Tag: European

  • European Parliament Committee Rejects Bitcoin Ban

    European Parliament Committee Rejects Bitcoin Ban

    [ad_1]

    The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) has
    reportedly rejected a bill that aimed to ban Bitcoin (BTC) in the European
    Union. According to Patrick Hansen, head of growth and strategy at Unstoppable DeFi, 32 members of the Parliament voted against, and
    24 in favor.

    The report noted that a majority of MEPs from the European
    People’s Party (EPP), the European Conservatives and Reformists (ERC), Renew
    Europe (Renew), and Identity and Democracy (ID) voted against it. In contrast,
    a minority of MEPs from Greens, S&D, and GUE mainly voted in favor.

    “Big relief & political success for the bitcoin &
    crypto community in the EU,” Hansen said. However, he added that the MICA
    regulation would likely no longer address mining but instead add the issue to
    the EU sustainable finance taxonomy.

    Next in the Parliament is that during the so-called “trilogues”
    between the EU Commission/Parliament/Council, the MiCA draft will be
    negotiated. The law will go into effect after their final agreement (in a
    couple of months). Companies, however, will have a six-month transition period
    to comply with the requirements.

    Amendment Approved

    Stefan Berger proposed an alternative amendment that does
    not restrict Bitcoin mining, which was approved by the MEPs.

    “Any chances left for the POW-ban? The groups that lost the
    vote have one last option. They could veto a fast-track procedure of MiCA
    through the trilogues & bring the discussion to the plenary of the
    Parliament. They need 1/10 of the votes of the EP to do so, which they have,”
    Hansen pointed out. He added: “That would bring the discussion around POW into
    the high-level policy arena. As we can’t predict how that would play out, it
    should be prevented. Even if it doesn’t change the vote on POW, it would
    unnecessarily delay the regulation for at least a couple of months.”

    The Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) has
    reportedly rejected a bill that aimed to ban Bitcoin (BTC) in the European
    Union. According to Patrick Hansen, head of growth and strategy at Unstoppable DeFi, 32 members of the Parliament voted against, and
    24 in favor.

    The report noted that a majority of MEPs from the European
    People’s Party (EPP), the European Conservatives and Reformists (ERC), Renew
    Europe (Renew), and Identity and Democracy (ID) voted against it. In contrast,
    a minority of MEPs from Greens, S&D, and GUE mainly voted in favor.

    “Big relief & political success for the bitcoin &
    crypto community in the EU,” Hansen said. However, he added that the MICA
    regulation would likely no longer address mining but instead add the issue to
    the EU sustainable finance taxonomy.

    Next in the Parliament is that during the so-called “trilogues”
    between the EU Commission/Parliament/Council, the MiCA draft will be
    negotiated. The law will go into effect after their final agreement (in a
    couple of months). Companies, however, will have a six-month transition period
    to comply with the requirements.

    Amendment Approved

    Stefan Berger proposed an alternative amendment that does
    not restrict Bitcoin mining, which was approved by the MEPs.

    “Any chances left for the POW-ban? The groups that lost the
    vote have one last option. They could veto a fast-track procedure of MiCA
    through the trilogues & bring the discussion to the plenary of the
    Parliament. They need 1/10 of the votes of the EP to do so, which they have,”
    Hansen pointed out. He added: “That would bring the discussion around POW into
    the high-level policy arena. As we can’t predict how that would play out, it
    should be prevented. Even if it doesn’t change the vote on POW, it would
    unnecessarily delay the regulation for at least a couple of months.”



    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • European Central Bank announces digital euro advisory group members

    European Central Bank announces digital euro advisory group members

    [ad_1]

    The European Central Bank (ECB) has announced the formation of a Market Advisory Group for the purpose of exploring the infrastructural and circulation potential of the digital euro from the perspective of industry spearheads.

    The group also aims to uncover the digital euros optimal function within the pan-European currency’s vast payments ecosystem. 

    The group includes a number of well-established experts from the banking and financial sector, including Aleksander Kurtevski, managing director of Bankart, Antonio Macías Vecino, head of payments discipline at BBVA and Axel Schaefer, payment regulation and innovation specialist at Ingka Group (Ikea), among others.

    It is expected that initial consultation meetings will commence in November 2021 and will operate on a monthly basis. The 30 members will work in advisory roles and report their findings for consideration in retail payments discussions within the Euro Retail Payments Board (ERPB).

    In mid July this year, the Governing Council of the ECB disclosed plans to commence a two-year preliminary research initiative into the feasibility of the digital euro project, assessing parameters such as infrastructure creation, distribution and design, with an assured intention to “complement cash, not replace it.”

    Related: Stablecoins are assets — not currencies, says ECB president

    ECB Board Member Fabio Panetta expressed his high-expectations for the project’s success:

    “I am pleased that many high-quality experts from the private sector are willing to contribute to the digital euro project. Their expertise will facilitate the integration of prospective users’ and distributors’ views on a digital euro during the investigation phase.”

    This is a developing story, so more detail will be added shortly.