EU Crypto Scam Wave Hits Amid MiCA Deadline Fallout

A scam wave is spreading across the EU as fraudsters impersonate regulators to steal crypto assets from users.

Stéphane Pontoizeau, an executive director at France's Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), said the shift has created 'an opportunity for scammers more than usual.'

The MiCA deadline saw 323 firms secure a license by July 1, 2026, leaving many unlicensed platforms to wind down. This left users rushing to move funds to unfamiliar exchanges, precisely the kind of confusion fraudsters look for.

The AMF has intentionally avoided setting an aggressive cutoff for unlicensed firms to limit the scam window rather than force abrupt exits.