Wire · operational-macro
The paradox of crypto regulation
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Fusion42 · 4 September 2026 · Fusion42 review
Europe’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) and the UK’s upcoming crypto asset licensing regulate centralized crypto service providers but leave fully decentralized finance (DeFi) services unregulated due to the lack of an applicable legal framework. This creates a regulatory divide between centralized crypto services, which are subject to licensing, and DeFi protocols, which operate largely outside regulatory oversight.
This Wire brief sits within Fusion42's coverage of Fintech, and 4 sources have reported it between 23 Aug 2026 and 4 Sep 2026.
◆ ◆ The Wire takeaway
You must identify whether your crypto service operates on the centralized or decentralized side, as only the former fits current regulations and opens market access. Navigating this divide now will let you capture opportunities from regulated institutional entrants while avoiding unexpected liabilities on the unregulated DeFi side.
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4 sources · first reported 23 Aug 2026 · latest 4 Sep 2026
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