In a recent Team Hangout session, Dusk CEO Emanuele Francioni unpacked some of the most critical issues shaping crypto’s future in Europe — from MiCA regulation to tokenizing real estate and the battle between app-first vs. infrastructure-first Layer 2s.
Let’s break down the key takeaways and what they mean for crypto builders, investors, and regulators alike.
What Is MiCA and Why Does It Matter?
MiCA (Markets in Crypto-Assets) is the EU’s comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets. While many projects are scrambling to comply, Dusk sees MiCA as an opportunity.
“We’re not just building within regulation — we’re helping define what compliance looks like for tokenized finance,” said Francioni.
Dusk is aligning its ecosystem with MiCA to attract regulated institutions looking for blockchain infrastructure with legal clarity.
Tokenization of Real Estate: The Next Frontier?
Real estate has long been cited as a perfect use case for blockchain, but few projects have managed to scale. According to Francioni, this is due to:
Lack of regulatory clarity
No standardized on-chain identity or compliance layer
Illiquid, siloed property markets
Dusk is solving this by building privacy-preserving yet compliant infrastructure that enables the secure issuance and trading of tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) — including real estate.
Speculative Insight: If Dusk cracks this, they could become the Stripe of compliant RWA tokenization in Europe.
App-First vs. Infra-First Layer 2s
The debate around app-specific Layer 2s (L2s) vs. general-purpose infra-first L2s is heating up. Francioni believes:
“App-first L2s will dominate niche verticals where customization, speed, and compliance matter — like DeFi and RWAs.”
Dusk positions itself as verticalized and compliance-oriented, targeting tokenized securities and privacy-first apps, not just DeFi gambling.
Final Thoughts: Why Dusk Deserves Your Attention
Dusk isn’t just riding the regulatory wave — it’s actively shaping it. By focusing on:
Compliant tokenization
Privacy with accountability
Regulated DeFi
App-first infrastructure
…it could emerge as a major player in Europe’s crypto regulation race.
As MiCA takes effect in 2025, projects like Dusk may be the blueprint for how to thrive in a compliant Web3 world.