The Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework is starting to revolutionise how exchanges and stablecoin issuers operate throughout the European cryptocurrency sector, ushering in a new regulatory era. The removal of Tether's USDT from important trading platforms catering to EU users has been one of the most significant moves.

Exchanges, including Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, and Crypto.com, have been progressively restricting or delisting USDT since late 2024; the process is expected to be completed by early 2025. The action is already shifting the power dynamics in the European stablecoin market and is a reflection of MiCA's stringent compliance regulations.

• Major Exchanges Remove USDT Across the European Union
• Why Tether Is Not MiCA Compliant?
• USDC Becomes the Leading MiCA-Compliant Stablecoin
• July 2026 CASP Deadline Creates New Challenges

Major Exchanges Remove USDT Across the European Union

The removal of USDT trading options for European consumers by major cryptocurrency exchanges made the effects of MiCA more apparent. As regulators pressed the sector to fully comply with the new framework, Binance, Coinbase, Kraken, and Crypto.com all took steps to restrict or delist the stablecoin.

Regulatory restrictions, not market need, were the driving force behind the decision. MiCA criteria must be adhered to by the listed stablecoins on European exchanges. Because of this, platforms started to stop supporting USDT, which is still the biggest stablecoin in the world by market capitalization but isn't authorised by the EU's new regulations.

The change is significant to European traders. Since USDT has long been a major trading pair in cryptocurrency markets, its elimination is among MiCA's most important changes to date.

Why Tether Is Not MiCA Compliant?