Gate secured a Malta payments license that lets it perform direct debits and credit transfers across the EU under PSD2, paving the way to scale fiat and stablecoin rails.
Austria’s financial regulator has ordered KuCoin EU to stop onboarding new EU users and to appoint both primary and deputy AML and sanctions compliance officers. The directive cites compliance lapses and requires strengthened governance for anti-money-laundering and sanctions controls.
EU lawmakers are pushing to bar any EU party from using cryptocurrency to transact with Russian counterparties to strengthen sanctions enforcement. The proposal targets exchanges, custodians and intermediaries and could reach indirect transfers and flagged addresses.
The European Union is considering a blanket ban on all cryptocurrency transactions with Russia, arguing a full prohibition would be more effective than targeting specific platforms used to evade sanctions. The proposal could force major exchanges and P2P services to tighten controls or halt flows involving Russian counterparties.
The EU is pushing a blanket ban on crypto transactions involving Russia and says it will close every associated channel, but analysts warn enforcement will be difficult against decentralized and cross-border flows.
MoonPay has partnered with Deel to let 40,000 UK and EU businesses offer employee payments in stablecoins, expanding crypto payroll options across the region. The initiative aims to speed cross-border pay and appeal to crypto-native talent while raising tax and compliance questions.
The EU's proposed 20th sanctions package targets Russia’s CBDC and crypto-asset service providers, aiming to limit digital channels that could be used to evade financial restrictions. The move marks a sharper focus on crypto in the bloc’s Russia policy.
European finance ministers will meet Feb. 16 to consider euro-denominated stablecoins and increased issuance of jointly backed EU debt as tools to reduce reliance on the U.S. dollar, the European Commission says. The proposals signal a coordinated approach to strengthen the euro in global markets.
Luxembourg’s CSSF upgraded Ripple from in-principle approval to a full Electronic Money Institution license, enabling the firm to operate Ripple Payments across the EU. The authorization could accelerate fiat rails and institutional adoption while leaving crypto asset rules separate.
The European Commission has issued formal warnings to 12 EU member states for failing to fully implement crypto tax reporting rules. The move targets delays in transposing the EU’s crypto reporting framework and signals possible escalation if compliance isn't achieved.