As the crypto industry matures, regulation has become a defining force shaping its future. Europe is leading this shift with the introduction of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), the first comprehensive framework to govern digital assets across all EU member states. By setting common standards for compliance, transparency, and investor protection, MiCA is designed to bring stability to a sector often associated with volatility and uncertainty. For many, it signals the beginning of crypto’s transition from a speculative niche into a mainstream part of the financial system.
For platforms operating in this space, MiCA represents both a challenge and an opportunity. It requires firms to raise their compliance standards while opening the door to institutional adoption on a scale not seen before. ICONOMI, one of Europe’s leading digital asset portfolio management platforms, has long positioned itself at the forefront of trust and transparency. Built with compliance in mind from the start, ICONOMI now sees MiCA as validation of its approach. To understand how regulation is reshaping crypto and what this means for investors and institutions, Fintech Review spoke with Peter Curk, CEO of ICONOMI.
For readers who might not be familiar, could you briefly introduce ICONOMI and your role?
ICONOMI is Europe’s leading crypto portfolio management platform. We designed it to make the crypto space more accessible. Through our app, anyone can build or copy successful crypto portfolios with one click. It takes away the worries of wallets, exchanges, custody, and all of the other technical bits that can make crypto feel like a foreign language to those who aren’t naturally tech-minded.
While the app was initially intended for individual private investors, we also now serve financial professionals via our institutional product, ICONOMI Wealth. As CEO, my role is to ensure we stay ahead of the curve in regulation, technology, and trust, bridging the gap between traditional finance and digital assets.
MiCA is a landmark regulation for the European crypto market. What do you see as its biggest impact?
Clarity. For years, crypto firms operated in a grey zone, which limited institutional adoption. Because MiCA sets a single standard across all EU member states, it removes fragmentation and uncertainty. That opens the door to crypto for large financial institutions, advisors, and fintechs.
Some worry regulation could stifle innovation. Do you view MiCA as more of an opportunity or a challenge?
It’s an opportunity, if you’ve built with regulation in mind. For ICONOMI, compliance has always been a foundation, not an afterthought, and if you embed compliance into the product, it becomes a competitive advantage.
But regulation can absolutely kill innovation if you’re trying to retrofit it, so I do see the other side of the argument. In my view, though, MiCA is a good starting point for clearing out bad actors.
How is ICONOMI preparing to adapt and remain competitive in this new regulatory landscape?
We’ve been preparing for MiCA for years. If anything, you could say that has been our differentiator, so MiCA is a validation.
We’re already FCA-registered in the UK, which puts us in a great position to passport our services across the EU under MiCA.
And we have so many features to support that – proof-of-solvency systems, transparent fee models, and robust custody partnerships. We’re also expanding features, like ICONOMI Wealth, so advisors and family offices can offer crypto portfolios to their clients compliantly.
Do you think MiCA will help accelerate mainstream adoption of crypto in Europe?
Absolutely. Trust has been the missing ingredient for many potential investors. With MiCA, Europeans will know they’re using platforms held to the same standards as their banks or brokers. That removes a psychological barrier and allows crypto to move from niche speculation to a legitimate investment.
How do you see regulation shaping the relationship between traditional finance and digital assets?
It will build the bridge. Regulation creates a common language that both sides can work with. For traditional finance, compliance isn’t negotiable; it’s the cost of doing business.
Once crypto platforms operate under the same rules, integration will naturally follow. Banks can partner with us, advisors can recommend us, and investors can include crypto in diversified portfolios without fear.
Beyond Europe, what global regulatory trends do you think will matter most for the industry?
Two stand out. First, the US push towards crypto ETFs is reshaping institutional access. It sets a precedent for how traditional wrappers can bring digital assets into the mainstream.
Second, Asia, particularly Singapore and Hong Kong, are fast becoming crypto-finance hubs with clear licensing regimes. Globally, the industry is converging on a regulated future. The firms that can operate across jurisdictions while staying compliant will win.
Looking ahead, what is your vision for ICONOMI and the broader crypto space in the next few years?
For ICONOMI, we aim to be the platform where crypto investing becomes as normal as buying a mutual fund. Whether you’re an individual starting with £50 or a wealth manager running £50 million, ICONOMI should be your entry point into digital assets.
For the industry, I see crypto moving from the periphery of finance to the mainstream. It will be integrated into retirement accounts, corporate treasuries, and everyday fintech apps. But for that to happen, the next few years will need to be about trust, compliance, and accessibility. That’s the foundation we’ve built on, and it’s where we’ll continue to lead.
Peter Curk is CEO of ICONOMI, a leading digital assets portfolio management platform. He is responsible for setting the vision, strategy, and execution of the company’s mission to democratise access to the new economy.
