Netherlands: Finance and Banking

MiCAR introduces two distinct pathways for entities seeking to offer crypto-asset services in the EU: a comprehensive CASP license for new entrants and a streamlined notification procedure for already-regulated financial institutions. While the notification route promises faster market access, practical experience reveals that Dutch regulators demand the same rigorous documentation standards regardless of which path an applicant chooses.

EU banks now operate with stronger capital and liquidity positions following post-crisis reforms, but attention is shifting to how the framework functions in practice. Fragmentation within the single market, regulatory complexity, and the implementation of Basel III standards are emerging as central policy concerns. France, Italy and Spain are exploring ideas to facilitate cross-border banking activity while the European Commission reviews the sector's competitiveness.

Defense IPOs are emerging as a viable exit strategy for investors in a sector where traditional trade sales face national security hurdles. Yet these public listings come with unique complexities—from managing classified information and export controls to navigating compliance gaps and a structurally narrower investor base shaped by ESG considerations.