Payment services and crypto-assets

Abstract

The recent developments having an impact on the electronic payments landscape within the EU are examined in this chapter. The presentation of the EU legal framework on payment services focuses on its transparency requirements and the rights and obligations of the parties. The characterisation and main features of electronic money are discussed alongside the legal framework governing the business of electronic money institutions. Particular attention is devoted to the implementation of rules relating to the use of Distributed Ledger Technology in finance and to analyse how Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 on markets in crypto-assets (MiCA) has contributed decisively to transforming the previous situation and the regulatory framework concerning the issuance and trading of crypto-assets as well as the provision of crypto-asset services in the EU market.