Kraken Acquires Dutch Broker, and More

BeInCrypto’s comprehensive Europe Crypto Roundup covers the latest news and trends shaping the continent’s crypto landscape. With reporters across key markets like Germany, France, and the UK, we provide in-depth insights into evolving regulatory environment, adoption rates, major industry events, and market movements. 

This week’s roundup covers Societe Generale’s partnership with Bitpanda, Kraken’s acquisition of a Dutch broker to boost its European expansion, and other major stories.

Dutch Regulator Warns of Crypto Pump-and-Dump Risks 

The Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) has issued a warning about the dangers of cryptocurrency pump-and-dump schemes, just ahead of new European Union regulations under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). MiCA, which will come into effect on December 30, will explicitly ban crypto market manipulation tactics schemes across the Europe.

According to an official press release, the AFM will oversee the enforcement of these new rules in the Netherlands. The regulator has investigated several pump-and-dump schemes and plans to enforce strict measures once MiCA takes full effect.

A pump-and-dump scheme involves artificially inflating the price of a cryptocurrency by spreading misleading or exaggerated information. Promoters typically buy the asset at a low price, generate hype to attract public investment, and then sell their holdings at the inflated price.

Read more: What Is Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA)?

Hanzo van Beusekom, a member of the AFM’s executive board, highlighted that pump-and-dump schemes “undermine trust” in the crypto market, which is “essential for the long-term potential of digital assets.”

Societe Generale Forge Partners with Bitpanda for Euro Stablecoin

Global banking giant Societe Generale has teamed up with Bitpanda to expand the role of stablecoins in the financial system. The partnership focuses on promoting Societe Generale’s euro-denominated stablecoin, EUR CoinVertible (EURCV), through its blockchain subsidiary, Societe Generale-FORGE.

Bitpanda will help drive mainstream adoption of the EURCV, which will play a key role in the European crypto industry. According to Lukas Enzersdorfer-Konrad, Deputy CEO of Bitpanda, euro-based stablecoins will be critical for integrating traditional finance with digital assets.

“Fully regulated stablecoins are the bridge that will make it possible. We will work with Societe Generale-FORGE to bring that future one step closer,” he stated.

Stablecoins act as the primary link between fiat currencies and the world of cryptocurrencies. Providing investors with access to regulated stablecoins is a crucial step for attracting more investment into the crypto market.

Societe Generale’s EURCV stablecoin will be compliant with the MiCA regulations and will be listed on Bitpanda’s trading platform. As of 2023, Societe Generale ranks as the world’s 19th largest banking group, managing over $1.7 trillion in total assets.

Assetera Launches Secondary Tokenized Real-World Asset Market on Polygon

Assetera, Europe’s first regulated blockchain-based secondary market for tokenized real-world assets (RWAs), is set to launch on Polygon. Regulated by the Austrian Financial Market Authority, Assetera will use its own smart contracts on the Polygon blockchain.

The platform will cater to retail, professional, and institutional clients, offering tokenized financial instruments such as securities, money market instruments, fund units, and derivatives. In addition, Assetera will provide tokenized RWAs like real estate and art.

All trading will be conducted directly on the Polygon network, using stablecoins for purchase, clearing, and settlement via atomic swaps. The platform will operate 24/7 without manual intervention.

Read more: How To Invest in Real-World Crypto Assets (RWA)?

Assetera will support both custodial and non-custodial wallets, with plans to introduce bank-managed wallets. The platform has partnered with Sumsub, Chainalysis, and Fireblocks to ensure Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance.

Kraken Acquires Dutch Broker BCM to Boost European Expansion

Kraken has acquired Coin Meester (BCM), one of the Netherlands’ oldest registered crypto brokers, as part of its ongoing push to expand across Europe. This acquisition strengthens Kraken’s presence in the Dutch market and enhances its ability to operate with a registered Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license in France and Poland.

Brian Grahan, Kraken’s managing director for Europe, highlighted the importance of the acquisition in a September 24 announcement.

“The completion of the BCM acquisition is a key milestone in our European expansion, allowing us to leverage our strong footprint and market-leading position in euro volume and liquidity to significantly grow our market share in the years ahead,” he stated.

Kraken has ramped up its European expansion over the last two years, preparing for the upcoming regulatory framework. The exchange can now offer regulated VASP services directly or through partnerships in several countries, including Germany, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Ireland, France, Poland, and the Netherlands.