MiCA Regulation 2026: What is the Fate of Bitcoin (BTC) and DeFi?

Jakarta, Pintu News – By July 2026, the European Union will fully implement the MiCA regulation that will affect the crypto market, specifically Bitcoin (BTC) and DeFi platforms. The regulation aims to increase oversight of crypto services across EU member states.

Effect of MiCA on CASP and DeFi

MiCA, or Markets in Crypto-Assets, will impose strict rules for crypto asset service providers (CASPs) and DeFi interfaces. CASPs such as Binance and Coinbase will face reporting obligations and fees similar to banking institutions, including the requirement to have capital reserves. This regulatory structure is considered to benefit large organizations that have sufficient funds to cover high administrative costs.

DeFi protocols that operate through smart contracts on blockchain networks typically have no centralized corporate entity. MiCA provides an exception for protocols that are “fully decentralized”, but there is no exact definition of the term. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has released a “decentralization spectrum” assessment framework to help regulatory agencies evaluate points of centralization.

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Policy and Implementation in Various Countries

Poland became the last EU member state to implement this framework. Poland’s president, Karol Nawrocki, vetoed MiCA-compliant legislation, stating that the regulations could “threaten the freedom of Polish citizens, their property, and the stability of the country”. The Polish parliament needed a three-fifths majority vote to override the veto.

The regulation also prohibits the use of third-country equivalents, meaning crypto companies based outside the EU, such as in Singapore or the United States, must establish a legal presence in the EU before they can apply for authorization to serve European customers. This is intended to eliminate regulatory arbitrage by preventing MiCA overrides in other countries.

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Stablecoins and Their Impact on Banking

The European Central Bank (ECB) has expressed concerns that stablecoins could affect retail banking deposits in the Eurozone. Meanwhile, the United States has scrapped their Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) program, opting to privately manage stablecoins instead. The ECB, on the other hand, continues to pursue the development of a digital euro.

Industry observers note that the MiCA implementation timeline coincides with broader regulatory shifts in digital asset markets globally. However, the impact of these regulations on DeFi adoption remains uncertain as the July 2026 deadline approaches.

Conclusion

With the full implementation of MiCA in July 2026, the crypto market in Europe will undergo significant changes. The regulation is expected to increase investor safety and market transparency, albeit at a higher cost to service providers. How this will affect the global market is still a topic that will continue to be discussed.

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*Disclaimer

This content aims to enrich readers’ information. Pintu collects this information from various relevant sources and is not influenced by outside parties. Note that an asset’s past performance does not determine its projected future performance. Crypto trading activities have high risk and volatility, always do your own research and use cold cash before investing. All activities of buying and selling bitcoin and other crypto asset investments are the responsibility of the reader.

Reference

• Crypto News. Bitcoin DeFi Faces MICA Stress Test into July 2026. Accessed on January 5, 2026
• Featured Image: PYMNTS