A recent study conducted by the European Parliament has recommended that cryptocurrencies should be treated as securities by default. The study highlights the need for regulatory oversight in the crypto market and suggests that the existing regulations for traditional financial instruments should be adapted to cover cryptocurrencies. This move would bring cryptocurrencies under the ambit of the financial regulatory regime and subject them to the same rules and protections as securities.

European Parliament Study Recommends Treating Crypto as Securities

The study conducted by the European Parliament highlights the need to bring cryptocurrencies under the purview of financial regulation. It argues that cryptocurrencies should be treated as securities by default, which would bring them under the existing regulatory framework for traditional financial instruments.

The report recommends that the European Union (EU) should take a principles-based approach to regulating cryptocurrencies. This would enable regulators to adapt the existing regulations to cover cryptocurrencies, while also creating a level playing field for all market participants.

The study also suggests that cryptocurrencies should be subject to the same disclosure, reporting, and transparency requirements as securities. This would help to prevent fraud and market manipulation, while also promoting investor protection in the crypto market.

Increasing Regulatory Oversight Urgently Needed for Crypto Market

The report notes that the current regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies is fragmented and inconsistent. This has created a regulatory gap that has allowed fraud and market manipulation to thrive in the crypto market.

The study recommends that the EU should take urgent steps to increase regulatory oversight of the crypto market. It suggests that regulators should work with industry stakeholders to develop a comprehensive regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies.

The report also recommends that regulators should focus on enhancing the transparency and accountability of the crypto market. This would involve requiring crypto exchanges and other market participants to provide accurate and timely disclosures about their operations, financial condition, and risks.

The European Parliament study provides important insights into the need for increased regulatory oversight of the cryptocurrency market. By treating cryptocurrencies as securities by default and adapting existing regulations to cover them, regulators can promote investor protection and prevent fraud and market manipulation. The study underscores the importance of taking a principles-based approach to regulating cryptocurrencies, which would create a level playing field for all market participants and help to ensure the long-term sustainability of the crypto market.