Analysis of the evolution of the EU regulatory approach on virtual assets

Abstract

The technological advancements of virtual assets are growing exponentially in numbers now providing better security and enhanced privacy for its users. Furthermore, users may scramble and tumble virtual assets disguising their records of transactions. Innovations such as these although allow users to enjoy enhanced privacy in a world of constant supervision and “liberalization” of currency from the state, has however also opened a milieu for criminals to operate in, allowing money laundering, terrorism financing, tax and sanctions evasion, and other financial crimes to go unnoticed. In that regard, this thesis focuses on how the European Union has managed to catch up with the continuous innovations in virtual assets in terms of managing to rein in and regulate the market.