Last month, the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee of the European Parliament voted 31-4 in support of a revised draft of the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) framework, with 23 abstentions. The framework generally encompasses cryptocurrency issuance and trading, and it promises to make it simpler for crypto businesses to develop throughout the EU's 27 member states by supporting a passport-type license that would be valid across borders.
"Finally, the agreed text includes measures against market manipulation and to prevent money laundering, terrorist financing and other criminal activities(...)"
Previously, the committee agreed to repeal a measure that intended to restrict the usage of cryptocurrencies that relied on the energy-intensive consensus method known as proof-of-work. The law may have effectively prohibited the use of the popular cryptocurrency Bitcoin (BTC) throughout the EU. Instead, the committee voted in favour of an alternative provision that would require the European Commission, to submit a legislative proposal by 2025 to include any crypto-asset mining activities that contribute significantly to climate change in the EU.
Members of the European Parliament also mentioned that other sectors, such as video games, entertainment, as well as data centres, use energy resources that are not environmentally benign. They want the Commission to work on legislation that addresses these challenges in a variety of areas.