Tether Reacts to MiCA Regulations as Crypto.com Delists USDt in Europe

Tether, the corporation behind the popular USDt stablecoin, has expressed its dissatisfaction with recent developments in Europe's cryptocurrency sector. These developments come as large exchanges, such as Crypto.com, prepare to delist USDt and other tokens in order to comply with the European Union's new Markets in Cryptoassets (MiCA) rules. On January 29, Crypto.com said that USDt and nine other coins would be removed starting January 31, citing the necessity to comply with MiCA regulations.

“It is disappointing to see rushed actions prompted by statements that do little to clarify the rationale for such actions,” a Tether official told Cointelegraph. The business cautioned that these unexpected developments might result in a “disorderly” crypto market in the EU, particularly as MiCA is still in its early stages of deployment.

The delistings do not just affect USDt. Other popular coins are being phased out, such as Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) and Dai stablecoin. Tether stated that these legislative changes might affect EU customers by destabilizing the market and limiting access to commonly used digital assets.

Coinbase, another prominent exchange, had previously delisted USDt and six other coins in December 2024 to comply with MiCA regulations. A Coinbase official added, “We regularly review the assets we make available to customers on our platform to ensure we are meeting regulatory requirements.” To match with MiCA, the exchange has eliminated a total of eight tokens.

Tether pointed out that MiCA's restrictions provide issues for stablecoins regulated in the EU, possibly bringing additional dangers. The business also pointed out the dramatic contrast in stablecoin popularity between Europe and emerging economies, where USDt remains popular. “The USD stablecoin market is almost negligible in Europe,” Tether's representative stated.

Despite its reservations, Tether recognized the EU's attempts to establish a clear legal framework, which might help the crypto sector develop in the long run. The business is establishing its European strategy for USDt, with a focus on compliance while creating new technologies such as Hadron and investing in initiatives such as Quantor that fulfill MiCA criteria.

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Crypto.com Delists USDT and 9 Tokens to Comply with MiCA Regulations

Crypto.com delists USDT and 9 tokens to comply with MiCA regulations. Users must withdraw assets by March 31. Learn more about MiCA’s impact on stablecoins.

News 2025-01-30

Further Reading

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has encouraged crypto service providers to prohibit non-compliant stablecoins by the end of January, with a full ban predicted in early 2025. While these tokens can still be sold until March 31, the effort demonstrates the EU's determination to enforce MiCA.

As the cryptocurrency industry evolves, Tether is committed to maintaining compliance while continuing to serve its worldwide clientele. The company's reaction focuses on MiCA's difficulties and potential, as well as the larger influence on stablecoins in Europe.