Dual Licensing

Definition ∞ Dual licensing refers to a software distribution model where the same software product is offered under two different licenses simultaneously. Typically, one license is a restrictive proprietary license, and the other is a permissive open-source license. This approach allows developers to reach different user segments and revenue models. In blockchain, it might apply to protocols with both public and enterprise versions.
Context ∞ The relevance of dual licensing in blockchain technology and digital assets often arises when projects seek to balance open-source principles with commercial viability. It presents a mechanism for protocols to maintain community-driven development while generating revenue from commercial entities requiring specific usage terms. Discussions often address the legal complexities and the strategic implications for ecosystem growth. Regulators might examine dual licensing models for their impact on market access and competition.

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→Market Fragmentation

→Legal Clarity

→Euro Stablecoins

European Banking Authority Confirms MiCA Stablecoin Dual Licensing Mandate

EBA guidance mandates dual MiCA and PSD2 licensing for e-money token services, escalating compliance costs by March 2026.

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→Regulatory Overlap

→Financial Stability

→Stablecoin Regulation

EBA Confirms MiCA Stablecoin Activities Require Dual Payment Services Licensing

The EBA's dual licensing mandate for EMT services undermines MiCA's single-passport goal, creating an urgent, systemic compliance friction point.

A prominent blue Bitcoin symbol, a digital asset, is centrally positioned amidst a complex array of metallic and blue mechanical components. This intricate hardware infrastructure evokes a high-performance mining rig, indicative of a proof-of-work consensus mechanism. The surrounding elements suggest a robust decentralized network, essential for transaction validation and maintaining the immutable ledger of the blockchain protocol. These components, possibly application-specific integrated circuits ASICs, contribute to the collective hash rate, securing the peer-to-peer network and ensuring cryptographic security for every Bitcoin transaction.

→Digital Assets

→Capital Requirements

→E-Money Tokens

European Banking Authority Confirms Stablecoin Dual Licensing under MiCA and PSD2

Stablecoin issuers must now architect compliance for dual MiCA/PSD2 licensing by March 2026, significantly increasing capital and operational costs across the EU.

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→Payment Services Directive

→Legal Precedent

→Capital Requirements

European Banking Authority Clarifies Stablecoin Dual Licensing under MiCA and PSD2

Stablecoin service providers must prepare for dual MiCA and PSD2 licensing by March 2026, significantly increasing compliance and capital overhead.

A crystalline sphere, half icy white and half deep blue, represents a dynamic blockchain ecosystem. The white portion signifies cold storage and immutable ledger security, reflecting frozen assets or proof-of-stake consensus. The vibrant blue illustrates active liquidity pools and decentralized finance DeFi protocols, highlighting smart contract execution and tokenomics. Translucent rings orbit the sphere, symbolizing scaling solutions, interoperability layers, and governance mechanisms within a Web3 framework. This visual metaphor encapsulates the inherent volatility and dual states of digital assets.

→Financial Stability

→E-Money Tokens

→Systemic Risk

European Banking Authority Confirms MiCA PSD2 Stablecoin Dual Licensing Mandate

The MiCA-PSD2 regulatory overlap mandates dual licensing for e-money token services, fundamentally increasing capital and compliance burdens by March 2026.

A detailed view captures a sophisticated, spherical mechanical construct encased in polished blue bands. The bands interconnect with visible fasteners, forming an outer shell. Within this framework, an intricate network of metallic components, gears, and conduits represents the complex internal workings. This intricate design conceptually mirrors a decentralized autonomous organization DAO's core, where smart contract execution governs operations. The external structure suggests the immutable framework of a blockchain protocol, ensuring cryptographic primitive security. Its internal complexity reflects sophisticated algorithmic governance and the interconnectedness of distributed ledger technology DLT nodes.

→Stablecoin Regulation

→AML Compliance

→Digital Asset Custody

US Enacts GENIUS Act, Federally Regulating Stablecoins and Digital Asset Custody

The GENIUS Act establishes a comprehensive federal and state regulatory framework for stablecoins, mandating full backing, transparent reserves, and enhanced AML protocols.