Finance

MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation) is the EU’s unified regulatory framework for crypto assets, with stablecoins subject to some of the strictest oversight. It requires stablecoin issuers to meet requirements for reserve asset management, user redemption rights, disclosure, and risk control, and divides stablecoins into two categories: Electronic Money Tokens (EMTs) and Asset-Referenced Tokens (ARTs). For major stablecoins like USDT and USDC, MiCA does not ban their circulation in European markets but instead mandates that issuers adhere to EU regulatory standards.

CASP (Crypto-Asset Service Provider) is the core regulatory framework established under the EU's MiCA regulation, governing cryptocurrency exchanges, digital asset custodians, brokerage service providers, and other crypto-asset service platforms. Any company offering such services to EU users must generally obtain CASP authorization and comply with regulatory standards including investor protection, risk management, client asset segregation, and market transparency. Once licensed, firms can leverage the Passporting mechanism to operate across multiple EU member states, reducing cross-border operational costs and streamlining market access.

MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation) is the European Union's unified framework for regulating cryptocurrencies. It establishes compliance requirements for crypto-asset issuance, stablecoin operations, and cryptocurrency exchange service providers. By providing a single set of regulatory standards across EU member states, MiCA allows businesses to operate throughout the European market with a single license, while enhancing investor protection and market transparency. As the first comprehensive regulation of its kind globally—covering crypto-asset issuance, trading services, stablecoin management, and market conduct—MiCA’s influence reaches far beyond Europe, positioning it as a key benchmark for global crypto regulatory frameworks.

Tokenization of real-world assets (RWA) is steadily expanding across additional public blockchain networks. Securitize, an asset tokenization platform, has announced the official deployment of Hamilton Lane's tokenized private credit fund, HLSCOPE, on the TRON blockchain. This enables qualified investors to access private credit assets directly on-chain. The collaboration represents Securitize's inaugural asset issuance on TRON and underscores the ongoing migration of institutional-level financial products toward open blockchain infrastructure.

As real-world asset (RWA) tokenization accelerates, more traditional financial products are leveraging blockchain technology to offer on-chain investment opportunities. Private equity funds are emerging as a significant category within tokenized assets. HLSCOPE, introduced by global asset management firm Hamilton Lane, is a tokenized private credit fund that combines Securitize’s tokenization and fund management framework with blockchain network infrastructure, presenting a new paradigm for the convergence of traditional financial assets and the Web3 ecosystem.

Article 70 of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA, Regulation (EU) 2023/1114) mandates that CASPs holding client crypto-assets or access means must implement robust arrangements to protect client ownership and ensure client assets remain safeguarded in the event of insolvency. The regulation strictly prohibits the use of client assets for proprietary accounts. Article 75 further requires custodial CASPs to segregate client holdings on the distributed ledger, maintain a holdings register and custody policy, and guarantee that client assets are legally and operationally separated from CASP property. This ensures that, in the event of bankruptcy, CASP creditors have no recourse to the custody assets.

The EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) provides a unified approval and EEA passporting framework for Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASP) throughout the EU. Stablecoins are regulated under two classifications: Electronic Money Tokens (EMT) and Asset-Referenced Tokens (ART). After Brexit, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has pursued an independent regulatory path, centering on anti-money laundering registration, financial promotion approval, and further frameworks under the FSMA. There is no cross-border mutual recognition between the EU and UK; therefore, serving both markets requires separate compliance with each jurisdiction’s rules.

MoneyGram, a leading international remittance service provider, has recently introduced the MGUSD USD stablecoin, deploying it on the Stellar blockchain network. By integrating this stablecoin into its proprietary application, MoneyGram seeks to empower users to hold digital dollars, facilitate global fund transfers, and convert to local fiat currencies. This initiative underscores the cross-border payments industry's ongoing shift toward incorporating blockchain technology and stablecoins as foundational infrastructure.

As stablecoins continue to play a crucial role in global payments and cross-border remittances, an increasing number of payment institutions are building their own digital dollar ecosystems. MGUSD, introduced by MoneyGram, stands out as a key case combining blockchain technology, stablecoins, and cross-border payment solutions.

As stablecoins continue to establish themselves as essential infrastructure for global payments, more and more payment providers are investing in digital dollars and blockchain technology. MoneyGram’s introduction of MGUSD signifies not only the launch of a new USD stablecoin, but also highlights the payment industry’s ongoing shift toward digitalization, real-time transactions, and integrated cross-border solutions. This article examines MGUSD’s position in cross-border finance from the perspective of the global payments ecosystem, and explores how MoneyGram leverages infrastructures like Stellar, Bridge, and Stripe to collaboratively build the next generation of stablecoin payment networks.

The MiCA passporting mechanism enables crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) to obtain Article 63 authorization from their home country’s national competent authority (NCA). Afterward, CASPs submit a cross-border service notification to the home NCA, which must forward it within 10 business days to the host country’s NCA, the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), and the European Banking Authority (EBA). This process allows CASPs to offer authorized services in the notified member states without having to apply for a separate license in each country.

Within the MiCA Stablecoin regulatory framework, EMT (Electronic Money Token) is tied to a single fiat currency and governed by electronic money payment rules. In contrast, ART (Asset-Referenced Token) is backed by a basket of assets and is subject to more stringent capital and systemic risk management requirements. The two differ structurally in issuance qualifications, reserve composition, redemption rights, and the criteria for significant token recognition.

On Gate, buying Korean stocks with USDT means using stablecoins like USDT as your funding medium to invest in the Korean stock market through the Gate Stocks Korean Stock Section. Once you've completed account verification and opened a stock trading account, you can view Korean listed company stocks, place trades, and manage your holdings — all through a unified account system. No need for traditional cross-border securities accounts or bank wire transfers to access the Korean market.

Tencent Holdings stands as one of the most iconic technology companies on the Hong Kong stock market and a major component of both the Hang Seng Index and the Hang Seng Tech Index. Following Gate's launch of Hong Kong stock trading services, users can invest in Tencent Holdings using USDT via the Gate Stocks platform, while managing Hong Kong stocks, U.S. stocks, and digital assets on the same platform.

At its core, buying U.S. stocks means choosing a way to connect your funding account with the U.S. equity market. For mainland Chinese investors, the most common approaches today include traditional overseas brokers, accessing U.S. equities through Hong Kong-related market channels, and participating in U.S. stocks and ETFs through Gate Stocks using USDT.