The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) is urging EU lawmakers to give it more teeth in the fight against crypto fraud.
- ESMA wants the ability to order immediate freezing of suspicious crypto assets, speeding up what police and civil guards now treat like a chase for cash.
- It also proposes that national supervisors be allowed to close fraudulent or unlicensed crypto websites on the spot.
- The regulator asks the European Commission to add a clear definition of the DeFi ecosystem to the MiCA rules, so bridge services that link users to DeFi can be better overseen.
With crypto markets moving at click‑speed, every minute counts, and ESMA believes stronger tools are essential.