Marina Markezic, director and co-founder of the European Crypto Initiative (EUCI), said that decentralized finance (DeFi) remains a "niche globally," with European Union (EU) adoption above the global average but still lagging behind other developed economies. Markezic made her statement in a January 16 post on X.
"DeFi remains a niche phenomenon globally, with EU adoption above the global average but lagging behind other developed economies," said Markezic. "The report emphasizes the need for clearer regulations and better AML/CFT controls in DeFi."
According to Markezic, the observation comes in light of a joint report released by the European Banking Authority (EBA) and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA). The report analyzes crypto-assets, DeFi, and related activities. It highlights that while the EU is adopting DeFi at a higher rate than the global average, it still trails behind countries like the United States and South Korea.
Marina Markezic's post
| X
The EBA and ESMA report further states that DeFi accounts for 4% of the global crypto-asset market. It also notes a correlation between DeFi hacks, stolen assets, and market size. Additionally, it identifies risks of money laundering and terrorist financing linked to decentralized exchange flows, which represent 10% of global spot crypto trading volumes.
In a separate development, President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to transform the United States into the "crypto capital of the planet" by introducing supportive policies and creating a national Bitcoin reserve. He declared his intention to embrace industries of the future, including making America the world capital of crypto and Bitcoin. This move marks a departure from earlier regulatory strategies as noted by Cointelegraph.
Markezic is known for her expertise in crypto regulation, having worked with various crypto projects since 2017. She specializes in governance, DeFi, and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), frequently speaking at blockchain events. Previously leading an advisory team at Cofound.it, she evaluated over 700 whitepapers. In 2018, she was recognized as one of the top 100 women in fintech by Lattice80.
