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The Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (MiCA), introduced by the European Commission in September 2020, aims to establish a legal framework for crypto assets within the European Union (EU). Its objectives include providing legal clarity, supporting innovation and fair competition, protecting consumers, investors, and market integrity, and ensuring financial stability.
MiCA is set to come into effect directly in the EU without the need for national implementation laws by the end of 2024. The regulation primarily focuses on electronic money tokens, asset-referenced tokens, and utility tokens. Crypto assets offered to the public, excluding electronic money tokens or asset-referenced tokens, also fall under MiCA.
Emitters of crypto assets falling under MiCA face obligations such as publishing a whitepaper, obtaining authorization for the issuance of crypto assets, complying with specific prudential rules when marketing crypto assets, and committing to act fairly, honestly, and professionally toward crypto asset holders.
On the other hand, Stellar, a nonprofit open-source blockchain platform, has set standards that can align with MiCA regulations. One of these standards is Stellar Ecosystem Proposal (SEP) 0012, also known as the Know Your Customer (KYC) API. This standard enables Stellar clients to easily provide KYC information to entities connecting to Stellar, known as Anchors, and other services. This allows clients to input their KYC information once and use it across multiple services without manual reentry. The KYC API also handles images and binary data, supports a set of fields defined in SEP-9, and provides authentication using SEP-10.
Another relevant Stellar standard is SEP 0008, which provides a protocol for regulated assets. Regulated assets are assets that require issuer approval for each transaction. This standard identifies such assets and defines the protocol for conducting compliance checks and requesting issuer approvals.
While using SEP 8, Stellar offers the necessary tools and protocols for issuing a crypto asset that aligns with MiCA. However, it's essential to note that achieving compliance with MiCA, like any regulatory framework, will require not only the technical implementation of these standards but also adherence to specific legal and regulatory obligations outlined in MiCA rules.
Therefore, while Stellar provides the technical infrastructure to support compliance with MiCA-like rules, the actual issuance of an asset that meets MiCA requirements on Stellar will also depend on the actions and policies of the issuer organization. It is advisable to consult with a legal expert or regulatory consultant to ensure compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.
