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Catenaa, Friday, May 23, 2025- South Korea and the European Union have agreed to strengthen cyber cooperation, specifically targeting cryptocurrency theft attributed to North Korean hacking groups, officials announced Tuesday. The decision follows a high-level policy dialogue held in Seoul, where both sides identified Pyongyang’s illicit cyber activities as a growing threat to global financial […]

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 […]

Catenaa, Tuesday, June 03, 2025- Two Tether-backed startups have launched a MiCA-compliant stablecoin initiative in Europe, marking a strategic shift by the stablecoin giant as exchanges begin delisting USDT across the European Economic Area. Crypto payments firm Oobit and stablecoin issuer StablR announced Tuesday they will integrate euro- and dollar-pegged assets, EURR and USDR, into […]

Catenaa, Tuesday, July 01, 2025- President Donald Trump team is no longer aiming for big trade deals with many countries but is trying to make smaller and quicker deals before July 09. According to the Financial Times report on Tuesday, these mini deals would help countries avoid those harsh levies, but partners would still face […]