Navigating MiCA: What the New EU Crypto Rules Mean for Bulgaria and the Region
4 August 2025
On 29 July 2025, New Balkans Law Office hosted a live webinar titled Navigating MiCA: What the New EU Crypto Rules Mean for Bulgaria and the Region. The discussion focused on the recently promulgated Act in Bulgaria on the Markets in Crypto Assets, examining its alignment with the EU’s Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (MiCA). The event also explored the act’s interaction with the latest ESMA Guidelines on MiCA, as well as related EU legislative instruments, including the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and the Anti-Money Laundering Regulation (AMLR).
The webinar offered a detailed breakdown of the regulatory framework now governing crypto asset service providers (CASPs), including licensing requirements, governance obligations, and key compliance deadlines under the newly adopted Bulgarian Crypto Asset Markets Act.
The discussion featured four members of NBLO’s regulatory and dispute resolution team:
– Kamen Shoylev – Managing Partner, UK barrister and Bulgarian advocate, who moderated the session and presented the UK and common law perspectives on crypto-related disputes.
– Nevena Bekyarova – Partner and corporate lawyer, who explained the content and practical effects of Bulgaria’s new law transposing MiCA.
– Maya Ivanova – Head of AML and Compliance, who explored the intersection of MiCA, AMLR, and DORA from a supervisory and enforcement point of view.
– Radostina Ivanova – Associate, who provided practical insights into the licensing and passporting regime under MiCA, and related obligations for CASPs.
Topics covered included:
- The structure and goals of MiCA
- How Bulgaria’s Crypto Asset Markets Act aligns with the EU regulation
- Licensing, white paper, and governance requirements for CASPs
- AML and consumer protection obligations
- Key enforcement tools and penalties under the new framework
- Emerging EU and UK case law involving digital assets
For tailored legal support or questions related to crypto compliance, contact us at crypto@newbalkanslawoffice.com.