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The MICA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) Regulation was formally adopted by the European Parliament on 20 April 2023 and approved by the Council of the European Union on 16 May 2023. The adoption of MICA is in response to the growing need for regulation in the rapidly evolving world of crypto-assets and represents an important step towards building a stable and secure financial system in the EU.

The spring of 2024 marked a pivotal shift in the Macedonian financial market, with significant reforms on the horizon. As of March 2024, the related legislative framework has come under intense scrutiny, aiming to align more closely with European directives and capital market regulations. This effort has culminated in the adoption of the new Law on Financial Instruments (LFI) and the Law on Prospectus and Transparency Obligations of Securities Issuers (LPTOSI). The primary objective of these reforms is to enhance market efficiency and strengthen the stability of the financial system.

Excitement was high when, just over three years ago, the Law on Digital Assets came into effect, positioning Serbia as a pioneer among countries recognizing the development opportunities of advanced technologies that lacked a regulatory framework to reach their full potential. This was followed by a protracted period of enacting secondary legislation, alongside global macroeconomic turbulence, which inevitably impacted the development of industries and markets, especially those that are “young” and insufficiently mature. Despite the enthusiasm and efforts of the local Web3 community and advocates for using digital assets as a tool to boost the national economy, these hurdles appear to have significantly slowed the anticipated growth.

Wolf Theiss has advised joint lead managers and bookrunners Raiffeisen Bank International and M.M.Warburg & Co on the exchange offer of bonds issued by UBM Development in 2019 and 2021 and on the subsequent cash subscription offer of the EUR 93 million 7% green bond 2024-2029. DLA Piper advised UBM Development.

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