ChainCatcher news, according to Jinshi reports, an EU Commission spokesperson said, "We strongly regret the United States' announcement to raise steel import tariffs. The EU is ready to take countermeasures against the U.S. tariff increase, and the Commission is currently in the final stages of consultations to expand countermeasures."

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, Fabio Panetta, the Governor of the Bank of Italy, pointed out in the annual report on May 30 that the EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) has had limited effects on promoting the adoption of compliant stablecoins. Since the regulation comes into full effect at the end of 2024, only a small number of electronic money tokens (EMT) stablecoins have been issued across the EU, and Italian regulators have not observed significant interest from local companies in issuing crypto assets.Panetta believes that regulatory rules alone cannot mitigate the systemic risks of crypto assets, and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) are the key tool. He warned that foreign crypto platforms may lack transparency and risk control capabilities due to differing regulatory standards, posing a threat to the safety of funds for EU citizens, and that a global regulatory framework needs to be established through international cooperation.The digital euro project can meet the market's demand for secure and efficient digital payment tools while maintaining the anchoring role of central bank money. This view echoes the assertion of ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone—currently, dollar stablecoins hold a 97% market share, and the promotion of central bank digital currencies is urgent.One month before this statement was released, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino refused to apply for MiCA licensing for USDT, citing "threats to the European banking system."

ChainCatcher news, according to Bloomberg, payment processing company Worldpay will allow customers in the U.S. and Europe to make payments using Circle Internet Financial's USDC stablecoin. Worldpay was acquired by Global Payments Inc. earlier this year and processed nearly $2.5 trillion in payments last year.

ChainCatcher news, according to the official announcement, the European listed company The Blockchain Group has issued three convertible bonds through its wholly-owned subsidiary The Blockchain Group Luxembourg SA, with a total value of approximately 63.3 million euros. According to the announcement, 95% of the funds raised will be used to purchase and hold Bitcoin, while the remaining 5% will be used for the operating costs of the Luxembourg subsidiary and to pay management fees to the parent company.This financing will potentially allow the company to acquire approximately 590 Bitcoins, increasing its potential holdings to about 1,437 Bitcoins. The Blockchain Group stated that this move aims to continue advancing its Bitcoin reserve company strategy while developing the operational business of its subsidiaries.

ChainCatcher news, on May 26 local time, ECB President Lagarde delivered a speech at a forum in Berlin.Lagarde stated that the current dollar-based international monetary system is becoming uncertain, and Europe needs to reform in multiple areas to reduce its impact from changes in the international order. Lagarde further explained that current global multilateral cooperation is being replaced by zero-sum games and bilateral power struggles, with openness giving way to protectionism, and even the cornerstone of this system—the dominance of the dollar—has become uncertain.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, mixed martial artist Conor McGregor hinted that he might participate in the presidential election and promised to incorporate Bitcoin into Europe's balance sheet.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jin10 reports, traders have increased their expectations for interest rate cuts by the European Central Bank, now anticipating three more rate cuts in 2025.

ChainCatcher news, according to Coindesk, the cryptocurrency trading platform Crypto.com has acquired Allnew Investments to obtain a license to offer derivatives trading services in the European Economic Area (EEA).The trading platform announced on its official website that the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) has issued a Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) license to Allnew. This license authorizes the trading platform to offer a range of financial products in 27 EU countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

According to ChainCatcher, Bloomberg reports that European Central Bank Executive Board member Piero Cipollone stated that Poste Italiane may become a partner for the rollout of the digital euro in Italy.Poste Italiane is currently one of the 70 institutions participating in the digital euro pilot project. Cipollone revealed that the technical preparations for the digital euro are "progressing rapidly and on schedule," and if the legislative process goes smoothly, the first transactions could start in mid-2028. In addition to postal services, Poste Italiane also offers financial services including bank accounts and payments.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cryptonews, Germany's financial regulator BaFin has granted a full Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license to Trade Republic, one of the largest fintech companies in Europe. This license allows the German company to provide crypto asset custody services for its 4 million users across 17 markets and to operate in all 30 countries of the European Economic Area.Data shows that currently, 25 crypto asset service providers (CASPs) have obtained MiCA licenses across the EU, of which 9 (36%) were issued by the German regulator BaFin. It is noteworthy that all crypto asset service providers must obtain a MiCA license by mid-2025; otherwise, they will not be able to conduct cross-border business in the EU, prompting many companies in the industry to accelerate their applications.

ChainCatcher news, Barclays Bank stated in a report released on Thursday evening that the likelihood of the U.S. economy falling into recession this year has significantly decreased due to signs of easing tensions in U.S.-China trade. As a result, the bank has raised its forecast for U.S. economic growth.Barclays now expects the U.S. economy to grow by 0.5% this year and 1.6% in 2026, both higher than the previous forecasts of -0.3% and 1.5%, respectively. Meanwhile, as uncertainty decreases and the overall economic environment improves, Barclays has also raised its growth expectations for the Eurozone.The Eurozone is now expected to achieve zero growth this year, better than the previous forecast of a contraction of 0.2%. However, the Eurozone may still experience a technical recession in the second half of this year, although the extent of the recession is expected to be smaller than previously anticipated. "Overall, we remain cautious about the growth outlook for the Eurozone, as current uncertainty remains high, negotiations between the U.S. and Europe regarding reciprocal tariffs are still at a technical level, and there are no signs of progress."

ChainCatcher news, according to Decrypt, the latest research by the international NGO Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) shows that the use of cryptocurrency in criminal activities in the Western Balkans (including countries like Albania and Serbia) continues to expand, primarily involving money laundering, drug trafficking, and illegal mining. The core data is as follows:Scale and Patterns of CrimeThe annual cryptocurrency transaction volume in the Western Balkans reaches $25 billion to $30 billion, with tens of millions of euros directly linked to criminal networks, funds are transferred through cryptocurrency wallets and used for legitimate business investments.Montenegro has become a key node for darknet cryptocurrency transactions, and Albania and Serbia have recently seen instances of using cryptocurrency to launder drug trafficking funds.Law Enforcement ChallengesThe region has recorded only 3 cases of cryptocurrency seizures to date (all occurring in the last three years), with the most recent case involving an Albanian criminal group from November 2024 to January 2025, seizing $10 million in crypto assets.Among the six countries, only Albania, Serbia, and Kosovo have enacted laws related to digital assets, but the implementation rules in Kosovo have yet to come into effect.Regulatory and Collaborative ShortcomingsThe EU's Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) has not yet covered the non-member Western Balkans, and there is insufficient cross-border tracking technological capability.GI-TOC senior analyst Sasa Djordjevic pointed out the need to accelerate the adoption of FATF anti-money laundering standards, strengthen collaboration with Europol and Interpol, and deploy blockchain analysis tools to enhance law enforcement efficiency.The research warns that if the regulatory framework and law enforcement capabilities do not upgrade in sync, the cryptocurrency crime problem in the region will continue to worsen.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cryptoslate, Spanish law enforcement has teamed up with Europol to crack a large-scale transnational cryptocurrency money laundering case. The criminal organization laundered money for criminal groups in China and the Arab region through cryptocurrency transactions, with an amount involved exceeding 20 million euros.It is reported that the operation searched 14 locations and arrested 17 suspects, of which 15 have been detained pending trial. Law enforcement seized over 205,000 euros in cash, digital assets worth 183,000 euros, 18 luxury cars, and properties valued at approximately 2.5 million euros.

ChainCatcher news, according to Bitcoin Magazine, European listed company The Blockchain Group (ALTBG) completed two rounds of financing totaling over 22 million euros within a week. On May 9, it raised 9.9 million euros through equity financing, with the issue price at a 61.7% premium over the average price on the 20th. Investors included Tobam, Generali Ambition Solidaire, Jean-Marie Formigé, Quadrille Capital, EFG Bank, VP Bank, and others. On May 12, it issued 12.1 million euros in Bitcoin-denominated convertible bonds through its Luxembourg subsidiary, fully subscribed by Blockstream CEO Adam Back, with the issue price at a 30% premium over the first batch conversion price.The funds will be used to strengthen Bitcoin holdings and develop subsidiary businesses in data intelligence, AI, and more. As a core member of "Bitcoin For Corporates," the company explores capital structure innovations centered around Bitcoin, including Bitcoin-denominated bonds and hard asset reserve strategies.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jinshi reports, Eurogroup President Donohoe stated that the EU is very clear in pushing for zero tariffs from the United States.

ChainCatcher news, Amundi's Global Head of Foreign Exchange Andreas Koenig stated that despite the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the trade war, the momentum initiated by the euro in the turbulent weeks of April is unlikely to be easily dismissed.Koenig believes that "(the appreciation of the euro) is a structural change that may last longer and further than we currently imagine." Jane Foley, Head of Foreign Exchange Strategy at Rabobank, stated, "Tariffs have already pushed up the prices of U.S. goods, and a stronger euro will make them even more expensive. Another sudden surge in the euro could be unsettling." For the time being, many are optimistic about the euro. Deutsche Bank predicted in January that the euro would fall below parity against the dollar this year, but now expects it to rise to 1.20 by December and further climb to 1.30 by the end of 2027.

ChainCatcher news, according to the Financial Times, the world's largest financial institutions are reducing their dollar assets and increasing investments in European markets. Data shows that investors are massively withdrawing from the U.S. stock and bond markets. This long-term divestment trend is influenced by political chaos in Washington, declining confidence in the Federal Reserve, and the latest tariff disputes initiated by Trump.Since January of this year, the dollar has depreciated by more than 7%, and traders are now watching for signs of funds shifting to safer European investments like German bonds. According to a Bank of America survey, in March, investors made the largest-ever reduction in U.S. stock holdings, with the speed of the shift to Europe being the fastest since 1999.Multinational pension funds are leading this divestment wave. Finland's Veritas Pension Insurance Company, Australia's UniSuper fund, and Denmark's pension fund have all reduced their U.S. assets. The head of strategy at BNP Paribas stated that if European pension funds were to reduce their exposure to U.S. assets to 2015 levels, it would mean selling off €300 billion worth of dollar-denominated investments.

ChainCatcher news, the cryptocurrency exchange platform Gemini has received regulatory approval to expand its crypto derivatives trading in Europe. The exchange announced on May 9 that Gemini has obtained a MiFID II license issued by the Malta Financial Services Authority (MFSA), allowing the exchange to offer crypto derivatives in the EU. The derivatives that Gemini will soon launch in the EU and the European Economic Area will include perpetual futures and other derivatives, which can be used by Gemini's advanced users.

ChainCatcher news, according to Jin10 data report, ECB board member Simkus stated that there is no core scenario for ECB interest rates, and it is necessary for the ECB to cut interest rates in June.