European Passporting

Definition ∞ European Passporting refers to the regulatory mechanism that allows financial firms authorized in one European Economic Area (EEA) member state to operate across all other EEA member states. This occurs without requiring additional authorization in each country. It simplifies market access for financial services, promoting a unified European financial market. The principle applies to various financial activities, including investment services and banking.
Context ∞ European Passporting is a frequent topic in financial news, especially concerning the regulatory landscape for cryptocurrency businesses operating within the EU. The introduction of new regulations, such as MiCA, aims to provide a harmonized framework that could potentially extend passporting rights to digital asset service providers. This development holds significant implications for market expansion and operational efficiency for crypto firms across Europe.