EU to Centralize Crypto Regulation Under ESMA with MiCA for Cross-Border Harmonization Across 27 Member States

In a move aligned with ongoing EU financial integration, the European Commission is advancing a plan to place crypto-asset oversight under the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). The objective: unify supervision and bolster cross-border consistency as part of a broader reform of market regulation.

By shifting authority to ESMA, regulators aim to close gaps from 27 member states and curb regulatory fragmentation. This follows earlier signals from national authorities like AMF, FMA, and Consob urging stronger ESMA leadership to implement the MiCA framework with more coherent enforcement and closer oversight of crypto firms.

The proposal remains subject to negotiations and must gain approval from the European Parliament and European Council before implementation. If adopted, firms will face a more consistent EU-wide compliance regime that supports cross-border operations and investor protection.