Cardano Foundation urges EU against expanding MiCA rules to DeFi and staking - TradingView

The Cardano Foundation has asked European Union policymakers not to extend the scope of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation to cover decentralized finance (DeFi) and staking, according to TradingView. The intervention comes as EU authorities consider how the existing framework should treat activities that fall outside its current remit.

The distinction matters because MiCA was designed primarily around centralized crypto-asset issuers and service providers. DeFi protocols and staking arrangements often operate without a single identifiable intermediary, raising questions about how obligations such as authorization, disclosure and custody would apply. The Foundation's position reflects a broader industry concern that applying centralized-style rules to decentralized structures could create compliance ambiguity rather than clarity.

For market participants, the key variable is regulatory scope rather than any immediate rule change. How the EU defines DeFi and staking activities—and whether they are brought under MiCA or addressed through separate measures—could shape operating conditions for projects and service providers active in Europe. Watch for official consultations, legislative proposals or guidance from EU bodies that indicate the direction of travel. Until then, the debate remains a signal of regulatory intent rather than a settled outcome.