The European Commission plans to expand ESMA oversight of MiCA crypto companies and trading venues, aiming to streamline EU markets and narrow the gap with the US. The European Commission has proposed expanding the powers of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) over crypto and broader financial markets in a bid to narrow the competitive gap with the United States. Published Thursday, the package would transfer “direct supervisory competences” for key pieces of market infrastructure, including crypto-asset service providers (CASPs), trading venues and central counterparties, to ESMA and strengthen its coordination role in the asset management sector. The proposal still needs approval from the European Parliament and the Council, where it is under negotiation. Read more
Onchain data points to a major Bitcoin price drop in the making, while a bearish technical structure projected a drop to $68,000. Bitcoin (BTC) is flashing early signs of a deeper correction, as the latest recovery pauses at $93,000. New analysis shows Bitcoin’s “market structure” increasingly resembles the first quarter of 2022, which marked the beginning of the bear market. Key takeaways: Bitcoin's onchain structure mirrors early 2022, risking a deep bear market if key levels are lost. Read more
Argentina’s state oil company, YPF, is reportedly exploring crypto payments at its fuel stations as adoption of digital assets rises, following the recent rollout of US dollar transactions. Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales (YPF), Argentina’s state-controlled energy company, is reportedly considering allowing drivers to pay for gasoline and diesel with cryptocurrency, as digital assets continue to gain traction in everyday transactions across the country. The plan could rely on a third-party processor rather than direct wallet payments, including local and international platforms such as Lemon, Ripio or Binance to handle conversions, local news outlet La Nación reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The review comes two months after YPF began accepting US dollar payments at its stations, a step that made it the country’s first fuel chain to price and process sales in US dollars. The policy came amid a broader push by Economy Minister Luis Caputo to encourage the circulation of hard curre...
Romania's Finance Ministry raised RON1.2 billion from banks on Thursday (December 4), selling government paper in two auctions, at annual average yields of 6.89% and 6.39%, respectively.