EU Crypto Rules Applied Inconsistently, Cardano Report Finds

The Cardano Foundation published DARTE Paris 2.0, a report that finds the application of EU crypto rules varies across member states and calls for clearer guidance on MiCAR, DORA and the updated anti‑money laundering framework. The report is based on roundtable discussions with policymakers, regulators and industry representatives.

DARTE, short for Digital Assets Regulation and Token Economy, is the Paris edition of a five-part global roundtable series funded through Cardano’s Project Catalyst. The Paris sessions focused on Europe’s legal framework for digital assets and mapped areas where national practice diverges from EU law.

The report examines three regulatory pillars. It says MiCAR’s stablecoin provisions took effect June 30, 2024, and the full MiCAR regime became applicable December 30, 2024. DARTE reports that the staggered rollout and differing national interpretations have created uncertainty about which entities must comply and by what deadlines, particularly for firms operating across multiple member states.

On the Digital Operational Resilience Act, the report notes that DORA’s ICT resilience requirements for financial entities that engage with digital assets apply from January 17, 2025. Participants cited variation in how national supervisors address operational resilience and third‑party ICT risk.

Regarding the EU’s revised anti‑money laundering rules, DARTE records that the updated framework extends KYC and AML obligations to digital asset service providers and will apply from July 10, 2027. The report documents that member states are adapting national enforcement regimes at different speeds.

DARTE calls for clearer interpretive guidance and more consistent application of the EU legal framework across all 27 member states. The report warns that fragmented enforcement could increase compliance complexity and legal uncertainty for providers operating in the EU single market.

The Cardano Foundation highlighted practical uses for public blockchain infrastructure to meet regulatory requirements. The report cites the EU Digital Product Passports initiative as an example where a public blockchain could provide an immutable verification layer to record environmental and sustainability data for regulators and consumers.

DARTE Paris 2.0 frames the roundtable discussions as a diagnostic of gaps between written rules and enforcement practice and asks EU institutions and national supervisors to align on interpretation and enforcement to reduce legal uncertainty for the digital asset sector.