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Risk · Regulation · 2026

Self-custody debates went mainstream — here is how to read them

Policymakers worldwide are deciding how on-ramps, travel rules, and custody duties apply to Bitcoin. This article summarises recurring themes so you can ask smarter questions of lawyers and accountants in your country.

Policy

EU: clarity with compliance overhead

MiCA-style frameworks aim to standardise issuer and service-provider rules. For end users, the friction often shows up at exchanges and banks, not in the protocol layer.

United States: legislative whiplash

Drafts differ on commodity vs security treatment, stablecoin guardrails, and tax reporting. Watch actual enacted text, not podcast summaries.

Emerging markets

Some nations encourage Bitcoin rails; others flip-flop with capital controls. Travel rule implementation varies — international transfers can face extra KYC.

Not legal advice. This page cannot replace counsel. Laws change; verify primary sources.
Educational content only. Not financial or legal advice.