The Central Bank of the Republic of Kosova (CBK), with the support of the Council of Europe Office in Pristina, within the framework of the Action against Economic Crime and Corruption (ACEC), which is supported through the Council of Europe’s Joint Project against Economic Crime (PECK), organized a four-day workshop aimed at strengthening supervisory practices in the crypto-assets sector and assessing the existing legal framework governing this sector.

The workshop was held from 3-6 March 2026, with the participation of representatives from the CBK, the Financial Intelligence Unit of Kosovo (FIU-K), and the Tax Administration of Kosovo (TAK), as institutions entrusted with responsibilities under the Law on Crypto-Assets, highlighting the importance of inter-institutional cooperation in regulating and supervising this developing sector.

The workshop was opened by Ms. Vlora Marmullakaj, project representative, who presented the objectives and content of the workshop, emphasizing the project’s continued support to Kosovo’s institutions in initiatives against economic crime, including the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing, and now also supporting institutions in the field of crypto-assets; and Mr. Sokol Shasivari, Director of the Department for Markets, Non-Bank Financial Institutions and Crypto-Assets at the CBK, who highlighted developments in the regulatory and supervisory framework for the crypto-assets sector, the importance of continuously strengthening supervisory capacities, and the need for further advancement of the legal and regulatory framework in line with international standards.

During the workshop days, presentations and findings were delivered by a Council of Europe expert, focusing on international supervisory practices and the development of practical tools for implementing a risk-based supervisory approach.

On the first day, the initial draft prepared by the CBK of the Prudential Supervision Manual for Crypto-Asset Service Providers (CASPs) was presented, a key document for implementing the risk-based supervisory approach. The manual covers the entire supervisory cycle, from licensing to ongoing supervision and the implementation of corrective measures, establishing clear procedures. In this context, the licensing process for CASPs was also addressed in accordance with the requirements of the relevant regulation and the procedures outlined in the manual for reviewing applications.

The second day was dedicated to the assessment of the Law on Crypto-Assets, with a focus on identifying gaps in its initial implementation and examining the possibilities for its necessary further advancement. Discussions were oriented toward aligning the legal framework with international standards and best practices, including elements of the EU Regulation on Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA), and reflected comments and recommendations from international experts and the CBK’s working group on crypto-assets.

The CBK appreciates the continued support of the Council of Europe and the cooperation with institutional and international partners in strengthening the supervisory and regulatory framework of the financial sector in the Republic of Kosovo.

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