We invest
in the future

The heads of MT Invest, as experts in the field of investment in the cryptocurrency business, took part in a study on the analysis of the cryptocurrency mining market. The study included aspects such as: the volume of cryptocurrency mining, the cost of electricity in different countries, the legal environment, and many others. The study of market factors affecting the prospects for the development of investments in cryptocurrencies is very important and interesting for us.

Especially when you can see the global picture, including the countries leading in the production of cryptocurrencies. It was an interesting job and we are sure that our expertise and practical experience were in demand by the research team.

The company took part in Moonbeam crowdloan. For us, this is not only a unique opportunity to support the launch of the Moonbeam network on Polkadot, which allows projects to receive decentralized support for their blockchain, but also an interesting way to invest in DOT and GLMR cryptocurrencies.

The financial potential and the opportunity to profit from participation are very important to investors. During the crowdloan, you can get tokens of promising blockchain projects even before the public start of trading.

Participation in crowdloan is a longer—term, less risky and, at the same time, profitable strategy.

Denis Makashov, Director of MT Invest, underwent additional training and confirmed the status of a certified specialist in the field of AML in accordance with the requirements of European legislation and FATF. During the training, updated information on the prevention of money laundering was obtained for practitioners:

• International requirements for the prevention of money laundering and protection of the German financial center;
• Current legal and regulatory requirements for the implementation of AML and KYC;
• Reports on suspected money laundering - structure and content;
• Modern typologies of money laundering and criminal acts and the possibility of their detection;
• Current changes in the field of financial sanctions and regulation of embargoes are problems for practice.

You can view the certificate by following this link.

We started testing NFT sneakers from STEP'N. This is a game with the Move to Earn (M2E) model, "move to earn". Its goal is to motivate users to lead an active lifestyle. Using GPS on a smartphone, the app tracks the user's running or walking and awards in-game tokens for this.

It seems to us that this project has the characteristics of a pyramid. We do not know what part of the software depends on the arrival of new users specifically in STEP'N. Although it will definitely be clear after some time.

We are interested in this technology as a promising investment opportunity. We believe that in the future, there will be more projects with similar mechanics. And if they correctly build the provision of tokens, then these projects will be profitable in the long run.

One can consider the crypto winter or the heyday of the bear market not as the end of the world, but as the emergence of new opportunities. Indeed, by buying a cryptocurrency in low positions, you can get good dividends. The main thing is not to lose money with a coin. We are closely monitoring projects such as Polkadot (DOT) and Cosmos (ATOM).

The Moonbeam parachain in the Polkadot ecosystem has concluded an agreement with the Osmosis decentralized exchange on the Cosmos blockchain, under which users will be able to exchange tokens between blockchains.

Despite the fact that now the coins of these projects are inexpensive, we see that the teams are working and we expect that the value of the projects and the professionalism of the teams will bear fruit and we believe that in the long term investments in these coins will be very profitable.

We consider the present time, which can be called a crypto winter or a bear market, as one of the most successful moments for investing in cryptocurrency mining. And here's why:

• Equipment prices are minimal now, because they depend on the dynamics of cryptocurrency exchange rates;
• Outdated equipment is unprofitable and disabled, respectively, the complexity of mining has fallen;
• The fall of the markets will be followed by their growth, and halving – only in two years.

Therefore, having entered this market now we have the maximum chances not only to recoup investments, but also to earn well in the medium term. Don't be late!

Experts are increasingly saying that the crypto market is about to come out of the bearish stage and move to growth. We believe that Crypto Winter is a time of opportunity for an investor. Perhaps now is the right time to invest in cryptocurrency. In order for such investments to be as profitable as possible, several important steps need to be taken:

1. Analyze the type of cryptocurrency you want to invest in;

2. Study White Pepper, roadmap and technical documentation of the project;

3. Learn about the creators of the project and the community that supports cryptocurrency;

4. Analyze the market capitalization of cryptocurrencies;

5. Study the dynamics and price changes over the past few months.

On August 11, the Goerli test network in the Ethereum blockchain was successfully transferred to the Proof of Stake (PoS) consensus algorithm. The transfer occurred during the merger with the Prater PoS testnet, the update was the last "trial run" before the algorithm change in the main blockchain. Work on the new version of the blockchain took several years, and the final transition according to the latest information will take place on September 15-16.

Against this background, the quotes of the world's second cryptocurrency Ethereum jumped to two-month highs. The Oxly team is closely monitoring market changes related to one of the most important events in the crypto world.

Another confirmation of the correctness of our investment strategy came the other day from researchers from Blockdata. According to them, 40 companies invested about $6 billion in blockchain startups from September 2021 to mid-June 2022.

This suggests that investors see prospects in the development of the crypto industry. And even such conservative-minded institutions as Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sucks are the top 5 investors.

Germany is rightfully considered one of the friendliest and most developed crypto-countries. We are seeing an increase in investor interest in coins related to the concepts of DeFi, NFT and metaverses. Banks Onvista and Comdirect, a subsidiary of Commerzbank AG, have teamed up with Valour to provide consumers with investment options in popular altcoins such as Uniswap, Avalanche, Cosmos and Enjin.

We are looking forward to the updated text of the EU law on cryptography MiCA. According to press reports, the text will be available in 4-6 weeks. Legislators and governments have reached an agreement on the main provisions of legislation that requires crypto asset providers to register with regulatory authorities. The community has concerned that excessive strictness of legislation will harm the development of the industry. As the German proverb says Das Kind mit dem Bade ausschutten (Don't throw the baby out with the bath water).

Despite the recent successful Merger, the second cryptocurrency is going through difficult times, its price has fallen by 20%. This is attributed to the SEC's decision to classify Ethereum as a security, as well as the recognition of Ethereum under the jurisdiction of the United States due to the fact that more nodes are located on the territory of this country.

The recognition of Ethereum will mean that most digital assets, except bitcoin, can be considered securities, and every project deployed on top of the Ethereum network can be considered a security and fall under the jurisdiction of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Classification as a security will lead to the fact that Ethereum and any application deployed on it will have to go through a lengthy registration process with the SEC.

In September, Bitcoin showed a moderate decline (-3.8%), in contrast to a sharp drop of more than 9% in the S&P 500 index. BTC was able to hold its June lows.

Historically, October is considered one of the best months of the year for Bitcoin. Bitcoin ended this month rising six times in the last seven years. The average growth over the previous 11 years was 33%, and the average decline was 15%. We hope for growth.

According to analysts, holders have accumulated a record 13.7 million coins, or 71.5% of the total BTC supply, buying cryptocurrency on the decline since spring. In addition, sellers have almost exhausted their sales potential, which may indicate the potential for growth of the exchange rate.

Cryptocurrency investors are being held in the market by a sharp surge in stock markets over the past few days, which has become bogged down in indecision.

We believe that a wait-and-see position has almost equal chances of both turning into a new downward momentum and reborn into growth.

The market is waiting for the results of reporting on US economic indicators for the previous period.

• October 12: Minutes of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC).
• October 12: Report on the consumer price index (CPI).
• October 17: the reporting season for the third quarter begins.
• October 28: Personal Consumer Spending Price Index (PCE).

While investor sentiment remains pessimistic, and cryptocurrency rates show a drop.

The bitcoin price has been trading in the range of $18,500 to $24,500 for the past 120 days, showing a damping of fluctuations.

Although it is impossible to predict which direction the bitcoin price will go after a sharp spike in volatility, studying the data on the network to decipher the actions of market participants in almost identical market conditions can help investors decide what to do when the price starts to move.

After four years of development and multimillion—dollar funding, Aptos Labs launched the main Aptos network - the first-level blockchain, which was developed by former Meta employees who previously worked on the failed Diem (Libra) stablecoin.

Due to the technology of adding several transactions at once, the speed of their processing significantly increases.

Despite numerous criticisms of the project, the APT token was listed by several leading exchanges. APT is currently trading above $7, at the moment the price was about $17 on Binance immediately after listing and about $15 on OKX. The critics or adherents of the project were right, time will tell.

The main question that most investors are concerned about now is when will the bull cycle begin?

Assuming that Bitcoin depends on US financial policy, it can be noted that US stock indexes have risen today for the third session in a row, while the value of the Dow Jones Industrial Average has peaked over the past six weeks. Positive factors for the market were good corporate reports, as well as a decrease in the yield of government bonds.

After a protracted bear market, large companies begin to open long positions, and funds replenish their reserves with crypto — the market is ready for growth and New Year's holidays traditionally prepare a lot of surprises.

We continue to closely monitor the price of Polkadot (DOT). It has not yet broken through long-term resistance levels.

The DOT has fallen below the descending resistance line since reaching a record high price of $55.09 in November 2021. All this time, he was one of the largest losers in the cryptocurrency market, falling by 88%.

In July 2022, the DOT price bounced off the horizontal support area of $6.65, but was unable to support this upward movement, and a breakdown occurred in September.

Now the price is in the process of testing the $6.65 area as resistance and if the DOT can hold this level, the current dynamics tells us that a bullish reversal will begin on both the daily and weekly charts.

In 2014 and 2018, the midterm elections in the United States were preceded by sharp collapses in the cryptocurrency market. Whether the same thing will happen in this year's midterm elections is still unknown. Some signs indicate that the opposite may happen in 2022. Republicans are considered more supportive of cryptocurrencies. And their victory can start a bullish trend. The same can be said about the victory of Donald Trump in 2024.

In the last few days, the main news in the field of finance has been the collapse of Sam Bankman-Fried's crypto empire. It may seem that this event speaks about the unreliability of all cryptocurrency finance. But this is not the case. If you look closely at the known facts, it becomes clear that the machinations of Sam and his team are ordinary frauds, peculiar to traditional finance.

The results of these risky operations surfaced during the crisis time of the crypto winter. As you know, every crypto-winter ends with a turn to a bullish cycle, and we have the right to hope that we will enter a new time having cleared ourselves of scam projects and the experience gained will allow us to be more effective.

The German financial regulator BaFin issued a warning to the Coinbase crypto exchange after an audit by the audit company Deloitte.

The regulator ordered Coinbase to create a "proper" business structure after an audit found flaws in the organizational structure of Coinbase Germany GmbH. According to the regulator, Coinbase's activities in Germany do not meet the standards in the field of risk management.

This is especially worrying now that many crypto exchanges are experiencing problems amid a bear market.

Summing up the results of the outgoing month, we can say that November has become a difficult time for investors in cryptocurrencies. The high volatility of crypto assets made it difficult to predict a bright future. And, although the head of Binance Changpeng ‘CZ’ Zhao is making efforts to restore the industry and claims that the bottom has been passed, the negative domino effect of the collapse of Terra and FTX may present unpleasant surprises in the near future.

However, short-term profits are pushing investors to return to the market. The desire to buy at the lows from novice investors is confirmed by the data of Glassnode analysts. But according to the same data, the whales are still waiting. So, be careful and don't make rash decisions.

At the end of November, the ECB published on its website a very entertaining article "Bitcoin's last stand", where it described bitcoin as something terrible, harmful and unnecessary. In one of the paragraphs it was written "Bitcoin is also not suitable as an investment. It does not generate cash flow (like real estate) or dividends (like equities), cannot be used productively (like commodities) or provide social benefits (like gold)". This statement looks, to put it mildly, very out of date.

Bitcoin, indeed, is not money, it is not centralized and not regulated, but it is a financial asset, even if it is used by a small number of players in the market. Bitcoin is still needed by a small number of investors, and the industry has no task to make it equal to stock or commodity assets. But the popularity of bitcoin is growing, which is confirmed by the growing attention from such giants as JP Morgan.

Sam Bankman-Fried is lying, saying that Binance brought down FTX by signing a purchase agreement, and then not buying. Binance then signed a non-binding agreement of intent at that time, so he refused it without difficulty on full legal grounds.

Apparently, SBF wants to shift all the blame on someone else and actively cooperates with the US authorities in terms of pressure on CZ. The prosecution of the head of Binance and subsequent sanctions may become a black swan for the crypto market.

Despite all the twists and turns, the collapse of crypto projects, the bear market and the surrender of miners, this year has become one of the most successful in terms of mass adoption of cryptocurrencies. Never before has such a large number of people around the world, including the media, politicians and global regulators, talked about it.

One of the most important trends of the year was the regulation of cryptocurrencies, which is now affecting a much larger number of people. Here are a few important events that have happened just in the last couple of months:

• Brazil has adopted a law on the legalization of cryptocurrency as a payment method.
• The European Central Bank will oblige companies to report customer transactions to the tax authorities.
• SEC urges crypto firms to disclose information about bankruptcy risks.
• Hong Kong will introduce a licensing regime for crypto firms, requiring them to pass strict AML rules.
• The European Union has agreed on the text of the first-ever regulatory framework for regulating cryptocurrencies in the EU (MiCA).
• U.S. Senators have introduced new AML legislation.
• France may require crypto platforms to obtain licenses.
• Canada prohibits cryptocurrency leverage and margin trading.

It seems to us that this very important trend will continue next year.

Christmas greetings and best wishes of hope, happiness and peace during the holidays and in the coming new year!

Looking back at last year, we can say that in crypto investments, mining was the most stable in 2022. The volatility and falling rates of cryptocurrencies are not as deadly for miners as for investors and traders. This is because mining, as a business, involves a long-term approach.

Despite the cases of bankruptcies and the difficult situation in accredited companies, we can say about the continuing relatively high demand in the mining industry.

The year 2023 will be crucial for the cryptocurrency business in Europe in terms of the formation of legislation. The Regulation on Crypto Asset Markets (MiCA) leads to a common denominator of the rule for crypto assets throughout the block, setting a common standard. However, not everyone is satisfied with the new order, as the French financial regulator has already demanded stricter rules. We would like to strike a balance between clear and fair regulation and encouraging innovation.

The cryptocurrency market is gradually recovering and banks are rushing to satisfy the growing interest of customers in new investment opportunities. Users of the German Neobank N26 will be able to trade cryptocurrency directly from their bank account. N26 will allow users to trade 200 coins with a commission of 1.5% for bitcoins and 2.5% for altcoins.

But there was a fly in the ointment. Neoblank will not grant users control over private keys. Thus, it turns out that customers are not buying cryptocurrency, but IOUS.

Now that the crypto market has begun to recover, we have been asked much more often about how profitable investments in cryptocurrencies are. Classic investors who have experience with traditional assets and just people who want to start investing, but don't know how, are also showing interest. This is not surprising, since the beginning of the year bitcoin has grown by more than 30%, and is likely to grow further.

The success of the chatbot with artificial intelligence ChatGPT has generated a new hype demand for tokens of crypto projects related to AI development. We are often asked to evaluate the investment attractiveness of such assets. And although we do not give investment advice, but still shared his opinion.

- So far, the sharp increase in sales of such tokens looks like a hype pump, accompanied by FOMO

- Some old tokens began to add the abbreviation AI to their descriptions and roadmaps of projects to increase popularity, although no development is worth it.

- We don't see any real developments in the field of artificial intelligence related to blockchain technology yet.

Thus, it seems to us that until such projects do not have a reliable technological foundation, it is better for a cautious investor to watch from the sidelines.

Interesting statistics come from researchers regarding the growth of the number of developers in the field of blockchain. This indicator is gradually becoming an important marker of the development of the industry.

According to the report of the venture company Electric Capital for 2022, against the background of a significant drop in cryptocurrency prices in 2022, the number of full-time developers who worked on various blockchain ecosystems increased by 8%.

The authors of the study said that the growth in the number of developers in 2022 corresponded to similar models of previous bear market cycles, for example, in 2018, full-time developers also joined the industry, despite the record low level of prices for cryptocurrencies.

We believe that the growth in the number of developers of crypto projects indicates an increase in the prospects of the blockchain industry. It seems that these indicators will continue to increase.

The SEC's pressure on the cryptocurrency sector did not come as a surprise. We have already written about some hawkish sentiments of the US financial authorities regarding cryptocurrency-friendly banks.

The escalation of the situation around stablecoins exacerbates the pressure on the crypto. There is a feeling that the crypto business has two main possibilities: relocation to friendly jurisdictions, such as Germany or Hong Kong in the future, and a shift in focus towards decentralized financial instruments (DeFi), where it will be even more difficult for regulators to follow the “regulation by coercion” approach. Obviously, with this trend, DeFi will develop at an accelerated pace, and given the projected growth of the entire crypto market, we will closely monitor DeFi projects and their tokens.

We have already written that the widespread tightening of regulation in crypto finance contributes to the flow of investments from centralized to decentralized sectors. DeFi futures are becoming one of the most popular investment instruments. In general, futures are contracts that allow you to track the price of the underlying asset: to bet on the price increase (long positions) or on its decrease (short positions). In the crypto market, futures products that do not expire are very popular and are traded in larger volumes than the underlying assets.

If these products have been popular on centralized platforms for a long time, then they are just beginning to gain popularity on DeFi trading platforms. DeFi futures have many advantages over their traditional counterparts: faster settlement, wider access, lower costs and ease of use.

In general, the growing DeFi sector is creating more and more interesting alternatives for investment, relative to traditional financial instruments. Futures are just one of them.

Continuing the story about DeFi investment instruments, it is impossible to pass by dYdX. First of all, it is an open trading platform for perpetual futures. As of January 2022, the volume of the protocol amounted to 1 billion TVL and provides one of the best trading opportunities for DeFi. The key feature and advantage of this platform for users is the possibility of margin trading in a fully decentralized environment.

Also, when we talk about dYdX, we can mean the native token of the same name for managing the protocol of the second level of this platform. The issue here is quite substantial, albeit limited - 1 billion coins.

Today, only 16% of coins are in circulation, so more and more unlocks will appear over time, which can create pressure. Also, a lot of users simply keep the coin in their wallet, because it gives discounts on trading commissions. Plus, it is with the help of the dYdX token that voting takes place.

A feature of the dYdX ecosystem is a wide selection of financial instruments – something that is usually lacking in DEX.

The banking crisis that began in the US with the problems of Silvergate, the collapse of Signature Bank and Silicon Valley Bank, affected the banking system around the world. Regulators will now have to adjust their monetary policy, perhaps even easing. Fearing a chain reaction, investors are forced to turn their attention to defensive assets and cryptocurrencies. It is difficult to say whether these circumstances are a coincidence, but the rise in prices of cryptocurrencies makes many experts talk about the end of the bear market. Let's see.

Several factors such as: shocks to the global financial system, regulatory pressure on centralized crypto companies and the revival of the crypto market have significantly increased investor interest in the DeFi sector. It is important for investors, especially beginners, to be especially careful – in February 2023 alone, DeFi platforms lost more than $20 million due to hackers. In addition, some projects may turn out to be a scam. So, don't invest in DeFi? We recommend choosing large projects with a good reputation that will be able to recover the stolen funds in case of hacking.

Two events illustrating the movement of the state towards the adoption of cryptocurrencies occurred recently in Germany.

First it became known that the startup Flying Sheep Studios raised $ 1.2 millions of public money to create a Star Life game in the virtual universe. Budget financing demonstrates that the authorities contribute to the development of the latest national technologies.

Then it is reported that Deutsche Wertpapier Service Bank AG (dwpbank), which manages 5.3 million customer accounts of various banks, has launched the wpNex platform for bitcoin trading. 1,200 German banks will be able to use the platform's services.

A little earlier, DZ Bank had already announced that it would offer customers the opportunity to invest in cryptocurrencies. To do this, he cooperates with the cryptocurrency company Metaco.

Blacknox, part of Boerse Stuttgart's digital division, has been licensed as a crypto host by the country's financial regulator BaFin.

Now Boerse Stuttgart will be able to provide institutional investors, such as banks, brokers, asset managers and family offices, with cryptocurrency trading services, as well as fiduciary custody.

Good news comes from the Polkadot ecosystem. The Parachain Astar Network development team announced that smart contracts 2.0 will start on the main network on April 6.

Thanks to this update, the network will be able to support smart contracts compatible with the Ethereum virtual machine (EVM) and the WebAssembly virtual machine (WASM). In addition, each developer will be able to connect Astar projects to any Polkadot or EVM applications.

blockchain data shows that Polkadot developers are working to expand their ecosystem. Statistics collected by Proofof GitHub show that Polkadot is one of the ten most important crypto projects in terms of Github activity. It ranks fifth after SSV, Cosmos, Aptos and Kira Network. This means that Polkadot developers are more active than in many other popular blockchain ecosystems, including Ethereum and Cardano.

Dear friends!

We sincerely congratulate you on Easter! May this holiday fill your hearts with joy, peace and blessing.

May this day bring you new hopes and opportunities to continue moving forward towards your goals and dreams.

Research by the company Santiment has shown a growing number of bitcoin hodlers at a record pace. The market situation resembles the one preceding November 10, 2021, when the price of bitcoin rose to a record high of just under $69,000. Currently, the number of bitcoin owners is 45 million. At the end of April 2021, this number was 38 million.

Conclusion: the number of crypto enthusiasts is steadily growing and the fact that more and more long-term investors are entering the market speaks in favor of sustainable development.

МТ The German government plans to create the best legal, technical and financial conditions for startups with the help of the "Financing for the Future Act". One of the aspects of this law is aimed at "digitalization of the capital market", including electronic issuance of securities using blockchain technology and improved transfer of cryptocurrencies. In addition, the law is aimed at expanding the range of companies for which the new rules will apply, including all startups with an income of up to 100 million euros and up to 500 employees.

The creation of the "Financing for the Future Act" is an important step for Germany, which aspires to become a leader in the field of startups and companies with rapid growth. The new rules will help improve access to capital and attract investors, which in turn contributes to the development of entrepreneurship in the country.

The upcoming augmented reality game Mandala Metaverse is a story—based project whose content covers television, graphic novels, games and AR. to host its first major NFT drop “Cryptonauts”, which will take place on April 28, 12pm EST, the project chose the Polkadot parachain Astar Network.

Mandala Metaverse CEO John Schenker noted: “Polkadot has real future-proof NFT applications, such as nesting, staking and the ability to send NFTs over bridges - plus many other innovative ways to use NFT assets. We can now do things we didn’t think were possible.”

Germany confirms the title of the leader of the crypto business in Europe. Most recently, a bill on MiCA crypto asset markets was adopted, and the first fruits of the new regulation are already visible.

Berlin-based fintech startup Unstoppable Finance, known for its Ultimate crypto wallet with the possibility of self-storage, announced the launch of Europe's first DeFi-Native Bank, as well as the release of its own euro-pegged stablecoin. All innovations will be based on MiCA recommendations. However, the founders did not name the exact time when this would happen.

Interest in investing in cryptocurrencies can sometimes lead an investor to the black market. And it seems that such a trend is developing. According to security provider Privacy Affairs, cybercriminals sell verified crypto accounts on the darknet. Prices for access to various exchanges vary greatly.

The most expensive is a "verified account" from Berlin's N26 bank, which costs about $2,650. In order not to become a victim of cybercriminals, it is necessary to take important precautions. For example, you can use only trusted crypto service providers, create strong passwords and store them correctly, as well as use two-factor authentication.

Cryptocurrency legislation in Europe continues to develop at a rapid pace. Regulators are concerned about aspects that have not been properly reflected in MiCA. Thus, The European Systemic Risk Board (ESRB) called for limiting cryptocurrency trading with leverage, and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) warns that companies that sell cryptocurrencies together with traditional securities may mislead consumers about access to fair advice and compensation. These recommendations do not have the force of law, but will be taken into account when further developing the regulation of the industry.

The Polygon ecosystem is very convenient for developers and resource-efficient. The blockchain is based on the highest security standards of the Ethereum ecosystem.

The European Consumer Organization (BEUC) has filed a complaint with the European Commission about popular resources and insists on monitoring the promotion of crypto products.

BEUC said it and its divisions in nine European countries have filed a complaint with the European Commission and consumer protection authorities on Instagram, YouTube, TikTok and Twitter for facilitating the misleading promotion of crypto assets.

BEACH calls on the Consumer Protection Cooperation Network (CPCN) to require social networks to introduce stricter advertising policies.

An updated Regulation on mandatory verification of the transfer of cryptocurrency assets created to combat money laundering has come into force in Germany.

From May 27, 2023, crypto service providers who are unable or unable to fully fulfill the obligations provided for in the regulations must notify BaFin about this by June 30, 2023. However, in any case, the national regulation of crypto transfers expires on the date of entry into force of the new edition of the EU money transfer rule, which has already been determined by the EU Parliament and is likely to come into force soon.

Deutsche Bank has applied for a license to store digital assets in BaFin. The credit institution wants to expand its business with digital assets and their storage. This move is part of a broader strategy to increase revenue.

The European Union has reached an agreement on the regulation of crypto assets in the banking sector — within the established capital requirements, banks will be required to "disclose information about their interaction with crypto assets."

"The goal is to eliminate potential risks for institutions caused by their interaction with crypto assets."

The new rules will be in effect until a specific legislative proposal is put forward by the European Commission (January 1, 2025)

Amid the growth of bullish sentiment in the crypto market, investors' interest in investing in products for investing in digital assets is also growing. According to the investment company Coinshares, over the past 14 days, "bitcoin has continued to remain in the spotlight of investors with an influx of $123 million," which accounted for 98% of the total inflow into digital assets. Another interesting fact: the highest share in such investments fell on Germany - about $65 million per week.

While BlackRock and Co. persistently seeking SEC approval in the US, the launch of a spot bitcoin ETF in Europe is already close.

Jacobi Asset Management has registered its product in the jurisdiction of Guernsey, which is located in Europe, but outside the EU. This status allowed the regulatory authorities to approve the fund.

The company stated that their ETF cannot use leverage or use derivative financial instruments to reduce risks.

The European Banking Authority (EBA) is tightening regulations for issuers of stablecoins whose reserves consist of derivatives or covered bonds. The document assumes increased capital requirements for such firms in case the tokens they issue are recognized as "significant". The significance of tokens will be determined by criteria such as market capitalization, market share in cross-border payments and the number of users. The supervision of issuers will be partially or fully entrusted to the EBA.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the head of Binance and the corporate structure of the crypto exchange did not meet the requirements of the German financial supervisory authority.

Allegedly, the German Federal Financial Supervision Authority (BaFin) advised Binance to withdraw its application for approval, as it is said that it had serious concerns about Changpeng Zhao and the company's structure.

The rules stipulate that managers must have the necessary "professional qualifications, personal reliability and sufficient availability of time" to be able to properly perform their task.

In addition, BaFin believes that Binance's corporate structure does not allow for proper oversight.

After just two weeks of entering the market, the Worldcoin crypto project is facing problems. After officials and law enforcement agencies stormed the offices of Worldcoin in the Kenyan capital Nairobi and confiscated documents and equipment, the activities of Worldcoin are now increasingly becoming the focus of attention of the German authorities.

The Federal Financial Supervision Authority (BaFin) is also currently investigating the Eye collector project. "We are monitoring the activities of Worldcoin," a BaFin spokeswoman explained. If a company enters the German market without the necessary permission, for example, with a website or application in German, we will study it. If the project falls under the control of the authorities, this may become a problem for Worldcoin.

On August 15, Jacobi FT Wilshire launched the BTC Spot ETF (BCOIN) in Europe for the first time. The product reproduces the price of bitcoin and is designed to offer institutional investors the opportunity to invest in BTC without having to hold physical bitcoin. Publisher Jacobi Asset Management is an offshore asset management company based in Guernsey.

Germany is gradually creating conditions for the general public to invest in crypto assets. This will be possible within the framework of the Future Financing Act, the draft of which has passed into the stage of a government project. According to the draft, mutual funds, i.e., funds available to the general public, should be allowed to invest ten percent of the investment volume in cryptocurrency in the future.

In addition, the law is intended to make Germany as a financial place more attractive and, thus, attract startups to the Federal Republic.

The German regulator BaFin called for the regulation of the crypto industry on a global scale. Noting the importance of the industry, the regulator proposes to introduce clear and appropriate rules for crypto markets to ensure the safety of investors.

Rupert Schaefer, BaFin's executive Director of strategy, Policy and Management, stressed: "Only those who have a plausible business model, sufficient start-up capital and a reliable management team will receive permission from us. We take regulatory standards seriously".

From October 4, 2023, Volksbank customers in the Mittleren Schwarzwald will be able to buy bitcoin.

The bank's offer consists of several basic services, including an hour-long informational meeting. This is especially useful for those customers who are not familiar with this topic yet.

In the online store, customers can trade bitcoins and deposit them. Unlike VR-Bank from Bavaria, the company does not offer its own depository solution, but recommends trusted providers such as Ledger and BitBox.

There are no KYC procedures, since only customers with an existing bank account can make crypto trading.

According to a new survey by crypto exchange Bitget, about half of the 1,500 crypto investors surveyed are primarily focused on improving their standard of living and that of their families through investing in cryptocurrencies. The survey was conducted among participants from 20 countries of the European Union (EU), China, Japan, South Korea, Turkey, the USA and Canada.

If you have money and a desire to purchase real estate in Germany, you can safely try to negotiate a discount. There are developers on the market who today can pay future meters for capital at a 15% discount, because this way they will reduce the debt burden on their previously taken loans. For those who conceptually want to invest in Germany, this is a good time strategically.

The discount can be obtained in projects at the construction stage in the residential real estate sector. Commercial real estate is doing better in terms of rental flow, but is also likely to sell cheaper due to the rising cost of bank financing - accordingly, investors will be able to count on higher returns. If yesterday high-quality commercial real estate in Germany was sold with a yield of 3–4%, today it is quite reasonable to expect 4–5%.

1. If more than a year passes between the purchase and sale of cryptocurrency, then the profit is not taxed. But if you exchanged one cryptocurrency for another at that time, it will also be considered a sale

2. If the amount of winnings in cryptocurrencies is less than 600 euros per year, then they are also exempt from taxes. But, if you trade other assets besides cryptocurrencies, your profit will also be taken into account in this amount.

3. To declare taxes on cryptocurrency in Germany, you must fill out a special form in the tax return.

4. In the case of using special software for the taxation of cryptocurrencies, you can automatically create reports for sending to the tax authorities.

In October, for the first time in the last six months, sentiment in the German economy improved. As the Ifo business climate index showed, both the current situation and expectations are assessed more positively. “The German economy sees light at the end of the tunnel,” Ifo President Clemens Fuest commented on the situation. The constraining factor is high interest rates. This, in particular, reduces the demand for construction services.

Deutsche Börse, one of the largest exchange organizations in the world, has announced its plans to launch a regulated crypto exchange as early as 2024. This is an important step for the development of the cryptocurrency market and the creation of new opportunities for investors.

Representatives of Deutsche Börse are confident that the launch of a crypto exchange will help attract more investments in cryptocurrencies and make them accessible to a wide audience. In addition, it also contributes to the development of innovative technologies and increased competitiveness of companies operating in this field.

The new crypto exchange will meet all necessary security and regulatory standards, which will protect the interests of investors and prevent possible fraudulent schemes.

Joana Kotar, Mitglied des Deutschen Bundestages, hat die Initiative Bitcoin im Bundestag ins Leben gerufen, die darauf abzielt, Kotars Kollegen im Parlament über die Vorteile von Bitcoin aufzuklären, wodurch fundiertere gesetzgeberische Entscheidungen getroffen werden können. Sie will es in Deutschland zum gesetzlichen Zahlungsmittel machen. Sie hält Bitcoin aufgrund seines dezentralen Charakters und des Potenzials, die finanzielle Freiheit und Privatsphäre im Gegensatz zum digitalen Euro zu erhöhen, für ein geeignetes digitales Gut für das Land.

Germany is experiencing a record decline in property values. The indicators recorded in the second quarter of 2023 have not been seen for 13 years.

On an annual basis, housing prices fell by 9.9%, over the quarter – by 1.5%.

High inflation, expensive construction and energy costs, and rising interest rates are holding back demand in the real estate market.

For investors, investing in real estate in Germany may become less attractive.

The European Banking Authority (EBA) wants to update the existing anti-money laundering and terrorist financing (AML/CFT) rules for crypto service providers.

The International Monetary Fund predicts a decrease in Germany's development in 2023 by 0.3-0.6%. It is assumed that the economic growth of Germany will be weaker within five years than in France, Spain and the United Kingdom. Experts partly explain this by too close interaction with China, but do not recommend sharply reducing trade with this country, because this can lead to even more sad consequences.

The authorities believe that it is necessary to avoid too much public debt, as it stimulates prices. In July 2023, Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel called on the federal government to cut government spending to stabilize finances and overcome high inflation.

The German investment company DWS Group plans to launch AllUnity, a fully secured euro-denominated stablecoin. The project is being implemented in partnership with Flow Traders and Galaxy, Mike Novogratz's investment company.

AllUnity's goal is to promote the tokenized economy and position itself as a leading regulated provider of euro-denominated stablecoins for institutional, corporate and retail investors. DWS explains that the stablecoin will be physically backed by euros and liquid assets such as German government bonds.

Merry Christmas! May your holidays be filled with love, joy, and warmth.

As of January 11, there are more than ten Bitcoin spot ETFs in the US. Thus, BlackRock, Fidelity and Co. opened access to the crypto market, primarily for institutional investors. However, for German retail investors these exchange-traded funds are not traded funds, as single-underlying ETFs are prohibited in the EU. However, comparable investment instruments have long existed in the European Economic Area.

There are approximately 130 cryptocurrency exchange products based in Europe and listed on many European exchanges, including Euronext Paris, Euronext Amsterdam, XETRA and SIX Swiss Exchange.

German investors can also buy bitcoin directly from trading platforms or switch to so-called exchange-traded notes (ETNs). They are different from ETFs, but are debt securities, which means that if the issuer goes bankrupt, the investor will be left out of pocket.

In any case, it is worth remembering that investing in cryptocurrencies is quite risky and each investor must make decisions independently.

DZ Bank plans to enter the pilot phase for Bitcoin trading with the first cooperative banks this year. The goal is to create a central retail customer offering for the direct trading of cryptocurrencies.

The Bündnis 90/Die Grünen faction wants to change tax laws for cryptocurrency investors.

So far in Germany the following rule applies: anyone trading cryptocurrencies can make a profit tax-free as long as there is at least one year between the purchase and sale. The Bundestag faction Bündnis 90/Die Grünen wants to change this situation. According to the Greens, crypto investors will soon always have to pay tax on their profits.

Pantera Capital's latest report on the prospects for the development of the cryptocurrency and blockchain technologies market pays special attention to such points as the growth of Bitcoin activities, including the approval of ETFs, as well as the transformation of the DeFi and RWA market.

Analysts suggest that investments in flagship projects in these sectors could bring handsome dividends in the future. In addition to BTC, the report paid special attention to the DyDx, ONDO and STX projects. But do not forget that the responsibility for investments lies entirely with the investor, and the cryptocurrency market remains volatile and high-risk.

Deutsche Börse Group has recently launched the Deutsche Börse Digital Exchange (DBDX), a regulated platform offering trading, settlement, and custody services specifically for institutional clients. The launch of DBDX fills a significant gap in the market, providing institutional clients with a secure and regulated environment for transactions with crypto assets. The introduction of regulated platforms is likely to play a central role in the wider adoption of cryptocurrencies, providing institutional investors with a safe and compliant gateway to the digital asset market over time.

The consumer climate in Germany improved slightly in March, which is confirmed by data from the market research institutes GfK and NIM in Nuremberg. The GfK Consumer Climate Index rose from minus 28.8 points to minus 27.4 points compared to the previous month.

However, despite this improvement, the recovery in the consumer climate is very slow. Rising real incomes and a stable labor market are very good prerequisites for an improving consumer climate, but consumers are still very unsure and have little faith in Germany's economic development.

Overall, the consumer climate in Germany is still in a state of uncertainty and uncertainty, which may have an impact on consumer behavior and economic activity in the country.

Following demand from corporate clients, German banks are becoming increasingly active in the crypto asset space, offering custody services and developing their own products for the asset class ahead of EU regulations due to come into force later this year.

Thus, the largest federal bank in Germany, Landesbank Baden-Württemberg, plans to offer cryptocurrency storage services in partnership with the Bitpanda exchange starting in the second half of 2024.

The European Parliament has finally voted in favor of the bill, which aims to reduce anonymity in cryptocurrency.

The new law will require crypto firms to collect more information about their users and their transactions.

Non-custodial wallet services, which provide anonymity, will be subject to increased monitoring. Tools such as cryptocurrencies and anonymous coins will be banned.

The new legislation will not apply to service providers that develop software for technological wallets that do not store data, such as MetaMask.

The European regulator ESMA is considering including cryptocurrencies in the €12 trillion UCITS investment product market. ESMA is seeking expert opinions on whether UCITS investment funds should be allowed to invest in asset classes such as structured credits, catastrophe bonds, emission allowances, commodities, cryptocurrencies, and unlisted equities. This could potentially open up the crypto market to millions of investors in Europe and beyond. Stay tuned for further developments!

In Europe, a new regulation for combating money laundering - AMLR - is coming into force, establishing uniform rules for all participating countries.

Non-custodial wallets remain permitted.

Custodial crypto businesses will no longer be able to serve anonymous users.

AMLR requires the application of "risk mitigation measures", including the use of blockchain analytics or the collection of additional data on the origin/destination of crypto assets (KYT).

Mandatory identity and crypto verification for each "occasional transaction" regardless of its size.

The level of risk for an individual/organization now depends on the effectiveness of the AML system in their country (we have a transparent blockchain).

Many provisions of AMLR supplement or repeat the norms of MiCA, Travel Rule, but significantly expand the obligations of crypto providers to monitor transactions.

Taxation of NFTs in Germany is an important aspect to consider when buying and selling these digital assets. The issue of taxation arises for both buyers and sellers of NFTs, especially when it comes to profits from the sale.

There are two main scenarios: commercial trade and private trade. Commercial trading involves a person actively trading or running a business related to NFTs. Private trading, on the other hand, refers to situations where people simply exchange NFTs among themselves.

Each case is reviewed individually to determine which applies. However, it is important to note that, according to tax authorities, cryptocurrencies and NFTs fall under the category of “other assets,” making the sale a private sale transaction.

Private crypto investors who do not conduct business when selling NFTs are considered to be making a private purchase and sale transaction. If the NFT is sold within a year of its purchase, the profit is taxed at the personal income tax rate. However, if the NFT is sold a year after it was purchased, private crypto investors can make a profit tax-free.

On May 23, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved spot Ethereum ETFs for eight issuers.

The upcoming elections in the European Union may affect the development of crypto regulation in Europe and, in particular, the development of the Ethereum ETF.

European banks are also entering the cryptocurrency market, thanks to MiCA. Germany's largest state-owned bank, Landesbank Baden-Württemberg (LBBW), has announced that it plans to begin offering crypto custody services to institutional clients, while Raiffeisen, Austria's largest banking group, has partnered with Bitpanda to provide digital asset services to retail clients.

The general elections in the European Union will take place on June 6-9, the results could be an important moment in shaping the future of crypto regulation in Europe.

The study by the German Central Bank (Deutsche Bundesbank) shows that Germans are open to the idea of a digital euro but are concerned about privacy issues. Half of those surveyed in April by Deutsche Bundesbank can imagine using a digital euro as an additional method of payment. However, only 41% have heard anything about the European Union's digital euro. 8% believe that the introduction of a digital euro is linked to the intention of supervisory authorities to monitor payments comprehensively. People fear the possibility of blocking or restricting the use of a digital euro at the behest of the authorities. A significant number of respondents (72%) consider it important for the digital euro to function independently from political events or decisions. These individuals also expressed concerns about the centralized nature of the digital euro.

According to a statement from the Head of Research at Outlier Ventures, most stablecoins pegged to the US dollar are unlikely to be able to meet all the requirements of the new European cryptocurrency legislation (MiCA).

Jasper De Maere warns that in the coming weeks or months, major exchanges and stablecoin issuers may announce the termination of support for dollar-pegged stablecoins in the European Union. This is because the new MiCA regulatory requirements only allow free trading of stablecoins that meet certain criteria.

As a result, some crypto companies may decide to withdraw from the EU market, which will limit investors' access to digital assets. Be vigilant and closely monitor the situation!

On July 1, Circle co-founder and CEO Jeremy Allaire announced that the company became the first stablecoin issuer in the European Union to receive regulatory approval under the MiCA regulatory framework.

Allaire noted that the USDC and EURC Circle stablecoins comply with the new MiCA rules. He also said that Circle had chosen France as its European headquarters, praising France's forward-thinking stance on digital asset regulation.

Additionally, major cryptocurrency exchanges such as Uphold, Bitstamp and Binance have begun to adapt their policies to changes in stablecoin regulation in Europe. Some platforms have delisted certain stablecoins, while others have taken a more cautious approach, limiting the features available.

This historic event demonstrates that the crypto asset industry continues to evolve and adapt to new regulatory requirements in the European Union.

On July 9, Saxony, a German federal state, conducted a series of transactions to sell confiscated bitcoins. This is a continuation of a story that began in January, when German police (LKA) seized 49,857 BTC from the operator of the Movie2k.to website as part of a criminal investigation.

According to guidelines for the disposal of assets seized during investigations, German authorities are releasing these bitcoins on the open market. So far, the German government has already sold more than half of the initially confiscated crypto assets to various exchanges and market makers.

This demonstrates how law enforcement agencies handle cryptocurrencies seized in criminal cases. Instead of storing them, German authorities prefer to quickly convert them into fiat money, following established procedures. This approach ensures transparency and efficiency in the management of confiscated digital assets.

Well-known financial services provider Stripe has taken a major step towards mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies. Customers in the European Union can now buy Bitcoin, Ethereum and other crypto assets directly using their credit or debit cards.

The company also previously announced plans to support payments in stablecoins, where transactions will be instantly converted into fiat currencies such as the dollar or euro.

This is further evidence of the growing integration of cryptocurrencies into traditional financial systems. Such solutions help simplify and speed up the process of purchasing digital assets for a wide audience.

Here are the key points of the new European Union cryptocurrency regulation, known as MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets).

Key features:

1. Stablecoin issuers are required to hold up to 60% of their collateral in cash exclusively in licensed European banks.

2. This shifts all the risks associated with holding deposits in European banks to stablecoin issuers. They will have to regularly confirm that they have sufficient reserves.

3. This has drawn criticism from issuers such as the US company Circle, who say it could be "seriously destabilizing to the industry" since banks, unlike stablecoin operators, have access to credit.

4. Ultimately, the MiCA rules allow funds from foreign companies to be used to support the work of European banks, without allowing them to participate in the region's monetary policy.

Despite the clear and understandable rules that apply to all EU countries, this approach raises questions and concerns among crypto industry participants. The European Union gains an advantage in that MiCA was adopted earlier than similar regulations in other jurisdictions.

We recommend closely monitoring the development of the situation and possible changes in the regulation of crypto assets in Europe.

The German authorities seized almost 25 million euros (28 million dollars) in cash during a nationwide operation targeting cryptocurrency ATMs, the German financial regulator BaFin said in a statement on Tuesday.

The authorities confiscated 13 machines that had been operating without the necessary permits, posing a risk of money laundering, according to the regulator.

Siemens issues digital bonds worth $330 million based on blockchain technology in partnership with major German banks, including Deutsche Bank.

Earlier, Deutsche Bank representatives stated that they see the future in blockchain and view it as an additional source of income for banks. Furthermore, the financial giant is testing a tokenization platform based on Ethereum.

Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB) launches cryptocurrency storage and trading services!

As the largest cantonal bank in Switzerland with assets of 200 billion Swiss francs, ZKB now offers clients the opportunity to safely store and trade cryptocurrencies through the ZKB eBanking and ZKB Mobile Banking platforms.

Crypto assets will be integrated into clients' existing portfolios, and the bank guarantees secure storage of private keys.

Alexandra Skriba, head of institutional clients at ZKB, noted that the service is also available to third-party banks.

According to information from cointelegraph.com, DZ Bank, Germany's second-largest financial institution, has partnered with Börse Stuttgart Digital to offer cryptocurrency trading and custody services to its cooperative banking network. This collaboration will enable approximately 700 cooperative banks under DZ Bank to provide their private clients access to digital assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum.

64 members of the Bundestag have launched the "Federal Association of Bitcoin," aimed at supporting the cryptocurrency at the national and European levels! The association will create a platform for companies to exchange experiences and lobby for favorable business conditions. Both businesses and individuals (without voting rights) can join. Members will work towards enacting tax benefits and supporting mining.

We also remind you of Commerzbank's and Crypto Finance's plans to offer trading and storage services for cryptocurrencies to corporate clients, while DZ Bank is launching a similar initiative in collaboration with Boerse Stuttgart Digital.

Binance welcomes the new EU regulations, which could become a true “global benchmark” for countries looking to adapt their rules to MiCA. This will help increase “cross-border interoperability” and provide a clearer framework for the industry.

However, the Binance report highlights that strict requirements could create additional hurdles for stablecoin providers. This raises important questions about how to balance compliance and innovation in the world of digital assets.

Interestingly, major banks like Societe Generale are already preparing their proposals for the implementation of MiCA. They have partnered with Bitpanda to launch CoinVertible (EURCV), a stablecoin that is fully compliant with the new standards and denominated in euros.

European investors have poured a record amount of capital into Bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the United States. Since the beginning of the year, Europeans have invested over $105 billion in Bitcoin, reaching an all-time high. The growing inflow of ETFs could help lift Bitcoin out of its current stagnation to new historical peaks. However, despite the strong inflow from Europe, Bitstamp data indicates that Bitcoin has been unable to surpass the psychologically significant level of $70,000, which was last reached on July 29.

Deutsche Telekom and Bankhaus Metzler are launching a Bitcoin mining project using excess energy and renewable sources! This will optimize the energy grid and test the mining infrastructure in Backnang, Germany. The project aims to manage excess capacity and prove its effectiveness in the German market.

Allianz, Germany's largest insurer, has acquired $2.6 billion in MicroStrategy bonds due in 2031. The move could signal growing interest among major investors in cryptocurrencies and crypto-related assets, especially given MicroStrategy's active investments in Bitcoin.

Schuman Financial has unveiled its first product, the EURØP stablecoin, which is denominated at a 1:1 ratio to the euro. This digital asset is designed for the global market and will find application in areas such as digital payments, foreign exchange trading, and the tokenization of real assets.

EURØP is fully backed by cash and other liquid assets, and its release is planned for the near future, Cointelegraph reports, citing a company representative. At launch, the stablecoin will work on the Ethereum and Polygon networks, and will also appear on leading European cryptocurrency exchanges. In the future, integration with additional blockchains and DeFi platforms is planned.

The world of cryptocurrency is undergoing significant changes, from new technologies to legislative initiatives. Here are some key developments:

Deutsche Bank launched Project Dama 2, a platform for servicing digital assets, offering improved transactions and regulatory oversight.

German MP Joanna Kothar has proposed legitimizing Bitcoin, equating it to the euro, to increase legal protection and reduce the risk of illegal transactions.

Germany's former finance minister has called on the country to recognize Bitcoin's potential, criticizing the decision to sell all government bitcoins.

These developments highlight the growing interest in cryptocurrencies and the need for regulation. What's next?

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year! May this festive season bring you joy, peace, and new opportunities. Thank you for your trust and partnership. Here’s to a successful year ahead!

Standard Chartered, a major international bank, has become the first to offer regulated crypto services in Europe after obtaining a digital asset license in Luxembourg. On January 9th, the bank announced it would establish a new entity in Luxembourg that will serve as a regulatory hub within the European Union (EU) for offering cryptocurrency services.

This move follows the implementation of Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulations. Initially, Standard Chartered's cryptocurrency offerings in the EU will focus on Bitcoin and Ethereum. The bank’s crypto services in the EU will initially include cryptocurrency custody or safeguarding digital assets on behalf of their owners.

Interest in cryptocurrency investments is growing in Europe. For instance, the Stuttgart Stock Exchange, one of the largest exchange groups in Europe, recorded significant revenue growth in 2024 by offering crypto services.

Börse Stuttgart Digital Custody has become the first crypto-asset service provider in Germany to receive a full license under the new EU regulation known as Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA). The exchange obtained this pan-European license as part of its efforts to transform into a regulated crypto-infrastructure provider for banks, brokers, and asset managers.

The company officially received the license from the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) on January 17th.

In a world where the digital transformation is rapidly accelerating, Germany suffers from a lack of startups that could serve as the driving force for a new wave of economic growth, according to The New York Times. In addition to large industrial companies, the country's economic well-being also depends on the implementation of innovative solutions and digitization. However, during this period of digital transformation, the country lacks investments in startups that could ensure sustainable growth in the future. “The real problem is not what’s happening with companies like ThyssenKrupp, but rather that the last successful German startup was founded fifty years ago,” emphasized Danyal Bayaz, Minister of Finance of the region of Baden-Württemberg, at the German-American Conference at Harvard.

Crypto custodian Taurus, backed by Deutsche Bank, has announced the selection of the Solana blockchain for launching its products related to RWA (real-world assets).

What is RWA? These are assets that exist in the real world, such as real estate, commodities, or securities, and which can now be tokenized and integrated into the blockchain. This opens the door to new investment opportunities and simplifies the process of working with assets!

The Director General of Deutsche Börse Stefan Leitner calls for important financial reforms in the EU, including the introduction of constant digital euro. He emphasizes the need to cooperate the ECB and national central banks to strengthen the financial autonomy of the region and enrich the ecosystem of capital markets. Leitner also notes that the association of key regulatory acts of the EU, such as Mica, the Law on Artificial Intelligence and Dora, will help the Euro become more competitive at the world level, reducing the influence of the US dollar.

Under the new MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) crypto legislation in the European Union, ten companies have already received licenses to issue stablecoins. Interestingly, the stablecoin market leader Tether is not among them.

Meanwhile, the Kraken crypto exchange has decided to remove Tether from its listing, planning to launch its own stable cryptocurrency. Tether representatives expressed disappointment and called the delisting hasty and unfounded.

The digital asset division of Germany's largest stock exchange, Boerse Stuttgart, is collaborating with local investment bank DekaBank to offer cryptocurrency trading services to its institutional clients.

Stuttgart Digital will provide its regulated infrastructure to support DekaBank's cryptocurrency offerings, which are aimed exclusively at institutional clients.

Clearstream from Deutsche Boerse will launch cryptocurrency custody and settlement services for institutional clients by the end of the year, starting with Bitcoin and Ether. This marks a significant move as traditional financial companies expand into digital assets. The service will be available to 2,500 customers through their existing accounts, with plans to expand the range of cryptocurrencies and services in the future.

European financial markets faced significant turmoil on March 5-6, 2025, following Germany's announcement to allocate hundreds of billions of euros for defense and infrastructure. The key event was the unprecedented drop in German government bonds, which experts compared to the crisis that followed the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989-1990.

According to a new report from the cryptocurrency exchange KuCoin, 44% of Germans plan to invest in digital assets. Many of them see cryptocurrencies as the future of the financial system—nearly half want to be part of this new era!

Additionally, among those who have already started their journey into the world of digital assets, 37% have been actively trading cryptocurrencies for over a year.

Germany has long shown interest in this market: it was one of the first countries to recognize Bitcoin as a means of value measurement and a financial instrument. However, regulation remains partial, leaving room for further steps in this direction.

Institutional adoption of Bitcoin in the European Union (EU) remains sluggish. Only a few European companies have recently been promoting investments in Bitcoin or crypto services. These include French banking giant BNP Paribas, Swiss company 21Shares AG, VanEck Europe, Maltese firm Jacobi Asset Management, and Austrian fintech company Bitpanda.

Meanwhile, a recent survey by Bitpanda shows that European financial institutions are underestimating demand for cryptocurrency by up to 30%.

The slower adoption in the EU seems particularly linked to the patchwork of regulations and more conservative investment strategies, according to analysts. However, on March 25th, BlackRock, the world's largest asset management company, launched a Bitcoin exchange-traded product (ETP) in Europe, which could boost institutional investors' confidence in the region.

In recent months, discussions have arisen around the tax regime for cryptocurrencies in Germany. Specifically, representatives of the Green Party have proposed a review of tax incentives for digital assets, arguing that they receive advantages over traditional investment instruments. In this regard, the party advocates for the abolition of the previously granted exemption from taxes on profits from cryptocurrencies after one year of ownership.

The coalition of CDU, CSU, and SPD presented an agreement on cryptocurrency regulation issues. However, despite the agreements reached, the document is limited to general formulations regarding possible control measures over cryptoassets, shadow banks, and the gray capital market. There are no specifics yet regarding future regulations for cryptocurrencies or Bitcoin.

These initiatives reflect the growing attention of German politicians to the cryptocurrency industry, but clear decisions on this issue have not yet been made.