--- title: Cardano Foundation Urges EU Not to Extend MiCA Rules to DeFi and Staking url: >- https://www.cryptocatalyst.news/articles/2026-10-22-cardano-foundation-urges-eu-not-to-extend-mica-rules-to-defi-and-staking canonical: >- https://www.cryptocatalyst.news/articles/2026-10-22-cardano-foundation-urges-eu-not-to-extend-mica-rules-to-defi-and-staking date: '2026-10-22T12:07:44.343989+00:00' category: policy tags: - cardano - mica - defi - staking - eu-regulation source: CoinTelegraph source_url: >- https://cointelegraph.com/news/cardano-foundation-urges-eu-against-expanding-mica-rules-to-defi-and-staking?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound sources: - name: CoinTelegraph url: >- https://cointelegraph.com/news/cardano-foundation-urges-eu-against-expanding-mica-rules-to-defi-and-staking?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound - name: CoinTelegraph url: >- https://cointelegraph.com/news/chainlink-cardano-and-other-blockchain-groups-push-sec-for-clearer-crypto-rules?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound publisher: CryptoCatalyst summary: >- The Cardano Foundation urges the EU to regulate crypto by financial risk, warning that extending MiCA to DeFi and staking could create uncertainty for businesses across the bloc. image: >- https://www.cryptocatalyst.news/images/articles/2026-10-22-cardano-foundation-urges-eu-not-to-extend-mica-rules-to-defi-and-staking.webp generated_by: automated editorial pipeline --- # Cardano Foundation Urges EU Not to Extend MiCA Rules to DeFi and Staking The Cardano Foundation is urging EU policymakers not to extend the bloc’s MiCA crypto rules to decentralized finance and staking. It argues regulation should focus on financial risks rather than the technology involved, warning that overlapping requirements could leave crypto businesses unsure which rules apply. ## Key takeaways - The Cardano Foundation urged the EU not to extend MiCA rules to DeFi and staking. - The foundation says crypto regulation should focus on financial risks rather than technology. - It warned that overlapping regulations could create uncertainty for crypto businesses operating across the EU. - The report describes an appeal by the foundation, not an adopted change to EU law. The Cardano Foundation has asked the European Union not to expand its Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework to cover decentralized finance (DeFi) and staking. It says regulation should be based on the financial risks of an activity, rather than the technology used to provide it. The foundation warned that overlapping rules could create uncertainty for crypto businesses operating across the EU. The available report does not specify what alternative rules it proposes or which MiCA provisions it wants kept out of scope. ## Why is the Cardano Foundation concerned about MiCA? MiCA is the EU’s framework for crypto markets. Extending it to DeFi and staking could bring more activities under common oversight, but the foundation argues that applying rules based on technology could make it harder for businesses to know which requirements govern them. That concern comes amid an active debate over MiCA’s reach. EU lawmakers have called for a review of DeFi and staking rules, while recent proposals have also considered crypto lending and services that connect users to DeFi protocols. The Cardano Foundation’s position adds an industry voice to that discussion, but it does not settle what the EU will ultimately regulate. ## What should crypto users watch next? For users, the immediate issue is not a confirmed change to staking or DeFi access: the report describes the foundation’s appeal, not an adopted EU policy. The practical trigger to watch is whether EU lawmakers or regulators publish proposals that define which activities and providers would fall under MiCA. The foundation’s risk-based argument also highlights a question for users: would a service face oversight because it creates a particular financial risk, or simply because it uses blockchain technology? That distinction could affect how DeFi and staking services are offered across EU countries, but the source does not provide a timeline or specific regulatory outcome. ## FAQ ### What is the Cardano Foundation asking the EU to do? It is urging EU policymakers not to extend MiCA rules to decentralized finance and staking, and to base regulation on financial risks rather than technology. ### Has the EU changed MiCA rules for DeFi and staking? The report describes the Cardano Foundation’s appeal. It does not report that the EU has adopted a change to MiCA. ### Why does the Cardano Foundation oppose expanding MiCA? The foundation warned that overlapping rules could create uncertainty for crypto businesses across the EU. It argues regulation should focus on the financial risks of activities. ## Sources This article synthesizes reporting from [CoinTelegraph](https://cointelegraph.com/news/cardano-foundation-urges-eu-against-expanding-mica-rules-to-defi-and-staking?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound), [CoinTelegraph](https://cointelegraph.com/news/chainlink-cardano-and-other-blockchain-groups-push-sec-for-clearer-crypto-rules?utm_source=rss_feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss_partner_inbound), written by an automated editorial pipeline. See https://www.cryptocatalyst.news/editorial-policy. ## How to cite CryptoCatalyst.news, "Cardano Foundation Urges EU Not to Extend MiCA Rules to DeFi and Staking", 2026-10-22, https://www.cryptocatalyst.news/articles/2026-10-22-cardano-foundation-urges-eu-not-to-extend-mica-rules-to-defi-and-staking