Denmark to completely ban non-custodial Bitcoin wallets, which could lead to the cryptocurrency’s exit from the EU

According to the latest news reports, the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority (DFSA) intends to completely ban non-custodial Bitcoin wallets to strengthen the regulation of activities on crypto platforms. They emphasize the need to regulate “interface providers” and mobile application developers.

In other words, cryptocurrency exchanges and trading platforms must obtain regulatory approval from Denmark before providing Bitcoin wallets, decentralized exchange interfaces, or any other crypto-related products to Danish customers.

This is not the first time the DFSA has taken action in the crypto space. Last July, it ordered a bank to liquidate its holdings of cryptocurrency, further demonstrating its commitment to regulating the industry.

What are Non-Custodial Cryptocurrency Wallets?

Non-custodial cryptocurrency wallets are those where only the holder controls the private keys. These wallets allow users to fully manage their keys and funds without third-party oversight.

In other words, ownership of the assets is entirely in the hands of the user, allowing them to act as their own personal bank. Additionally, non-custodial transactions are typically faster, as there is no need to wait for withdrawal approvals, and no additional custodial fees are incurred during transactions.

Denmark's Bitcoin Wallet Ban Aligns with MiCA Regulations

Two weeks ago, the European Banking Authority (EBA) completed a draft of technical standards on prudential matters under the MiCA regulations.

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This involves ensuring that all companies within the EU adhere to high financial standards. Some of these amendments include changes to own funds requirements, liquidity provisions, and very strict recovery plans for crypto asset issuers.

Notably, the MiCA regulations have a significant impact on stablecoins, especially those pegged to the US dollar.

MiCA Could Lead to Cryptocurrency Exodus from Europe

MiCA will take effect on June 30, and the rules prohibit stablecoins from exceeding one million payment transactions per day or a daily transaction volume of over 200 million euros (approximately 215 million USD). Stablecoin issuers like Tether and Circle need to obtain the necessary e-money licenses by the end of this month to operate legally within the EU.

The nature of these regulations has sparked debate within the cryptocurrency sector. With the imminent implementation of the EU MiCA laws, Bitstamp will delist Tether’s euro stablecoin, and Binance will suspend copy trading for European users.

These developments have attracted significant attention and sparked heated discussions in the crypto community.

Crypto personality Mikko Ohtamaa expressed his concern that such strict regulations might stifle innovation and potentially drive digital assets out of the market.

While the DFSA’s intentions might be good, such over-regulation helps no one. Trying to force everyone to become regulated intermediaries in a peer-to-peer world sounds good on paper, but one might as well be honest about their talking points and say, “We actually want to ban all cryptocurrencies, just in a sneaky way,” because that’s what the results show.