Named experts · Practitioner profile

Verena Ross

Verena Ross

European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) ↗ · European Union

★ Editor's Watch — MiCA CASP, Stablecoin issuance, Market abuse

LinkedIn ↗ Firm bio ↗

About Verena

Verena Ross is Chair of the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA), the EU-level supervisor responsible for crypto-asset market integrity, MiCA coordination, and direct supervision of significant CASPs under MiCA Articles 92-94. Ross took the Chair role in November 2021 after extensive prior ESMA service including Executive Director. Her ESMA tenure spans the full MiCA legislative development, implementation, and operationalisation phase — making her one of the most influential EU regulator voices on crypto-asset framework development.

Editor's note

ESMA Chair leading EU-level crypto-asset market integrity supervision. Most influential regulator voice on MiCA significant CASP framework (Articles 92-94) and ESMA direct supervisory powers.

Credentials

  • Chair, European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) since November 2021
  • Previously Executive Director, ESMA
  • Previously Head of Department of International Affairs, UK Financial Services Authority
  • Key EU regulator voice on MiCA implementation and significant CASP supervision

Jurisdictions

  • European Union

Sources

Every entry on this page is sourced from public records. The references below are the evidence base for the practitioner's expertise claims.

  1. ESMA — Verena Ross Chair biography — firm bio
  2. ESMA — Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) — regulator
  3. European Parliament — ESMA Chair public testimony references — industry press

Relevant guides

Knowledge-base coverage that overlaps with Verena's practice (European Union · MiCA CASP, Stablecoin issuance, Market abuse).

Qualifying holdings · CASP acquisitions

Qualifying Holdings Acquisitions 2026 — MiCA CASP Guide

MiCA's qualifying holdings framework governs notification and approval of any acquisition that brings a shareholder above 10%, 20%, 30%, or …

MiCA · CASP operations & lifecycle

CASP Operations and Lifecycle 2026 — MiCA Passport, Banking, Wind-Down

The CASP passport under MiCA Article 65 went operational in late 2024 — but a working passport is one part of running an authorised CASP. Th…

Crypto company formation · Cross-jurisdiction guide

Crypto Company Formation 2026: The Vehicle, the Capital, and the Licence

A cross-jurisdiction guide to forming the company behind a crypto business — Estonia OÜ, Lithuania UAB, Czech s.r.o., Ireland LTD, Poland sp…

Crypto brokerage · OTC desk · MiCA services

Crypto Broker License 2026 — OTC Desk and Brokerage Under MiCA

A crypto broker license under MiCA is built from CASP services — reception and transmission of orders, execution, and placing for an agency …

Crypto casino · Gambling + crypto licensing

Crypto Casino License vs Gambling License 2026 — What Operators Need

Crypto casino operators face the intersection of gambling regulation and crypto-asset regulation. Some jurisdictions treat crypto casinos un…

Licensed crypto exchanges EU · CASP directory 2026

Licensed Crypto Exchanges EU 2026 — Authorised CASP Directory

By 2026 the EU has approximately 300-500 authorised CASPs operating under MiCA Regulation. This guide explains how authorisation works, wher…