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European Commission Opens Targeted Consultation on MiCA Review, 20 May 2026

On 20 May 2026, the European Commission launched a targeted consultation on the review of Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 on Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA). The consultation invites digital asset issuers, crypto-asset service providers, financial institutions, and industry bodies to assess whether MiCA's provisions remain fit for purpose following first-application experience since December 2024.

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On 20 May 2026, the European Commission launched a targeted consultation on the review of Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 (MiCA), the EU's dedicated crypto-asset regulation. The consultation is at pre-legislative assessment stage: the Commission is gathering evidence on MiCA's functioning in practice before deciding whether to propose amendments or supplementary measures.

The consultation document covers MiCA's main provisions: the issuer rules for asset-referenced tokens under Title III; the e-money token regime under Title IV; the authorization and conduct-of-business requirements for crypto-asset service providers under Title V; and the market abuse prohibitions under Title VI. Respondents are asked whether MiCA's requirements remain proportionate given first-application experience since December 2024, whether gaps exist in the treatment of decentralized finance arrangements and non-fungible tokens presently outside MiCA's scope, and whether the existing passporting and third-country equivalence provisions are adequate.

The targeted consultation is directed at digital asset issuers, authorized crypto-asset service providers, banks and payment institutions holding crypto-asset portfolios, and industry bodies with first-hand experience of MiCA's application. Entities that have engaged with national competent authorities and ESMA since December 2024 should document practical difficulties encountered with the white paper obligation under Article 5, the complaints-handling mechanism under Article 31, and the own-funds requirements under Article 67, as these provisions are precisely the areas where empirical feedback will shape any future legislative proposal.

The targeted consultation is time-limited; interested parties should monitor the Commission's finance portal at finance.ec.europa.eu for the formal submission deadline. Any legislative proposal emerging from the consultation would proceed through the ordinary legislative procedure, meaning final amendments to MiCA are unlikely before 2028. The Commission has also launched a parallel public consultation on MiCA's functioning for individual respondents and non-specialist participants.

Licentium advises crypto-asset service providers, token issuers, and digital asset funds on MiCA compliance across EU jurisdictions. We may advise on this matter or assist through our partner network. Work we undertake includes MiCA authorization strategy, white paper drafting and review, asset-referenced token and e-money token structural analysis, CASP passporting, and regulatory consultation response preparation for MiCA reform proceedings.

Source: European Commission, Targeted Consultation on the Review of Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 (MiCA), published 20 May 2026

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