European Regulators Labels Bitcoin As Costly & Inconvenient Despite ETF Approval

European regulators have once again thrown shade on Bitcoin, despite the recent approval of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the United States. The European Central Bank (ECB) has reiterated its stance, emphasizing the shortcomings of Bitcoin as a digital currency and investment.

Meanwhile, this comes as a blow to enthusiasts who hoped for a significant shift in perception with the ETF green light. However, let’s delve into why European regulators remain skeptical about Bitcoin’s prospects despite the recent developments.

European Regulators Highlights Bitcoin Challenges

European regulators have once again cast doubt on Bitcoin’s viability as a global currency and investment avenue, despite recent positive developments in the United States. The European Central Bank (ECB) highlighted Bitcoin’s failure to achieve decentralization and its susceptibility to fraud and manipulation. According to the ECB’s blog post, Bitcoin remains burdened by high costs, sluggish transaction speeds, and limited utility for legitimate transfers.

Meanwhile, the ECB’s skepticism extends to the recent approval of Bitcoin ETFs by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). While some hailed this as a watershed moment for Bitcoin, European regulators remain unconvinced.

In other words, the ECB blog dismisses the ETF approval as akin to “The Naked Emperor’s New Clothes,” suggesting that Bitcoin’s fundamental flaws persist regardless of regulatory nods.

In addition, despite being granted legal tender status in El Salvador and receiving government backing, BTC’s adoption as a mainstream means of payment remains elusive. The ECB notes that outside criminal activities on the darknet, Bitcoin transactions for legitimate purposes are rare. Even efforts to incentivize its use, such as offering free BTC to citizens, have failed to ignite widespread adoption, the report added.

Also Read: Bitcoin ETFs Shocks Crypto Market With $88M Outflow, What’s Next?

Structural Challenges and Market Realities

ECB said that Bitcoin’s resurgence in value since late 2022 has raised eyebrows, with prices surging despite ongoing concerns. Notably, the recent rally has been attributed to factors like anticipated changes in US Federal Reserve interest rates and the upcoming Bitcoin halving.

However, European regulators caution against reading too much into short-term market movements. While BTC’s current rally may be fueled by temporary factors, underlying structural issues persist, the blog showed.

In addition, the ECB emphasized that price manipulation, criminal utilization, and regulatory misjudgments continue to plague the cryptocurrency landscape. Despite efforts to regulate the industry, challenges remain in curbing illicit activities and mitigating environmental impact.

European regulators’ skepticism towards Bitcoin underscores the enduring challenges facing the cryptocurrency. As per ECB, despite recent regulatory approvals and market rallies, fundamental flaws persist, casting doubt on BTC’s long-term sustainability and mainstream adoption.

Also Read: Ethereum Dencun Upgrade- These Six Layer-2 Platforms To Benefit the Most