Group of 39 firms urge EU to fast-track DLT rules, warn of lagging the US

A coalition of 39 firms, including Nasdaq, has called on the European Union to accelerate its Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) pilot framework, arguing that delays risk allowing the United States to establish dominance in tokenized finance. The urgent appeal underscores growing concern that regulatory hesitation in Europe could cede competitive advantage to faster-moving jurisdictions.

The push by this major industry coalition reflects escalating tension between regulatory caution and competitive necessity in digital asset markets. Europe's DLT pilot regime, designed to test blockchain applications in securities trading and settlement, remains in early stages while other jurisdictions advance rapidly. The involvement of Nasdaq—a heavyweight exchange operator—signals that mainstream financial infrastructure providers view tokenization as strategically critical, not peripheral. This coalition effort transforms what might appear as a niche technical request into a broader geopolitical and economic competitiveness issue.

The context matters significantly. The EU has historically prioritized cautious, comprehensive regulation through frameworks like MiCA, which provides clarity but moves deliberately. Meanwhile, the US has begun implementing less restrictive approaches, and other regions are experimenting with permissive DLT environments. The coalition's warning suggests that incremental delays accumulate into structural disadvantage—protocols, talent, and capital flow toward jurisdictions offering faster certainty.

For market participants, regulatory acceleration in Europe could unlock substantial opportunities in tokenized securities, settlement infrastructure, and decentralized finance applications. However, it also carries execution risk; hastily designed rules could create unexpected gaps or conflicts with existing frameworks. Investors and developers tracking EU policy should monitor the timeline and substance of any DLT rule updates, as approval would signal legitimacy and institutional adoption potential. The outcome will likely influence whether European exchanges and fintech firms remain competitive in the emerging tokenized asset economy or become secondary players dependent on foreign infrastructure.

• →A 39-firm coalition led by Nasdaq urges the EU to expedite DLT pilot regulations to maintain competitiveness with the United States
• →Delays in Europe's regulatory approach risk allowing faster-moving jurisdictions to establish dominant positions in tokenized finance
• →Nasdaq's participation indicates mainstream financial infrastructure providers view tokenization and DLT as strategically essential
• →Regulatory acceleration could unlock opportunities in tokenized securities and settlement infrastructure but carries execution risk
• →The coalition's appeal transforms DLT regulation from a technical matter into a geopolitical and economic competitiveness issue