Crypto Regulation Around the World: How EU, UK, US and APAC…
By Tobi Opeyemi Amure
AI summary of the source article
Crypto adoption is increasingly driven by practical utility, such as cross-border payments and stablecoin settlement, rather than price speculation. While on-chain activity has shown resilience during market downturns, regulatory oversight is becoming more localized across the EU, UK, US, and APAC. The European Union has progressed furthest with its Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), providing regional clarity while imposing strict anti-money laundering and Travel Rule obligations, such as verification requirements on non-custodial wallet transfers over €1,000. These differing regional mandates on custody, stablecoin redemption, and AML directly impact product design and cross-border expansion for crypto-native businesses.
Why it matters
The transition of crypto from speculative trading to payment infrastructure requires financial institutions and fintechs to navigate fragmented global licensing and compliance mandates.
Key facts
- Over 70% of jurisdictions tracked by TRM Labs advanced stablecoin regulations in 2025.
- Among businesses utilizing stablecoins, 62% use them to pay suppliers across borders and 53% use them to receive cross-border payments.
- EU rules enforce the Travel Rule without a threshold and mandate identity verification for transfers exceeding €1,000 to non-custodial wallets.