Source: OJ L 150, 9.6.2023, pp. 40–205Current language: EN
- Markets in crypto-assets
Basic legislative acts
- MiCA regulation
Article 97 Promotion of convergence on the classification of crypto-assets
Summary What does Article 97 of the MiCA regulation say?
This article is focused on supervisory convergence around the classification of crypto-assets.
It tasks the three European Supervisory Authorities (ESAs — EBA, ESMA, and EIOPA) with working together to produce practical tools and foster consistent approaches among competent authorities across Member States.
The article connects directly to other parts of the regulation that require explanations and legal opinions to accompany crypto-asset white papers and authorisation applications — specifically Articles 8, 17, and 18 — and it aims to reduce the risk of divergent classification outcomes emerging across different national regulators.
Important points:
- The ESAs are required to jointly issue guidelines by 30 December 2024, including templates and a standardised classification test, to bring consistency to how crypto-asset explanations and legal opinions are prepared.
- Competent authorities of home or host Member States can request a classification opinion from ESMA, EIOPA, or EBA, which must be provided within 15 working days.
- The ESAs must produce an annual report identifying classification difficulties and divergences among competent authorities, drawing on the register under Article 109.
Springlex's summary of the article, a reading aid, not a substitute for the legal text.
By 30 December 2024, the ESAs shall jointly issue guidelines in accordance with Article 16 of Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010, Article 16 of Regulation (EU) No 1094/2010 and Article 16 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010 to specify the content and form of the explanation accompanying the crypto-asset white paper referred to in Article 8(4) and of the legal opinions on the qualification of asset-referenced tokens referred to in Article 17(1), point (b)(ii), and Article 18(2), point (e). The guidelines shall include a template for the explanation and the opinion and a standardised test for the classification of crypto-assets.
The ESAs shall, in accordance with Article 29 of Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010, Article 29 of Regulation (EU) No 1094/2010 and Article 29 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010, respectively, promote discussion among competent authorities on the classification of the crypto-assets, including on the classification of those crypto-assets that are excluded from the scope of this Regulation pursuant to Article 2(3). The ESAs shall also identify the sources of potential divergences in the approaches of the competent authorities to the classification of those crypto-assets and shall, to the extent possible, promote a common approach thereto.
Competent authorities of the home or the host Member States may request ESMA, EIOPA or EBA, as appropriate, for an opinion on the classification of crypto-assets, including those that are excluded from the scope of this Regulation pursuant to Article 2(3). ESMA, EIOPA or EBA, as applicable, shall provide such opinion in accordance with Article 29 of Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010, Article 29 of Regulation (EU) No 1094/2010 and Article 29 of Regulation (EU) No 1095/2010, as applicable, within 15 working days of receipt of the request from the competent authorities.
The ESAs shall jointly draw up an annual report based on the information contained in the register referred to in Article 109 and on the results of their work referred to in paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article, identifying difficulties in the classification of crypto-assets and divergences in the approaches of the competent authorities.
Springlex and this text is meant purely as a documentation tool and has no legal effect. No liability is assumed for its content. The authentic version of this act is the one published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Definition
placing of crypto-assets
Definition
official currency
Definition
electronic money institution
Definition
distributed ledger
Definition
reception and transmission of orders for crypto-assets on behalf of clients
Definition
exchange of crypto-assets for funds
Definition
credit institution
Definition
consensus mechanism
Definition
operation of a trading platform for crypto-assets
Definition
e-money token
Definition
home Member State
- where the offeror or person seeking admission to trading of crypto-assets other than asset-referenced tokens or e-money tokens has its registered office in the Union, the Member State where that offeror or person has its registered office;
- where the offeror or person seeking admission to trading of crypto-assets other than asset-referenced tokens or e-money tokens has no registered office in the Union but does have one or more branches in the Union, the Member State chosen by that offeror or person from among the Member States where it has branches;
- where the offeror or person seeking admission to trading of crypto-assets other than asset-referenced tokens or e-money tokens is established in a third country and has no branch in the Union, either the Member State where the crypto-assets are intended to be offered to the public for the first time or, at the choice of the offeror or person seeking admission to trading, the Member State where the first application for admission to trading of those crypto-assets is made;
- in the case of an issuer of asset-referenced tokens, the Member State where the issuer of asset-referenced tokens has its registered office;
- in the case of an issuer of e-money tokens, the Member State where the issuer of e-money tokens is authorised as a credit institution under Directive 2013/36/EU or as an electronic money institution under Directive 2009/110/EC;
- in the case of crypto-asset service providers, the Member State where the crypto-asset service provider has its registered office;
Definition
crypto-asset service
- providing custody and administration of crypto-assets on behalf of clients;
- operation of a trading platform for crypto-assets;
- exchange of crypto-assets for funds;
- exchange of crypto-assets for other crypto-assets;
- execution of orders for crypto-assets on behalf of clients;
- placing of crypto-assets;
- reception and transmission of orders for crypto-assets on behalf of clients;
- providing advice on crypto-assets;
- providing portfolio management on crypto-assets;
- providing transfer services for crypto-assets on behalf of clients;
Definition
offer to the public
Definition
providing advice on crypto-assets
Definition
offeror
Definition
execution of orders for crypto-assets on behalf of clients
Definition
electronic money
Definition
crypto-asset service provider
Definition
crypto-asset
Definition
DLT network node
Definition
funds
Definition
client
Definition
asset-referenced token
Definition
issuer
Definition
exchange of crypto-assets for other crypto-assets
Definition
electronic money token
Definition
providing custody and administration of crypto-assets on behalf of clients
Definition
providing transfer services for crypto-assets on behalf of clients
Definition
distributed ledger technology
Definition
host Member State
Definition
competent authority
- designated by each Member State in accordance with Article 93 concerning offerors, persons seeking admission to trading of crypto-assets other than asset-referenced tokens and e-money tokens, issuers of asset-referenced tokens, or crypto-asset service providers;
- designated by each Member State for the application of Directive 2009/110/EC concerning issuers of e-money tokens;