US vs EU: Two (very) Different Approaches to Web3 Regulation

EducationJune 19, 2025

While Trump pushes for Web3 deregulation and a free crypto market, Europe keeps approving legislation to regulate the use of digital assets. What does this mean for crypto investors, developers, and governments? Keep reading to find out!

The geopolitical map of crypto is shifting fast. Following Donald Trump’s return to the White House, in January this year, the United States entered a new chapter of deregulation in the blockchain and cryptocurrency space. Before the new administration stepped in, several US-based businesses were fighting in court against the Treasury Department. Most of them went away — one of the most striking examples is Tornado Cash, which had its economic sanctions lifted this past March.

Some other actions include the disbandment of the DOJ’s crypto enforcement unit, the SEC dropping major cases against Coinbase, Binance, Justin Sun, and relaxed oversight on memecoins — there’s even a Trump memecoin that brought up a series of questions about the entanglement of government in business.

At the same time, the European Union has taken the opposite route when it comes to these emerging technologies. It’s doubling down on compliance, transparency, and consumer protection through stringent regulatory frameworks like MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation) and the AI Act, which aims to legislate the development and use of artificial intelligence systems.

According to the Consilium, under MiCA, “crypto-asset service providers need an authorisation to operate in the EU. They have to respect strong requirements to protect consumers’ wallets and will be held liable if they lose investors’ crypto-assets”, which comes a long way to prevent major money laundering schemes and scams. This EU-wide regulation also tightens compliance and KYC requirements for the sake of transparency and to deter criminal activities.

Earlier this year, European Central Bank President (ECB) Christine Lagarde rejected the Czechs’ proposal for a Bitcoin reserve. This is just an example that shows the ECB’s conservative approach to the implementation of these new technologies. However, it’s already clear that the EU is becoming wary of what the future might bring, with several ministers expressing concerns about financial stability..

This divergence signals more than just a policy difference. It’s about competing philosophies about innovation, risk, and control. In this article, we explore the contrasting approaches of the US and the EU, and what these mean for investors, developers, and governments navigating the rapidly evolving crypto landscape.

Deregulation vs. Oversight: Different Perspectives

Trump’s administration has moved quickly to roll back several regulatory measures introduced during the Biden era. The SEC’s aggressive stance toward crypto, epitomized by lawsuits against major exchanges like Coinbase and Binance, has softened. There are early signs of pro-crypto executive orders aimed at promoting innovation, easing capital requirements, and redefining tokens as commodities in certain contexts.

Meanwhile, the EU is doubling down on control. The implementation of MiCA is introducing strict guidelines on stablecoins, custodial wallets, and crypto service providers. New anti-money laundering (AML) directives also require full KYC for crypto transactions, even on decentralized platforms. The goal: prevent abuse, ensure investor protection, and integrate crypto into the broader financial system.

For investors

From an investor’s perspective, the US might seem like the best place to invest right now. However, if we look closer, while access to new tokens and financial products is easier, loosening regulations might increase volatility and the potential for scams. The US may become a hub for high-risk, high-reward investment opportunities, thus appealing to risk-tolerant investors.

Because the crypto and Web3 industry in the EU has to respect a more structured legal framework, investors can rely on more transparency, standardized disclosures, and legal recourse in case something goes wrong. After all, regulations were put in place for a reason. There are, however, a few cons: fewer speculative opportunities, slower token listings, and limited DeFi access due to the inability to create and launch new products faster.

For developers

While in the US, developers can expect more freedom to experiment with new technologies and try out less conservative approaches, Web3 techs in Europe might experience a clearer compliance framework (with MiCA as a rulebook). Legality is the biggest difference between being a dev in both jurisdictions. Developers worry about how their designs and concepts can come to life — in Europe, they have to take legislation into account, and see how an application can be used while still being law-abiding.

In the US, there’s more room to develop creatively, and things might evolve faster, as there is less legislation and bureaucracy to deal with. The EU’s system makes this process more time-consuming.

For Governments

The deregulatory stance could position the US as the global leader in digital assets, attract capital, and fuel job creation. However, it risks regulatory arbitrage, scams, and financial instability if left unchecked. Also, since the US doesn’t abide by the same regulations as the EU, there are a lot of applications and solutions that might not be implemented in European countries. In other words, if a DeFi app made in the US doesn’t respect MiCA, it will probably never be expanded to Europe.

By tightening controls, the EU can better align crypto with its broader financial architecture, protect consumers, and limit systemic risk. The UK has been making headlines for its stance on crypto and AI innovation — in January 2025, the British government vowed to enact a series of actions, like creating AI tech centers and expanding its use throughout government services and institutions.

However, the EU governments might lose out on innovation and talent migration to more permissive jurisdictions like the US, UAE, or Singapore. It’s important to note that the UAE is very crypto-friendly and remains an all-time-favorite place for Web3 developers and investors, but probably thanks to its legal framework. It sets clear boundaries, and when compared to the EU’s MiCA, it’s less permissive in some things, and more open in others — would this be the best path to follow?

The EU shows no signs of wanting to ease regulation, but has already said it’s worried about how the US’s lack thereof might affect financial stability in Europe. According to Politico, “European officials fret that several major financial market reforms the U.S president has touted will undermine efforts to become strategically independent as the EU tries to revamp its financial sector. They worry it will prompt a flight of assets to the U.S. and entrench fresh risks in the system.”

The US and EU are charting radically different courses in the world of Web3. The States are choosing flexibility and innovation, while Europe is going for structure and protection. Neither path is inherently better. They’re just a reflection of cultural and political values around freedom, responsibility, and control.

For investors and developers, the choice between the US and EU will depend on appetite for risk, the need for clarity, and strategic goals. For governments, the stakes are broader: national competitiveness, consumer welfare, and the future of finance itself. As Web3 matures, these regulatory philosophies will shape not just markets but the very essence of tomorrow’s digital economy.

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