ECB Backs ESMA Crypto Supervision Push as EU Moves to Centralize MiCA Oversight

The European Central Bank (ECB) has formally backed a European Commission proposal to centralize supervision of major EU financial market participants, including crypto asset service providers (CASPs), under the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), according to Reuters.

In an opinion published on April 9, the ECB said it “fully supports” the Commission’s plan, framing it as a structural step toward deeper integration of European capital markets. The proposal would shift oversight of large cross-border entities—including systemically important CASPs, trading venues, central counterparties, and central securities depositories—to ESMA, based in Paris.

Shift From National Supervision to EU-Level Authority

The reform would mark the most significant change to EU crypto supervision since the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework became fully applicable for CASPs at the end of 2024.

Under the current structure, national regulators act as the primary supervisors for licensed CASPs, while ESMA plays a coordinating role. The Commission’s proposal, introduced in December, would grant ESMA direct supervisory authority over the largest cross-border firms for the first time.

The ECB argued that large crypto firms may pose systemic risks and therefore require unified oversight to prevent spillover effects into the traditional banking system. It also requested a non-voting seat on ESMA’s executive board to provide input on payments infrastructure and monetary policy transmission.

ECB Highlights Systemic Risk and Market Integration

In its opinion, the central bank emphasized that greater integration of financial supervision could improve market efficiency and reduce fragmentation across the euro area.

It stated that a more unified financial system could support monetary policy transmission while also improving diversification opportunities through deeper and more liquid capital markets.

However, the ECB also warned that ESMA would require significantly greater resources to manage an expanded supervisory mandate. It recommended a phased transition from national regulators to avoid operational disruption during the handover.

National Licensing and Fragmentation Concerns

The proposal comes amid growing concerns over uneven implementation of MiCA licensing across the EU. Several major crypto firms have selected specific jurisdictions for authorization, reflecting regulatory competition within the bloc.

Coinbase obtained its MiCA license via Luxembourg, while OKX and Gemini secured approvals through Malta. Kraken has built its EU derivatives infrastructure using a MiCA license from the Central Bank of Ireland alongside a Cypriot MiFID entity.

ESMA has previously warned against regulatory arbitrage, stating that “the EU is not a place for forum-shopping,” and has also raised concerns about misleading claims regarding MiCA authorization status among some firms.

Political Resistance From Member States

The push for centralized oversight has triggered resistance from several member states, including Ireland, Luxembourg, and Malta. These jurisdictions host significant CASP licensing activity and have argued that shifting authority to ESMA could weaken national regulators and reduce domestic financial sector influence.

Despite ECB backing, the proposal remains non-binding at this stage. It will now proceed to negotiations between EU member states and the European Parliament, a process expected to take several months.

Toward a Unified EU Crypto Supervisor

If adopted, the reform would establish ESMA as the primary regulator for the EU’s largest crypto firms, consolidating supervisory authority at the supranational level.

The debate underscores a broader policy shift within the EU: moving from fragmented national licensing toward centralized oversight of digital asset markets deemed systemically relevant to the bloc’s financial stability.