The urgent warning comes from the Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) as the European Union prepares to fully implement its landmark Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation. Under the sweeping new framework, all digital asset firms must obtain a comprehensive EU license by June 30 to legally offer services within the trading bloc. European regulators have already ordered unlicensed firms to prepare immediate, “orderly wind-down plans” for their European operations, News.Az reports, citing Reuters.
Speaking at a press event on Thursday, AMF President Marie-Anne Barbat-Layani emphasized that the clock has officially run out for compliance.
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“It’s becoming very, very urgent to finalize the license applications,” Barbat-Layani stated, highlighting the looming regulatory cliff edge.
Firms that fail to secure authorization before the June 30 cutoff will find themselves blacklisted by continental regulators. Furthermore, Barbat-Layani warned that any offshore or unauthorized crypto platforms that continue to actively market their services to EU consumers without a valid license will face aggressive enforcement actions, including direct criminal prosecution.
The strict stance underscores Europe’s aggressive pivot toward bringing the digital asset sector under a unified, rigid regulatory umbrella. While MiCA aims to provide legal clarity and protect investors across all member states, it presents a massive operational hurdle for global crypto platforms accustomed to lighter regulatory frameworks.
