ESMA publishes latest edition of its newsletter

Your one-stop-shop in the world of EU financial markets focused in January on the last ESMA consultation package related to the Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (MiCA). We invited stakeholders to send their feedback on reverse solicitation and classification of crypto assets as financial instruments by 29 April 2024 and we have also launched a social media campaign with useful reminders. 

In addition, together with the National Competent Authorities, we raised awareness of the requirements which apply when posting investment recommendations on social media. See video here. We have also published our first risk monitoring report of 2024, where ESMA set out the key risk drivers currently facing financial markets. 

We launched a call for candidates for our Securities Markets Stakeholder Group and called interested parties who can give a strong voice to consumers, industry, users of financial services, employees in the financial sector, SMEs as well as academics to apply by 18 March.

ESMA also went out with a report on the EU alternative investment funds (AIFs)’ market and an article on the risks posed by leveraged AIFs in the EU and confirmed the risks posed by real estate funds, in a context of declining volumes of transactions and falling prices in several jurisdictions.

We have also invited stakeholders to participate by 26 March in our brief survey focused on their personal experiences with online investing through the use of apps, websites and social media. 

Last, we updated or issued Q&As on several topics. 

A full overview of all publications can be found in the newsletter, together with information on next month’s speaking appearances of ESMA staff and vacancies. For updates, follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.