On 17 February 2025, the European Securities and Markets Authority (‘ESMA’) published on its website a consultation paper on guidelines setting out criteria to assess the level of knowledge and competence of staff of crypto-asset service providers that provide information or advice on crypto-assets or crypto-asset services provided. ESMA shall seek the views of interested parties on, inter alia, the following topics:
- Minimum requirements as to the level of knowledge and competence of staff providing information or advice on crypto-assets or crypto-asset services provided;
- Organisational requirements for crypto-asset service providers to assess, maintain and update the knowledge and competence of staff.
The draft Guidelines have been drawn up on the basis of Article 81(15) of the MiCA Regulation[1]. The consultation process will last until 22 April 2025.
The above-mentioned consultation document can be found at the following link:
https://www.esma.europa.eu/sites/default/files/2025-02/ESMA35-1872330276-2004_MiCA_-_Consultation_Paper_-_Guidelines_on_knowledge_and_competence.pdf
[1] Regulation (EU) 2023/1114 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 31 May 2023 on Markets in crypto-assets and amending Regulations (EU) No 1093/2010 and (EU) No 1095/2010 and Directives 2013/36/EU and (EU) 2019/1937 (OJ L 150 9.6.2023, p. 40).