Qafas regolatorju għall-assi virtwali jista’ jgħin biex jippromwovi l-UE bħala ċentru kripto

Fl-intervent tiegħu waqt dibattitu plenarju tal-Parlament Ewropew fi Strasburgu dwar l-Assi Crypto, l-eks Prim Ministru Alfred Sant enfasizza li s-sistema l-ġdida li qed jivvota fuqha l-Parlament Ewropew ġġib it-trasferiment tal-fond kripto u l-assi kripto taħt sorveljanza sħiħa, anke għal valuri żgħar. Huwa nnota li filwaqt li l-abbozz ta’ liġi jġib l-assi kripto fl-ambitu tal-leġiżlazzjoni tal-Unjoni Ewropea dwar is-servizzi finanzjarji, qed iwitti t-triq ukoll għal qafas regolatorju aktar b’saħħtu u aktar trasparenti.

Irridu jew le, it-teknoloġija kripto hija hawn biex tibqa’, stqarr Sant. Għalhekk, il-miżuri l-ġodda mhumiex maħsuba biex joħonqu l-iżvilupp tagħha. “Għalkemm robusti, jistgħu fil-fatt jgħinu biex jippromwovu l-Unjoni Ewropea bħala ċentru kripto”, sostna.

L-Unjoni Ewropea qed tfittex li tilleġiżla assi ‘kripto’ diġitali jew virtwali biex tipproteġi l-investituri u żżomm l-istabbiltà finanzjarja, filwaqt li tinkoraġġixxi wkoll l-innovazzjoni tal-industrija. Dan se jipprovdi għal qafas legali uniformi għas-swieq tal-kripto-assi fl-Unjoni Ewropea.

Il-MPE Laburista nnota li t-teknoloġija kripto issa laħqet fażi fejn qed tfittex li tistabbilixxi ruħha bħala qasam ta ‘attività kompletament leġittima. L-operaturi u l-iżviluppaturi warajha jridu qafas regolatorju b’saħħtu u t-tama tagħhom hija li l-Unjoni Ewropea tipprovdih. L-Ewropa għandha tilqagħhom tajjeb.

Madanakollu, Sant esprima dubju dwar kemm qed nifhmu sew l-impatt tat-teknoloġija kripto fuq l-ekonomiji tas-suq u s-sistemi finanzjarji. “Ħafna mit-tifsiriet u l-interventi li nisimgħu donnhom qed iqisu biss tnejn jew tliet tentakli ta’ qarnita”, huwa innota.

Għandna bżonn mudell li jgħin biex jispjega u jiggwidana dwar il-konsegwenzi makroekonomiċi u makrofinanzjarji tal-iżviluppi tal-kripto.

L-ewwel parti tal-leġiżlazzjoni Ewropea maħsuba biex tipprovdi ħalli jistgħu jiġu segwiti t-trasferiment ta’ kripto-assi bħal bitcoins u tokens ta’ flus elettroniċi ġiet approvata b’529 vot favur għal 29 kontra u 14 astensjoni.

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A regulatory framework for crypto assets could help to promote the EU as a crypto hub

In his intervention during a European Parliament plenary debate in Strasbourg on Crypto Assets, former Prime Minister Alfred Sant emphasized that the new system that the European Parliament is voting upon brings the transfer of crypto fund and assets under full surveillance, even for small values. He noted that while it brings crypto assets within the scope of European Union legislation on financial services, it paves the way for a stronger and a more transparent regulatory framework.

Whether we like it or not, crypto technology is here to stay, Sant stated. Therefore, the new measures are not intended to stifle its development. “Though robust, they could actually help to promote the European Union as a crypto hub”, he claimed.

The European Union seeks to legislate digital or virtual ‘crypto’ assets to protect investors and maintain financial stability, whilst also encouraging industry innovation. This will provide for a uniform legal framework for crypto-assets markets in the European Union.

The Labour MEP noted that the crypto technology has now reached a phase where it is seeking to establish itself as a fully legitimate area of activity. The practitioners and developers behind it want a strong regulatory framework and their hope is that the European Union will provide it. Europe should welcome them.

Nevertheless, Sant expressed doubt about the understanding we have of the impact of crypto technology on market economies and financial systems. “Most of the inputs and interventions we hear feel like they’re dealing with only two or three tentacles of an octopus”, he noted.

In his view we need a model that helps explain and guide the macro economic and macro financial implications of crypto developments.

The first piece of European legislation for tracing transfers of crypto-assets like bitcoins and electronic money tokens was approved with 529 votes in favour to 29 against and 14 abstentions.