Implementing MiCAR Workshop 

The Estonian Digital Assets Union (EDAU) is organizing its annual event, bringing together international speakers and industry leaders to discuss the implementation of MiCAR and its impact on the crypto sector. The event will feature fireside chats and panels on topics such as MiCAR’s influence on Crypto Asset Service Providers (CASPs), the regulation of stablecoins, and the challenges posed by the Travel Rule. Key speakers include representatives from regulators, fintech leaders like Bitpanda, and experts from Coinbase. The conference will also explore Estonia’s evolving crypto landscape, reflecting on its regulatory changes from 2017 to the present. The event aims to foster dialogue between market participants and policymakers while highlighting Estonia’s role in the global digital assets sector.

The agenda and time (not date) are subject to change. 

9:00 - 9:30 Registration and morning coffee (30 min)

9:30 - 9:40 Opening remarks (10 min)

9:40 - 10:25 Implementation of MiCAR in EU Member States (45 min)

Fireside chat with Andreas Pfeil, LLM, Austrian Financial Market Authority 

Different regulators in the EU are approaching the implementation of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCAR) with varying degrees of strictness and adaptation to local market conditions. In EU member states, regulators play a key role in aligning MiCAR with existing national regulations while ensuring a robust framework for investor protection and market stability. In a fireside chat, Mr. Pfeil from the Austrian FMA will discuss their approach to MiCAR, covering topics such as Capital Market Prospectus, Financial Innovations, and Consumer Information, as well as the challenges, lessons learned, and future plans.

10:25 - 11:10 MiCAR Implementation at Bitpanda, One of the Biggest CASPs in the EU (45 min)

Fireside chat with Wilhelm Eduard Nöfke, Director of Core Compliance, Bitpanda

Bitpanda, one of the leading fintech startups in the EU, is proactively aligning its operations with the upcoming regulatory changes. We’ll explore their experience in Germany, Austria and other EU markets, the challenges they’ve faced, passporting plans, and lessons learned so far.

11:10 - 11:40 Coffee Break (30 min)

11:40 - 12:25 MiCAR’s Influence on Stablecoin Issuers (45 min)

Fireside chat with - Speaker TBC

MiCAR has established clear regulatory frameworks for asset-referenced tokens, requiring issuers to ensure transparency, maintain sufficient reserves, and uphold strict governance standards to protect consumers and financial stability. This fireside chat will feature insights from an EU-based stablecoin issuer, sharing their experiences and approach to compliance.

12:25 - 13:10 The Travel Rule Impact (45 min)

Fireside chat with Neal Christiansen, Associate General Counsel, Coinbase

TRUST is a global, secure, and industry-driven solution designed to comply with the Travel Rule while protecting the security and privacy of customers. The session will explore how TRUST facilitates compliance by enabling the secure sharing of transaction data between virtual asset service providers (VASPs) and the challenges of implementing the Travel Rule.

13:10 - 13:55 Lunch Break (45 min)

13:55 - 14:40 Fireside Chat about MiCAR implementation in Estonia (45 min)

Fireside chat with Anna Agu, Co-Founder and CEO at Lex Law Office, Micaexperts.com

Crypto Asset Service Providers (CASPs) in Estonia have undergone several changes over the last six years. With MiCAR, regulation and supervision are transitioning from the FIU to the FSA. In this session, an industry representative specializing in helping companies adapt to the upcoming MiCAR regulation will discuss key aspects of its implementation in Estonia, including challenges, regulatory adaptations, and the general market landscape.

14:40 - 15:25 Panel Discussion: The Crypto Landscape in EU and Estonia specifics (45 min)

Panel discussion with Anna Agu,  Andreas Pfeil, Wilhelm Eduard Nöfke, and Neal Christiansen

This panel will discuss the history, evolution, and current state of the crypto sector in the EU, with a focus on Estonia. We will openly explore what the future may hold: Will the EU emerge as a leading market, or will it lag behind? How can EU CASPs compete with offshore service providers, and is MiCAR an opportunity or an innovation killer?

15:55 - 16:10 Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks (15 min)

16:10 - 17:00 Networking

Event Moderator: Dejan Davidovic, EDAU Board Member and COO at Kriptomat

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Register now on Tickettailor to reserve your spot!