EU seeks stakeholder opinion on adding crypto to 12T euro investment market

As a researcher with a background in finance and experience in following the European Union’s regulatory landscape for investment products, I am closely monitoring the ESMA’s decision on whether to add crypto assets to the UCITS investment product market. The potential inclusion of crypto in this 12 trillion euro market could significantly impact the mainstream adoption of digital currencies and broaden accessibility for investors.


The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), which oversees security in the European Union, is soliciting the thoughts of industry experts regarding the potential inclusion of cryptocurrencies in the €12 trillion ($12.8 trillion) European investment market.

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) sought the perspectives of industry professionals regarding the potential expansion of Undertakings for Collective Investment in Transferable Securities (UCITS), a €12 trillion investment market, to include various asset classes such as structured loans, catastrophe bonds, emission allowances, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and unlisted equities.

UCITS represents a category of investment funds designed to safeguard and streamline investing processes. This classification includes mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, and money market funds. They fall under the jurisdiction of European Union regulations, yet access is not restricted solely to EU investors.

EU seeks stakeholder opinion on adding crypto to 12T euro investment market

Individuals with an interest in UCITS have until the 7th of August to share their views. Should these comments be accepted, UCITS could emerge as a major conventional investment fund featuring cryptocurrency holdings.

The European regulatory body is considering requesting input on incorporating crypto assets into the eligible asset classes for security investment funds, a move coinciding with the greenlighting of Bitcoin ETFs in the US and Hong Kong markets. Regulators globally are increasingly embracing cryptocurrencies as potential investments within traditional financial instruments.

Instead of focusing exclusively on Bitcoin Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), UCITS investments offer a diverse range of funds. Each fund type within this category has a distinct asset allocation, tailored to the level of risk it is intended for.

As an analyst, I would rephrase it this way: If approved, there will not be a single UCITS fund dedicated to 100% crypto investments. Instead, there will likely be several UCITS funds offering varying degrees of crypto exposure.

EU regulations don’t allow individual investments in crypto-focused financial instruments. Consequently, investors must gain exposure through Exchange-Traded Notes (ETNs) instead.

As a European crypto investor, I’m well-aware that our region sets the bar high when it comes to cryptocurrency regulations. In contrast to some other parts of the world, Europe has taken a proactive approach by implementing a comprehensive regulatory framework called Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA). This means that we invest with confidence, knowing that our assets are subject to clear and stringent rules.

As a financial analyst, I’d approach this question by considering how the addition of specific cryptocurrencies to ESMA’s regulatory framework might be influenced by the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation. In other words, I would examine whether MiCA’s implementation could potentially simplify or complicate the process of incorporating certain cryptocurrencies into ESMA’s existing regulatory framework.

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2024-05-09 13:49