Key Takeaways:
Certik reports EMEA fines hit $168.2M in H1 2025, a 767% surge as regulators shift to active supervision. The EU’s MiCA framework is driving major exchanges to France and Ireland by providing 100% legal certainty. 2026 stablecoin laws will treat assets like USDC as money market funds to prevent global market contagion. The EU Sets the Standard with MiCAThe European Union (EU) continues to lead in providing a structured framework through the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation. Unlike other regions that rely on existing financial laws, MiCA creates a bespoke regime for crypto-assets, issuers and service providers. The report notes that the implementation of these rules has provided much-needed legal certainty, prompting several major exchanges to consolidate their European operations in crypto-friendly hubs like France and Ireland.
A Global Shift Toward Active SupervisionAccording to the report, this year has also seen a surge in joint investigations, with agencies sharing real-time data to track illicit fund flows across jurisdictions.
“H1 2025 EMEA fines reached $168.2 million, a 767% increase year over year. The FCA led enforcement activity, imposing penalties of £44 million ($56 million) against Nationwide Building Society, £39.3 million [$50 million] against Barclays, and £21.1 million [$26.8 million] against Monzo, all for AML deficiencies. The Central Bank of Ireland fined Coinbase Europe €21 million [$22.7 million] for AML/CFT breaches. The activation of MiCA and the establishment of AMLA will extend this enforcement trajectory across the EU,” the report disclosed.
