The EBA and ESMA analyse recent developments in crypto-assets 16 January 2025 Digital Finance and Innovation The European Banking Authority (EBA) and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) today published a Joint Report on recent developments in crypto-assets, analysing decentralised finance (DeFi) and crypto lending, borrowing and staking. This publication is the EBA and ESMA’s contribution to the European Commission’s report to the European Parliament and Council under Article 142 of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR). EBA and ESMA find that DeFi remains a niche phenomenon, with value locked in DeFi protocols representing 4% of all crypto-asset market value at the global level. The report also sets out that EU adoption of DeFi, while above the global average, is lower than other developed economies (e.g. the US, South Korea).  The EBA and ESMA observe that the number of DeFi hacks and the value of stolen crypto-assets has generally

ESMA and the European Commission publish guidance on non-MiCA compliant ARTs and EMTs (stablecoins) 17 January 2025 Digital Finance and Innovation The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s financial markets regulator and supervisor, published today a statement reinforcing the position related to the offer of ARTs and EMTs (also known as stablecoins) in the EU under Market in Crypto Assets regulation (MiCA). The statement provides guidance on how and under which timeline CASPs are expected to comply with the requirements of Titles III and IV of MiCA, as clarified in the European Commission Q&A. In particular, National Competent Authorities (NCAs) are expected to ensure compliance by CASPs regarding non-compliant ARTs or EMTs as soon as possible, and no later than the end of Q1 2025. With the statement ESMA aims to facilitate coordinated actions at the national level and avoid potential disruptions.  The European Commission have also delivered

Start of DPE regime on 3 February and end of publication of Systematic Internalisers data 24 January 2025 MiFID II: Transparency Calculations and DVC Trading The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s financial markets regulator and supervisor, reminds market participants that the new regime for the reporting of Over the Counter (OTC) transactions for post-trade transparency purposes becomes fully operational on 3 February 2025. ESMA also informs stakeholders that the quarterly publication of systematic internalisers (SI) data will be discontinued with immediate effect.  Following the MiFIR review, the responsibility for reporting OTC-transactions will shift from SIs to the new Designated Publishing Entities (DPEs). The old approach has led many investment firms to opt in to the status of SI to be able to report the trades for their clients. When these firms were not dealing on own account on a systematic basis this added disproportionate requirements to them.  

EU funds continue to reduce costs – at low and varying pace 14 January 2025 Fund Management Risk monitoring The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU financial markets regulator and supervisor, today publishes its seventh market report on the costs and performance of EU retail investment products, showing a decline in the costs of investing in key financial products. Despite this decline the cost levels of funds in the EU remain high by international standards. With more than 50,000 funds and an average fund size almost 10 times smaller than that of for example US mutual funds, EU funds do not exhaust the economies of scale commensurate with the EU’s single market. The market inefficiencies revealed by this higher cost level shows the need to focus on the competitiveness of EU markets, within a future Savings and Investments Union. The key findings in the report are: UCITS costs

New governance structure for transition to T+1 settlement cycle kicks off 22 January 2025 Post Trading The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU’s financial markets regulator and supervisor, the European Commission (EC) and the European Central bank (ECB) launched today a new governance structure to support the transition to the T+1 settlement cycle in the European Union. Following ESMA’s report with recommendations on the shortening of the settlement cycle, the new governance structure has been designed to oversee and manage the operational, regulatory and technological aspects of this transition. Given the high level of interconnectedness within the EU capital market, a coordinated approach across the EU, involving authorities, market participants, financial market infrastructures and investors, is desirable. The key elements of the new governance model include: An Industry Committee, composed of senior leaders and representatives from market players. The Committee will be chaired by Giovanni Sabatini. Giovanni has a long-standing experience

The European Banking Authority (EBA) today published an Opinion on the interaction between the output floor and Pillar 2 Requirements (P2R) in the context of the mandate set forth in the Capital Requirements Directive (CRD). The Opinion considers that the nominal amount of P2R is not to increase as a result of an institution becoming bound by the output floor and highlights the possibility of double counting in setting the P2R of risks already covered by the effects of a binding output floor.

The European Banking Authority (EBA) today launched its 2025 EU-wide stress test and released the macroeconomic scenarios. This year’s exercise is designed to provide valuable input for assessing the resilience of the European banking sector in the current uncertain and changing macroeconomic environment. The adverse scenario is based on a narrative of hypothetical worsening of geopolitical tensions, with large, negative, and persistent trade and confidence shocks having strong adverse effects on private consumption and investments, both domestically and globally. The severe nature of the adverse scenario reflects the purpose of the stress test exercise, which is to assess the resilience of the European banking system to a hypothetical severely deteriorated macroeconomic environment. The EBA expects to publish the results of the exercise at the beginning of August 2025.

Coordinated Enforcement Action: EDPS findings highlight challenges on right of access to personal data julia Mon, 01/20/2025 - 15:26 Mon, 01/20/2025 - 12:00 Read Press Release Read EDPB Report  0

ESAs publish study on feasibility of further centralisation of major ICT-related incident reporting by financial entities 17 January 2025 Digital Finance and Innovation Joint Committee The three European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA and ESMA – the ESAs) published today a report on the feasibility of further centralisation in the reporting of major ICT-related incidents by financial entities according to Article 21 of the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA). In line with the DORA mandate, the ESAs’ joint report explores the potential for further centralisation regarding financial entities’ reporting of major ICT-related incidents to competent authorities. The report assesses the feasibility of three different models: the baseline model, a model with enhanced data sharing arrangements and a fully centralised model. It considers the potential burden and cost reductions, as well as the efficiency and effectiveness gains that each model would bring for cross-sector supervisory practices. Next steps The joint report has

The three European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA and ESMA – the ESAs) published today a report on the feasibility of further centralisation in the reporting of major ICT-related incidents by financial entities according to Article 21 of the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA).

The European Banking Authority (EBA) today repealed its Guidelines on major incidents reporting under the Payment Services Directive (PSD2) due to the application of harmonised incident reporting under the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) from 17 January 2025. The repeal of the Guidelines aims at simplifying the reporting of major incidents by payment service providers (PSPs) and providing legal certainty to the market.

​The European Banking Authority (EBA) today published its Peer Review on the application of proportionality under the Supervisory Review and Evaluation Process (SREP). The Peer Review found that proportionality in the SREP, and in the liquidity assessment under the SREP, is largely implemented by the competent authorities under review, though with some adaptations to the local context and the risk profile of the institutions under their supervisory remit. However, the EBA set out a series of follow-up measures to address the deficiencies identified. In particular, the EBA encourages all competent authorities to ensure that they make use of the proportionality mechanisms embedded in the SREP Guidelines. The EBA will also consider the outcome of this Peer Review in the context of the upcoming review of the SREP Guidelines.

The European Banking Authority (EBA) and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) today published a Joint Report on recent developments in crypto-assets, analysing decentralised finance (DeFi) and crypto lending, borrowing and staking. This publication is the EBA and ESMA’s contribution to the European Commission’s report to the European Parliament and Council under Article 142 of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR).